OVERVIEW

The course's aim resides in getting students acquainted with the main patterns in the evolution of the concept of 'public opinion', focusing both on historical examples and contemporary issues (the future of public opinion, new media, fake news, post-truth etc.).

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course involves the analysis, from a historical and theoretical perspective, of the concept of public opinion. From the first reflections on freedom of expression and its centrality for democracies, up to the birth of propaganda and the contemporary dilemmas linked to the advent of social media and post-truth, students will be provided with the intellectual tools to orient themselves between the paradigms that they attempt to scientifically study public opinion and the dangers associated with its manipulation.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aims:

- Defining context and purpose of the history of public opinion

- Assessing the main patterns in the evolution of public opinion by way of precise and specific lectures

- Introducing students to the knowledge of the most important works in the history of public opinion

- Supplying intellectual tools in order to grasp the meaning of contemporary debates on new media and public opinion

Learning Outcomes:

- Comprehension and commentary of classic and contemporary texts

- Reinforcement of argumentative skills as to political communication

- Ability to grasp the conceptual roots of contemporary debates on public opinion and new media

PREREQUISITES

- Interest for political and communication

- Basic knowledge of historical eras

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional lectures, reading of classic, modern and contemporary texts plus direct participation of students by means, as well, of the online platform Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

"Sleepwalking towards dictatorship". The miseducation of public opinion from classic propaganda to the digital revolution

The course will present the main patterns in the evolution of the concept of 'public opinion' from the era of democratic revolutions to the most recent trends. A special focus will be devoted to the machinery of propaganda and the impact of social media and post-truth politics on the manipulation of contemporary public opinion (most notably, on issues such as climate change, e-democracy, the growth of the internet, the impact of social networks etc.).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For students who attend classes on a regular basis.

Two books chosen among the following:

- V. Bassan, Riavviare il sistema. Come abbiamo rotto internet e perché tocca a noi riaggiustarla, Milano, Chiarelettere, 2024 (excluding pages 158-185);

- E. L. Bernays, Propaganda. L’arte di manipolare l'opinione pubblica, Milano, Shake Edizioni, 2020;

- L. Giugni, La rete non ci salverà. Perché la rivoluzione digitale è sessista, Milano, Longanesi, 2022 (pages 11-219);

- M. Mann, La nuova guerra del clima, Milano, Edizioni Ambiente, 2021 (pages.11-110 and 201-294);

- L. McIntyre, Disinformazione. Combattere per la verità e proteggere la democrazia, Torino, UTET, 2024;

- M. F. Ottaviani, Brigate russe. La guerra occulta del Cremlino contro l'Occidente, Milano, Bompiani, 2023 (pages 7-13, 49-141 and 169-251).

For students who cannot attend classes on a regular basis.

Three books chosen among the following:

- V. Bassan, Riavviare il sistema. Come abbiamo rotto internet e perché tocca a noi riaggiustarla, Milano, Chiarelettere, 2024 (excluding pages 158-185);

- E. L. Bernays, Propaganda. L’arte di manipolare l'opinione pubblica, Milano, Shake Edizioni, 2020;

- L. Giugni, La rete non ci salverà. Perché la rivoluzione digitale è sessista, Milano, Longanesi, 2022 (pages 11-219);

- M. Mann, La nuova guerra del clima, Milano, Edizioni Ambiente, 2021 (pages.11-110 and 201-294);

- L. McIntyre, Disinformazione. Combattere per la verità e proteggere la democrazia, Torino, UTET, 2024;

- M. F. Ottaviani, Brigate russe. La guerra occulta del Cremlino contro l'Occidente, Milano, Bompiani, 2023 (pages 7-13, 49-141 and 169-251).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ALBERTO GIORDANO (President)

MIRELLA AGNESE PASINI

ANDREA CATANZARO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September 23, 2024

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be carried out by means of an oral test.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The final test will ascertain the students’ knowledge and  comprehension of classic and contemporary texts, the reinforcement of their argumentative skills as to political issues and the ability to grasp the historical and conceptual roots of contemporary debates.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who cannot attend classes on a regular basis, are kindly asked to get in touch with prof. Giordano by writing an e-mail to alberto.giordano@edu.unige.it