- Docente: Costantino Marmo
- Credits: 6
- SSD: M-FIL/05
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
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Corso:
Second cycle degree programme (LM) in
Italian Studies, European Literary Cultures, Linguistics (cod. 9220)
Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Italian Studies and European Literary Cultures (cod. 6051)
Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Philosophical Sciences (cod. 8773)
Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Semiotics (cod. 8886)
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from Feb 10, 2025 to Mar 20, 2025
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student knows the history of semiotics, according to historical methods and semiotics, and the latest critical orientations.
Course contents
The first module of the course (equivalent to a 6 cfu course) in reference to the key texts, follows the development of linguistic and semiotic theories of the classical period (greek and latin), the Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, from Plato to the fourteenth century, with a hint to the subsequent developments.
Special attention is given to methodological aspects of research in different periods and to some theories, like that of Aristotle and Augustine, who most contributed to the development of the debate on sign and signification during the Middle Ages and the following centuries.
The second module (only for students of the 12 cfu course) is devoted to "The semiotics of the 17th century".
Starting point will be the recent study by Hélène Leblanc, Théories sémiotiques à l'âge classique (Paris, Vrin, 2020), together with a selection of its sources. The results of this research will be compared to two classics, both published in 1966 focusing on 17th century: M. Foucault, Les mots et les choses (Paris, Gallimard, 1966; Engl. transl. The Order of Things. An Archaeology of the Human Sciences, London -- New York, Routledge, 2002), and Noam Chomsky, Cartesian Linguistics, Harper & Row 1966.
Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities
It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.
Readings/Bibliography
First module
1. G. Manetti, Le teorie del segno nell'antichità classica, Milano: Bompiani, 1987 (excepted chap. 1 and 2).
2. C. Marmo, La semiotica tardo antica e medievale, unpublished texts can be downloaded from the online repository).
Second module
1. Hélène Leblanc, Théories sémiotiques à l'âge classique, Paris, Vrin, 2020 (Italian translation: Bologna: BUP, 2023).
2. Michel Foucault, Les mots et les choses, Paris, Gallimard, 1966 (Engl. transl. The Order of Things. An Archaeology of the Human Sciences, London -- New York, Routledge, 2002).
3. Noam Chomsky, Cartesian Linguistics, Harper & Row 1966.
4. C. Marmo, "Questioni di metodo: l’amateur d’art, l’archeologo del sape- re e la storica del pensiero. Attorno a un recente libro sulle teorie semiotiche del XVII secolo", Syzetesis X (2023), 477-302.
Teaching methods
The teaching of the first module will consist of lectures on the topics detailed in the timetable. The texts commented upon during these lectures will be available from the beginning of the course, so they can be read by attending students and discussed during lectures, from a historical, critical and theoretical point of view.
The teaching of the second module will consist of a seminar. The reference texts include primary sources (published and unpublished or manuscript) and secondary literature. Some of the primary sources will be made available in digital format during the course.
Assessment methods
The programme is the same for both attending and non-attending students.
The exam will consist of an oral exam on the first module content as well as for the second. In case the pandemic emergency is still on, both exams will be oral.
The oral exam for the first module consists of three open-ended questions, each relating to the different periods examined: classical antiquity (IV BC - II A.D.); late-antiquity (III-VI); early middle ages (VII - X); high middle ages (XI-XII and XIII-XIV). The questions will be aimed at verifying:
1. the knowledge of the theories examined and discussed during the lectures;
2. the ability to locate the theories in the appropriate chronological and historical-critical framework;
3. the propriety of the written linguistic expression.
For the second module, the exam will consist of an oral exam on the sources or secondary literature or in the elaboration of a 15 pages paper drawn up on the basis of one or more texts included in the bibliography or examined in class. The topic of the essay must be agreed upon with the teacher at least two weeks before the date of discussion. Attending students will have the opportunity to present and discuss in class the theme of their essays; in this case, the topic must be agreed upon with the teacher at least two weeks before the presentation in class.
The possession by the student of historical, semiotic and philosophical knowledge must be accompanied by critical thinking on the use of bibliographic tools and secondary literature, and by the possession of good command of written and oral language.
The two tests will contribute at 50% each to the final assessment.
Exam registration is done online from the site AlmaEsami.
The vote will be assigned by calculating the average of the votes assigned to each answer to individual questions, taking into account the following evaluation levels:
30 cum laude: excellent performance showing soundness of knowledge, rich discursive articulation, appropriate expression, interest of critical contribution;
30: Excellent performance, complete, and appropriate knowledge, well-articulated and appropriately expressed, with interesting critical contributions;
29-27: Good performance, more than satisfactory knowledge, correct expression.
26-24: Standard performance, essential knowledge, but not comprehensive and / or not always correctly expressed;
23-21: Sufficient performance, general but superficial knowledge; often inappropriate expression and/or confused articulation of speech;
20-18: Poor performance, sufficient expression and articulation of speech with significant gaps;
<18: Insufficient performance, knowledge absent or very incomplete, lack of orientation in the discipline, poor and seriously flawed expression.
Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities
It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.
Teaching tools
As a complement of the program and the indicated bibliography, the texts presented and discussed during the course will be made available to the students in digital format.
In the second module we will follow the texts listed above, discussing their interpretations of the sources.
Links to further information
https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/costantino.marmo/didattica
Office hours
See the website of Costantino Marmo