OVERVIEW

The course focusses on the development of knowledge and understanding of the main approaches in geography - and particularly in historical geography - to landscape research, for its interpretation, conservation and enhancement.

The course analyses the different ways in which geography has conceptually and methodologically promoted the valorisation of landscape and the environment as objects of specific political practices and as keys to understanding the evolution of the environment-development relationship.

The course aims to provide geography's fundamental theoretical tools, and to use them as keys for understanding the reality of landscape research and the developments of landscapes in Europe.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course consists of the basis of landscape science and contains theoretical modules and an exercise:

Theoretical modules:

• The concept of landscape through time
  • Etymological significance as fundaments for the development of the discipline
  • Within disciplines, specifically history and geography
  • landscape heritage in politics: valorisation and legislation

• Landscape as an interdisciplinary research system
  • Within Historical geography in Europe
  • sources and methods for landscape interpretation
• How to read the landscape? European and Italian case studies
  • forms, structures and morphogenetic processes
  • rural and urban landscapes

During the modules, the genesis of landscapes and environments in Europe is addressed by the integration of case studies.

Practical exercises: individual landscape observation with terrain mapping and map and aerial photo analysis, written reporting

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Correct use of science related terminology: definitions and concepts.
2. To be able to actively apply basic concepts of landscape science in the observation and analysis of landscapes and environment.
3. Searching for and critical analysis of the various sources of landscape analysis for the purpose of a landscape analysis.
4. Observing and analysis of landscapes actively by means of a practical exercise. 
5. Written report of the landscape observation, including the use of photographs and cartographic material.

PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites are required.

TEACHING METHODS

The lectures are organized on campus, given the large interactivity during the lessons. The practical exercise will be done autonomously in small group level or individually. The exercise will be presented during final seminars on campus.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Lecture notes, handbook (Antrop 2007), hand-outs lectures

Books, articles, journals available in online or via AulaWeb

Mapping material (maps, photographs, ….) available via online

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Antrop, M., Van Eetvelde, V., 2017. Landscape Perspectives. The Holistic Nature of Landscape. Springer

Dai Prà E., Gabellieri N. (2021) Bridging geographical research and political action: the Trentino Italian region in the scientific and socialist writings of Cesare Battisti, 1895–1914,
Journal of Historical Geography, 71, 83-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhg.2021.01.005.

Dossche R, Van Eetvelde V, Rogge E (2016) Detecting people’s and landscape’s identity in a changing mountain landscape. An example from the Northern Apennines. Landscape Research, doi/full/10.1080/01426397.2016.1187266 (impact factor: 1,012 for 2015)

Wylie, J. (2011) Landscape, in J.A. AGNEW-D.N. LIVINGSTONE (a cura di), The SAGE Handbook of Geographical Knowledge, Londra, SAGE, pp. 300-315

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

REBEKKA ANNIE PAUL DOSSCHE (President)

LORENZO BROCADA

CARLA PAMPALONI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons will start on the 30th of September 2024

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination of open questions with written preparation.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The student will be evaluated based on the

• practical exercise
• oral examination

The assessment will take into account:

• quality of exposure and appropriate use of the specialist lexicon:
• argumentative and critical reasoning skills on the study carried out;
• ability to link different topics.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

To pass the examination of the course, the student needs to hand in the exercise

All students are invited to periodically consult the page of this teaching on the e-learning portal AulaWeb (accessible from the University website or at https://www.aulaweb.unige.it).

All information and materials relating to this teaching are published exclusively on this website.