Course 2026-2027 a.y.

The course critically explores cultural phenomena by:

- Presenting the historicity, context and contested nature of the notion of culture;
- Exploring key critical themes in contemporary cultural debate;
- Unpacking, through examples, processes of translation and mediation in cultural productions; 

- Reflecting on the potential and limits of material and visual artefacts as cultural mediators.

• Appraise the role of context in defining, conceptualizing and managing culture.
• Understanding the practical and processual nature of cultural sphere, connected to change and transformation.
• Detect the multidimensional nature of culture, cultural productions and exchanges with a specific focus on social and political aspects.
• Understand the notion of “translation”, “mediations” and “resonance” in order to understand re-enactments that produce cultural diffusion.

• Recognize the context specificity of cultural processes and productions.
• Interpret the implications of cultural changes, being aware of its political and ethical implications.
• Know how to read the multidimensional nature of culture and cultural processes.
• Detect, describe and qualify cultural mediation processes and their implications.
• Build critical, informed and constructive debates.
• Know how to shift frames and adopt vocabularies and discourses in cultural fields.

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Individual works / Assignments
• Collaborative Works / Assignments

Frontal lectures will be coupled with class participation, discussion and debates.

This will allow students to work through complex concepts and operationalize theories as well developing their skills in tackling real issues and situations by applying critically acquired knowledge.

• Guest speakers are selected in order to bring up specific side of the cultural mediation practice, looking at different industrial contexts and different cultural missions.
• Case discussions are presented in order to bring evidence and give foundations to concept debated as well as to expose students to complex environments, stimulating research questions generation and problematization.
• Assignments are used to develop critical thinking and analytical skills through the use of course concepts while also fostering autonomous elaboration of ideas.
• An final examination will test comprehension, understanding and ability to render ideas and concepts absorbed in the class as well in texts, while also accounting for the capacity to express, make connections and elaborate autonomously ideas, insights and practical examples built during the course, class discussions and individual assignement.
• In order to foster dialogue and debates, the class will devote time to moments of interaction and discussions.

Attending students will be evaluated as follow: 

• A final written exam will assess understanding of key topics and approaches, as well as the ability to articulate and present complex ideas.
• Short in-itinere tests will assess general understanding of course concepts and frameworks, as well as the student’s ability to use appropriate vocabulary, make connections and manage complexity. These tests are also designed to help students manage their time and prepare for the final examination throughout the semester.

Students will be successful in the course by showing not only sound understanding of the key concepts presented, but also by participating actively in the discussion, interacting with the field practitioners that will be our guests during the course, and contributing to an engaged and harmonious class environment.

The status of attending student is valid only for the first two exam sessions. After that, all students taking the exam are enrolled as non-attending.

Non attending students will be evaluated as follow:

• A final written exam (closed book).

The exam will verify student's correct understanding of the bibliographic materials. It will further assess the depth of engagement with these materials and the ability to adopt an informed, critical stance.

The evaluation of the final written exam will constitute 100% of the final grade.

Reading list will be provided at the beginning of the semester in the detailed syllabus and course material will be made available in the Course Reserve or trough Bocconi Library. 

Teachers’ slides and other relevant material will be uploaded on Bocconi e-learning platform, Blackboard.

Reading list will be provided at the beginning of the semester in the detailed syllabus and course material will be made available in the Course Reserve or trough Bocconi Library. 

Non attending students from previous academic years will be evaluated on this a.y. bibliography.