OVERVIEW

The course will focus on the innovations that the use of modern digital tools has introduced in philological-linguistic, critical-textual and interpretative analysis. Through a series of examples and with the guided use of some of the main digital tools, we will reflect on the research potential that these tools offer, on the theoretical and methodological implications of the digital transition and on the practical impact of the new means of textual analysis in the work of philologist.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The primary purpose of the course consists in deepening the main notions of textual criticism and in acquiring the methods of philological analysis of Italian texts in the digital environment, following the specific objectives of digital philology, which is based on the application of computer methods and tools to textual criticism studies. Particular attention will be paid to the different types of tools useful for the study of textual traditions (databases, digital archives, digital libraries, philological repertoires), to then deal with the characteristics and methodologies of the digital scientific edition. In particular, the potential of digital humanities in the production of digital critical editions (both in reconstructive philology and in “filologia d’autore”) and other useful tools in the field of attribution of literary texts or in linguistic and stylistic analysis will be highlighted.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

After a general introduction dedicated to explaining the fundamental philological methodologies and the main notions of textual criticism and analysis of the transmission of the texts, a brief overview of the IT tools useful for philological studies and their various functions for addressing philological questions will follow. The course will then illustrate the main processes and methods of analysis characteristic of digital philology through a series of examples of critical editions and other specific resources.

At the end of the course the student will have to:

- understand and know the methods of transmission of Italian texts and their representation in a digital environment;

- know the main material peculiarities of the witnesses transmitting Italian texts (manuscripts, ancient prints, etc.) and the digital tools useful for their localization, archiving and analysis;

- know how to analyse, contextualize and interpret the literary text on a philological basis, also making use of the possibilities offered by the digital dimension;

- know how to detect and codify the formal and stylistic data of the text in a digital environment and enhance them in the philological analysis and interpretation;

- know how to read existing digital critical editions and knowing the main procedures useful for their realization;

- know how to use the main digital bibliographic resources functional to philological analysis (repertoires, dictionaries, concordances, databases, etc.);

- be able to illustrate the principles and methods of textual criticism and digital philology using appropriate terminology;

- know how to present the results of critical-textual investigations and interpretative hypotheses using appropriate language.

PREREQUISITES

Having passed the Italian Philology o Philology of Theatrical Texts exam in the bachelor’s degree course is recommended, but non mandatory.

All students are obliged to register with AulaWeb.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, also including collective discussion on the texts and editions examined, as well as guided research on digital repertoires, archives and libraries, consultation and construction of digital critical apparatus, tests of digital coding of the text. The teacher will make the materials discussed in class available on AulaWeb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to digital philology

PART ONE: Digital tools for Italian philology

In this section of the course, the main issues concerning the reconstruction of the text and the analysis of the tradition will be reviewed, verifying the impact of digital tools on textual criticism and text interpretation. In particular, attention will be focused on the following topics:

- production, transmission and circulation of texts;

- census and analysis of testimonies (manuscripts, prints, other media);

- genealogical method;

- linguistic and formal restitution of the texts;

- “filologia d’autore” and analysis of variants.

PART TWO: The digital critical edition

In this section we will examine the digital critical edition. In particular, we will focus on the following issues:

 - Various types of editions and their digital counterparts;

- Purpose and characteristics of the digital critical edition.

The final part of this section will be dedicated to the examination of a case-study (the digital edition of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Teseida).

Students who cannot attend are requested to contact the teacher before the end of the semester.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following essays are study sources for the exam:

- all topics and texts analyzed in class (including materials distributed and discussed);

- Francesco Bausi, La filologia italiana, Bologna, il Mulino, 2022, chapters I-III (pp. 25-104), VI (pp. 191-231) and VIII (pp. 263-291).

- Francesco Stella, Testi letterari e analisi digitale, Roma, Carocci, 2018;

- Paola Italia, Editing Duemila. Per una filologia dei testi digitali, Roma, Salerno editrice, 2020, introduction (pp. 7-15), chapters 3 (pp. 122-170) and 4 (pp. 171-235).

Students who cannot attend are requested to contact the teacher before the end of the semester.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

II semester, starting from February 17th

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students must demonstrate that they know the topics and problems addressed in the lessons and that they have studied the assigned essays (see Texts/Bibliography); they must also be able to discuss these topics using the specific terminology of the discipline.

Erasmus students not proficient in Italian may request a substitutive bibliography, and take the examination in English or French.

In particular, the exam interview will aim to verify the students' knowledge of the methods of transmission of Italian texts and their possibility of representation in an analogical environment (traditional critical edition) or in a digital one (digital critical edition), as well as the ability to analyze the literary text on philological bases.

Students with disabilities or DSA are reminded that in order to request adaptations during the exam, they must first enter the certification on the University website on the servizionline.unige.it page in the “Students” section. The documentation will be verified by the University’s Services Sector for the inclusion of students with disabilities and DSA (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/structure/100111). Subsequently, at least 10 days before the exam date, the student must send an e-mail to the teacher with whom he/she will take the exam, copying both the school contact teacher for the inclusion of students with disabilities and with DSA (prof.ssa Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the sector indicated above. In the email the student must specify: the name of the course; the date of the exam round; his/her surname, first name and student number; the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures deemed functional and required. The contact person will confirm to the teacher that the applicant has the right to request adaptations during the exam and that these adaptations must be agreed with the teacher. The teacher will respond by communicating whether it is possible to use the requested adaptations. Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the date of the exam in order to allow the teacher to evaluate the content. In particular, in the event that the student intends to use concept maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for the study) if the sending does not respect the expected times there will not be the technical time necessary to make any changes. For further information regarding the request for services and adaptations, consult the document: https://unige.it/sites/unige.it/files/2024-05/Linee%20guida%20per%20la%20richiesta%20di%20servizi%2C %20of%20compensatory%20tools%20and_or%20of%20dispensative%20measures%20and%20of%20specific%20aids%20May%202024.pdf