B2140 - STORIA DELLA LETTERATURA DIVULGATIVA PER L'INFANZIA

Learning outcomes

Popular science storytelling allows younger generations to get into the vast world of biological, physics and technical knowledge emerged from the historical processes of discovery and application of knowledge. The course aims to explore the wide repertoire of informative stories both from a historical point of view and from a theoretical point of view. At the end of the course, students will therefore be able to: (a) learn about the historical evolution of science popularization for children; (b) identify the fundamental characteristics of the main types of scientific dissemination for the new generations, analyzing the relationship between text-image and scientific content exposed; (c) have an in-depth knowledge of the current editorial landscape for children and adolescents dedicated to scientific dissemination; (d) being able to identify, also by comparative means, the editorial, graphic-textual, visual and content elements that characterize quality scientific dissemination aimed at children; (e) knowing how to recognize historically and pedagogically the terms of the relationship between youth imagery and scientific curiosity both in the field of popular non-fiction and in the field of fiction (especially science fiction, fantastic and horror); (f) being able to identify the contaminations, overlaps and discontinuities between popular non-fiction and scientific fiction (documentaries, films, TV series, video games) for children; (g) know how to identify and apply the fundamental terms of effective scientific dissemination communication in the field of non-fiction type publishing for children.

Course contents

The aim of this course is to offer consistent and systematic reflection on the popular science storytelling for children, teens and young adult. Nowadays, new generations meet science through various ways such as information books, television documentaries, picture books, stickers collections, websites and so on. But this is a process that has been going on for some time. Especially since the mid-eighteenth century and, then, the nineteenth century a lot of publishers, scientists, educators and other have been interested in producing books, pictures, toys that had as their purpose the approach of childhood to sciences. Popular science for children is therefore part of a long historical process that intersects not only the development of sciences, but also the progress of pedagogy, the dynamic changes of imagery, the history of childhood, the refinement of communication techniques and, finally, the cultural policies of the nations.

Specifically, the following contents will be probed:

• The history of the popular science for children
• The formal frames, narrative style and artistic features of the popular science for children: roles and intersections among culture industry, literature, information and pictures.
• The cultural, political and scientific reasons and aims of the popular science.
• The role of pedagogy to popular science for children.
• The influence of imagery to popular science’s production and spread.

Readings/Bibliography

Examination test will focus on these steps:

1- the contents of an introductory report and contents on "Virtuale" platform at disposal at the beggining of the course;

2- the contents of one academic book selected from the following proposals:

- Ciardi M., Quando Darwin incontrò Flash Gordon. Scienza e cultura di massa tra Otto e Novecento, Carocci, Roma, 2023.

- Grandi W., Gli ingranaggi sognati. Scienza, fantasia e tecnologia nelle narrazioni per l'infanzia e l'adolescenza, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2017.

- Greco P., L'universo a dondolo. La scienza nell'opera di Gianni Rodari, Springer, Milano, 2010.

- Marazzi E. (a cura di), Letteratura e scienza nel libro per ragazzi tra XIX e XX secolo, Guerini e Associati, Milano, 2016

- Zanoni E., Scienza, Patria, Religione. Antonio Stoppani e la cultura italiana dell'Ottocento, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2014

3- the contents and the plot of two narrative/popularizing books selected from the following proposals:

- Accati E., Fiori in famiglia. Eva Mameli Calvino si racconta, Editoriale Scienza, Trieste-Firenze, 2023.

- Barbascura X (a cura di), Il satiro scientifico - Riprodursi male. Sesso e amore apparentemente contro natura, Mondadori, Milano, 2023.

- Bestard A., Paesaggi perduti della Terra, L'ippocampo, Milano, 2020.

- Bressanini D., Doctor Newtron. La scienza nel fumetto, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2023.

- Dixon D., After man. A Zoology of the future, Breakdown Press, London, 2021.

- Downey G., Avventure nella natura. Storie da 5 minuti per scoprire i piccoli miracoli intorno a noi, Fabbri, Milano, 2022.

- Duprat G., Il libro delle Terre immaginate, L'ippocampo, Milano, 2009.

- Ferrara A., Eroe guasto, Settenove Edizioni, Cagli (PU), 2021.

- Kelly J., L'evoluzione di Calpurnia, Salani, Milano, 2014.

- Lacombe B., L'erbario delle fate, Rizzoli, Milano, 2012.

- Quarzo G., Vivarelli A., La danza delle rane, Editoriale Scienza, Trieste-Firenze, 2019.

- Setola M., Teatro di Natura, Canicola, Bologna, 2021.

Teaching methods

The course will consist of traditional lectures delivered in Italian and practical exercises on children's picture books. During each lesson the professor dedicates a part of the teaching to collective dialogue in order to process a conceptual map that will allow students to orient themselves in the contents, languages and topics discussed in the meeting.

Studentes have to had participated to three studeplace safety modules: safety modules 1 and 2 on e-learning at https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio ; see the appropriate section of your university degree course web-site to participate at module 3

Assessment methods

Learning will be assessed by written tests. Test is designed to verify the knowledge of the contents, the linguistic fluency , the ability to organize information that every student is able to master at the end of the course about the topics discussed during the lessons and shown in the texts.

Final score based on ../30 (18 is considered the minimum to pass the exam).

Inscription to the exam on Almaesami website.

If rejected at the exam, it is possible to have a second chance.

Teaching tools

Internet, contents on "Virtuale"platform.

Office hours

See the website of William Grandi