45866 - Semiology of Entertainment (1) (Second Level Course)

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to present the study of the theatre as a signification and communication phenomenon, referring both to the past and to the present.

Course contents

The new theatrical historiography, with exemples

The theatrical researches has been refounded, in Italy and abroad, since '60 and '70 of the 20th Century. This process has involved their object (what theatre is, what the theatrical studies are about) and their method (how to study theatre, how does it mean to study theatre). The result of this refoundation, always undergoing new improvements and mutations, is what we call “New Theatrology”.
This New Theatrology is born from a fertile dialogue between history of theatre and human sciences (semiotic, in first place, then anthropology, psychology and sociology); it is multidisciplinary and experimental; its central theoretical object is the “theatrical relation” (the relationship between actor and spectator) and its metadisciplinary main field is the semiological conceptualization.
During this year we will focus our attention on the new theatrical historiography developed in Italy from the Sixties which become (between Seventies and Eighties) a contextual analysis of spectacular events, thanks to support of semiology and other human sciences.
The examples will focus in particular on Renaissance Italian Theatre between XV and XVI century.

Readings/Bibliography

Textbooks for the exam:

1) M. De Marinis, Capire il teatro. Lineamenti di una nuova teatrologia, Roma, Bulzoni (new edition forthcoming)
2) AA.VV., Storia e storiografia del teatro oggi, numero monografico di "Culture Teatrali", 7/8, 2002/2003
3) Lessons' notes.

N.B. A small thesis, in agreement with the teacher, can be presented instead of the book at 2).

The non-attending students will have to choose, instead of the lessons' notes, another book from the following list:

- L. Zorzi, Carpaccio e la rappresentazione di sant'Orsola, Torino, Einaudi
- P. Francastel, Guardare il teatro, Bologna, Il Mulino
- F. Ruffini, Commedia e festa nel Rinascimento, Bologna, Il Mulino
- P. Burke, Il significato storico delle immagini, Roma, Carocci
- AA.VV., European Theatre Iconography, Roma, Bulzoni
- G. Didi-Huberman, L'immagine insepolta. A. Warburg, la memoria dei fantasmi e la storia dell'arte, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri.
- L'Arte dei comici. Omaggio a Isabella Andreini nel quarto centenario della morte (1604-2004), a cura di G. Guccini, n. monografico di "Culture Teatrali", 10, 2004
- Teatro e arti visive, a cura di E. Tamburini, n. monografico di "Culture Teatrali", 15, 2007 (in corso di stampa; uscita prevista: gennaio 2008)

Teaching methods

Thweoretical lessons, tendentially planned as seminars-like, with the active partecipation of students.

Assessment methods

Oral exam and a possible small thesis in agreement with the teacher.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector and overhead projector

Office hours

See the website of Marco De Marinis