The course aims to offer male and female students the most recent methodological and theoretical tools of the environmental humanities (EH). Starting from an idea of environmental humanities as a post (or anti) - disciplinary arena, the course will encourage students* to think beyond disciplinary boundaries to address the environmental and social challenges of the present.
The course is divided into three parts. The introductory part is designed to provide an overview of EH through: (a) a basic knowledge of the main directions of EH; (b) an exploration of the methods used.
The second part of the course focuses on a central theme of the debate in EH, namely the Anthropocene (the age of humans) and possible alternatives. In particular, the second part focuses on the Wasteocene concept (era of waste). Finally, the third part includes a laboratory phase in which male and female students will be called to deal with a micro research/action project, to apply what they have learned in the course.
Expected learning outcomes (1) A thorough knowledge of the main schools of EH (2) A fair familiarity with the methods employed in EH
(3) An in-depth knowledge of the Anthropocene debate and its critical issues with a focus on the Wasteocene
(4) The ability to design and execute an EH micro-project/action (which also serves as a learning assessment)
(5) Develop critical analysis skills of scientific texts and other types of sources
The course is divided into three parts. The introductory part is designed to provide an overview of EH through: (a) a basic knowledge of the main directions of EH; (b) an exploration of the methods used.
The second part of the course focuses on a central theme of the debate in EH, namely the Anthropocene (the age of humans) and possible alternatives. In particular, the second part focuses on the Wasteocene concept (era of waste). Finally, the third part includes a laboratory phase in which male and female students will be called to deal with a micro research/action project, to apply what they have learned in the course.
Expected learning outcomes (1) A thorough knowledge of the main schools of EH (2) A fair familiarity with the methods employed in EH
(3) An in-depth knowledge of the Anthropocene debate and its critical issues with a focus on the Wasteocene
(4) The ability to design and execute an EH micro-project/action (which also serves as a learning assessment)
(5) Develop critical analysis skills of scientific texts and other types of sources
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
Humanities and social sciences, increasingly dominated by a neo-materialist perspective, play an ambiguous role in this framework: on the one hand, they aim to eco-critically denounce all forms of domination of the human and the non-human; on the other hand, by working on the deconstruction of some traditional dualisms (nature/culture, nature/technology, words/things, reality/knowledge, living/non-living, etc.), they contribute to settle a de-regulation imaginary in which ecological threats, far from being opposed, are actually indulged.
With this awareness, we will try to reflect on the possible ways out, exploring the analytical, critical, and political potential of some liminal conceptual frames (the "form of life," dépense and the Bataillean general economy, degrowth and so on).
- O. Romano, "Go waste. Depensamento e decrescita", Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno 2023.
Mutuazione: 20710678 INTRODUZIONE ALLE ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES in Scienze umane per l'ambiente LM-1 ROMANO ONOFRIO
Programme
We will firstly define the main characteristics and contents of the Environmental humanities study area. Then we will focus on how humanities and social sciences stand before the regulatory ontology of the neoliberal growth system. This is based on an apparently contradictory mixture of vitalistic unleashing and rational anticipatory ordering, where the goal is no longer disciplining the living system and the living beings but the possibility to profit from indeterminacy, i.e. from the continuous liberation of energy.Humanities and social sciences, increasingly dominated by a neo-materialist perspective, play an ambiguous role in this framework: on the one hand, they aim to eco-critically denounce all forms of domination of the human and the non-human; on the other hand, by working on the deconstruction of some traditional dualisms (nature/culture, nature/technology, words/things, reality/knowledge, living/non-living, etc.), they contribute to settle a de-regulation imaginary in which ecological threats, far from being opposed, are actually indulged.
With this awareness, we will try to reflect on the possible ways out, exploring the analytical, critical, and political potential of some liminal conceptual frames (the "form of life," dépense and the Bataillean general economy, degrowth and so on).
Core Documentation
- L. Pellizzoni, "Calvalcare l'ingovernabile. Natura, neoliberalismo e nuovi materialismi", Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno 2023.- O. Romano, "Go waste. Depensamento e decrescita", Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno 2023.
Type of delivery of the course
Lectures, in-depth seminars (eventually with other scholars and experts), classroom debates.Type of evaluation
Oral interview on the topics of the course. teacher profile teaching materials
Humanities and social sciences, increasingly dominated by a neo-materialist perspective, play an ambiguous role in this framework: on the one hand, they aim to eco-critically denounce all forms of domination of the human and the non-human; on the other hand, by working on the deconstruction of some traditional dualisms (nature/culture, nature/technology, words/things, reality/knowledge, living/non-living, etc.), they contribute to settle a de-regulation imaginary in which ecological threats, far from being opposed, are actually indulged.
With this awareness, we will try to reflect on the possible ways out, exploring the analytical, critical, and political potential of some liminal conceptual frames (the "form of life," dépense and the Bataillean general economy, degrowth and so on).
- O. Romano, "Go waste. Depensamento e decrescita", Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno 2023.
Mutuazione: 20710678 INTRODUZIONE ALLE ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES in Scienze umane per l'ambiente LM-1 ROMANO ONOFRIO
Programme
We will firstly define the main characteristics and contents of the Environmental humanities study area. Then we will focus on how humanities and social sciences stand before the regulatory ontology of the neoliberal growth system. This is based on an apparently contradictory mixture of vitalistic unleashing and rational anticipatory ordering, where the goal is no longer disciplining the living system and the living beings but the possibility to profit from indeterminacy, i.e. from the continuous liberation of energy.Humanities and social sciences, increasingly dominated by a neo-materialist perspective, play an ambiguous role in this framework: on the one hand, they aim to eco-critically denounce all forms of domination of the human and the non-human; on the other hand, by working on the deconstruction of some traditional dualisms (nature/culture, nature/technology, words/things, reality/knowledge, living/non-living, etc.), they contribute to settle a de-regulation imaginary in which ecological threats, far from being opposed, are actually indulged.
With this awareness, we will try to reflect on the possible ways out, exploring the analytical, critical, and political potential of some liminal conceptual frames (the "form of life," dépense and the Bataillean general economy, degrowth and so on).
Core Documentation
- L. Pellizzoni, "Calvalcare l'ingovernabile. Natura, neoliberalismo e nuovi materialismi", Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno 2023.- O. Romano, "Go waste. Depensamento e decrescita", Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno 2023.
Type of delivery of the course
Lectures, in-depth seminars (eventually with other scholars and experts), classroom debates.Type of evaluation
Oral interview on the topics of the course.