STORIES OF HISTORIOGRAPHY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
No special prerequisites are required.
The exam consists of an oral interview aimed at ascertaining the acquisition of knowledge and the correct understanding of the contents of the texts that will be studied in full: on the basic contents of the two reference texts, two questions will be formulated, with particular attention to the skills of selecting, in-depth analyzing and linking of the topics, as well as their chronological classification. In addition, knowledge of the topics covered in class will be requested, as summarized in the teaching material that will be made available on the e-learning website in the sections "Lessons", "Texts" and "Educational Material" (one question). The answers to these first three questions must give an at least sufficient outcome, so that the exam can continue with a question on the text of choice and a question of ascertaining the capacity of critical interdisciplinary analysis and autonomy of judgment on the main topics of the course. The final grade will take into account the accuracy and quality of the answers (70%), as well as the communication skills shown during the interview (10%) and the ability to adequately motivate statements, analyzes and judgments (20%).
Procedure for the examination sessions:
- the exams (appelli) will take place following the enrollment order of the students, who will be asked to show their university card or other identification document;
- according to the number of students enrolled and who will answer the call, the exams may also continue in the following days, with the schedule which will be indicated by the teacher;
- students can request by e-mail to anticipate or postpone the examination time, but no later than the day or days scheduled for the exam.
The reconstruction and writing of history, also in order to effectively narrate 'stories' in a very broad and diversified social and cultural context, requires an open, solid and articulated preparation on the different ways of interpreting events, actions, ideas, mentality , theories, objects of a recent past. The course therefore aims to analyze, discuss and compare tools and methods of 'making history', with particular attention to the context of contemporary scientific and technological development, but also in relation to the main research directions of historiography (understood as the complex of historical works and studies that characterize a period, a topic, a school of thought). Critical readings of history books will be presented, in order to contextualize the cultural, political and scientific references, identifying the methodological choices and reconstructing the preparation, the approach and the methodology of the authors.
The expected learning outcomes include:
• knowledge of the main schools, methods and tools of historiographic investigation, through the verification of sources and texts;
• knowledge of the narrative methods adopted by historians, with particular attention to science and technology;
• ability to identify, select and critically analyze simplifications, clichés, interpretative schemes, ideological tendencies in historiographical works;
• ability to highlight the potential of using the knowledge acquired in the historical-scientific and historical-technological fields for studies of cultural enhancement and promotion, even within a specific geographical area;
• ability to express oneself with a correct language, able to highlight an adequate mastery of the concepts treated, with intellectual curiosity and vivacity, demonstrating a good mastery of storytelling techniques.
The first part of the course (approximately 40 hours) will present a general profile of the history of historiography, with particular attention to the period from the nineteenth century to the twentieth century and to contemporary developments. The following topics will be covered:
• definitions of historiography
• types, evaluation and use of sources
• methods and tools of historical investigation
• schools and historiographical tendencies
• problems and interpretative models
• historiography and interdisciplinarity
• historical research, professionalism and applications in the cultural industry
• history and narration
• public use of history
The second part of the course (approximately 24 hours) will focus on the analysis of the role of the historiography of science and technology in contemporary society, through the presentation of the different research and evaluation methodologies of historical and scientific knowledge, also in the context of the communication and dissemination with the adoption of storytelling techniques. Some specific case studies will be studied in depth and the verification activity on the sources and historiographical materials will be conducted with the direct involvement of the students. The following topics will therefore be covered:
• utility and roles in the history of science and techniques;
• problems of interdisciplinarity in historical-scientific research;
• historical-scientific and historical-technical sources
• historical-scientific historiography from the eighteenth century to the present
• research and historical-scientific reconstruction methods;
• the narration of science and technology through history: case studies
• historiographical work for the promotion of a correct and conscious scientific and technological culture.
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The study of the following two reference texts is required:
• Giovanni DE LUNA, "La passione e la ragione. Il mestiere dello storico contemporaneo", Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2004
• Giuseppe GALASSO, "Storia della storiografia italiana. Un profilo", Bari- Roma, Laterza, 2017
and one text to be chosen from the following list:
• Sandro ROGARI, "La scienza storica. Principi, metodi e percorsi di ricerca", Torino, UTET, 2013
• Pietro CORRAO & Paolo VIOLA, "Introduzione agli studi di storia", Roma, Donzelli, 2005
• Fernand BRAUDEL, "Storia misura del mondo" [1977], Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015 (anche edizioni precedenti)
• Edward H. CARR, "Sei lezioni sulla storia" [1961], Torino, Einaudi, 2000 (anche edizioni precedenti)
• Angelo D'ORSI, "Piccolo manuale di storiografia", Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2002
• Silvio LANARO, "Raccontare la storia", Venezia, Marsilio, 2004
• Marcello MUSTE', "La storia: teoria e metodi", Roma, Carocci, 2005
The complete study of the teaching material is also required (slides of the lessons and text files - in pdf and multimedia format). This material will be available on the course page within the e-learning website.(https://elearning.uninsubria.it)
The course include 64 hours of lectures, which may be accompanied by possible seminars. Moreover, symposia, conferences and meetings of particular interest will be reported to the students in order to study in depth some of the topics covered in class. During the lectures and the seminars, interaction with the students will be constantly encouraged, through moments of discussion and shared analysis of the problems faced, in order to stimulate curiosity and intellectual vivacity, in addition to developing the capacity for critical analysis and an interdisciplinary approach.
Office hours
During the first semester the lecturer receives the students on-line within the Microsoft Teams platform by appointment agreed by email. During the second semester the lecturer will receive the students at his office at the Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Campus Bizzozero, Padiglione Rossi, via O. Rossi 9 in Varese (ground floor), on Fridays from 18.00 to 19.00, except for suspensions and possible cancellations indicated on the website https://www.uninsubria.it/hpp/ezio.vaccari (please always check this web page before to go to the meet the lecturer).