introduction to environmental humanities
(objectives)
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
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