The course aims to provide students with the basics of book history and the history of bibliography and to develop knowledge of bibliographic research and citation. At the end of the course, students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the subject of bibliography and other documentary sciences, the historical evolution of the book as an object and of bibliography as a discipline, and the methods and techniques of bibliographic research and citation. They must also demonstrate that they can communicate clearly and correctly the content they have learnt and that they have mastered the specialist vocabulary of the subject.
Course Prerequisites
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for the degree admission.
Teaching Methods
Teaching is delivered through frontal lectures aimed primarily at the acquisition of knowledge, competence and specific language of the subject matter. Discussion with the teacher in the classroom is integrant part of the didactic method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the ability to apply the acquired competence and knowledge. Part of the course has a seminar format that also aims to explore current issues and problems in the publishing system through a choice of topics to be addressed, where possible, in direct confrontation with the sources and with the direct involvement of the students.
Assessment Methods
- Type of examination: oral interrogation - Evaluation criteria: ability to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; ability of critical reflection on the completed work; quality of exposition, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity. - Type of evaluation method: mark in 30s
Texts
International students are invited to promptly get in touch with the Professor to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Contents
Module A: The forms of the book The first module is dedicated to framing historically and to critically discuss the evolution of the book form, from its origins to the present (from the volumen to the codex, from the manuscript to the printed book, from the printed book to the electronic book, etc). Module B: History of bibliography The second module consists in an overview of the development of the historical bibliography as a discipline, with particular attention to the international context and its most recent variants. Module C: Bibliographic resources and citations The third module has a seminar format and it is designed to equip students with the theoretical and practical tools necessary to compile correctly an enumerative bibliography.
