Modern Philology

prof. Gresti Paolo, programme coordinator

The Graduate Programme in Modern Philology aims to provide, on the one hand, a solid and extensive disciplinary and methodological preparation to future teachers of Literature in lower and upper secondary schools; and to train, on the other hand, highly versatile and advanced professionals in the fields of book and multimedia publishing, library and archival conservation of book heritage and  historical memory, cultural planning and services, performing arts and screen, promotion of events, information and public communication.

To this end, on the common basis of some courses in the linguistic-literary area, concentrated in the first year of studies, aimed at ensuring advanced competence in the field of Italian language history, forms, genres, tradition and literary modernity, the programme is divided into several training paths, designed in view of the different professional profiles mentioned above, within the common horizon of a  humanistic approach to the history and expressions of human civilization, with particular regard to the national reality. The targeted development of skills and abilities will insist, depending on the case, on the more exquisitely philological-critical-literary side, or on that of editorial production and conservation of the book heritage, on the historical horizon of political-social, cultural and religious events or on the multiple forms of artistic expressiveness, on the performing arts or on the media-communicational universe.
In particular, the presence of courses in the philological, glottological, historical-critical, aesthetic and semiological areas is aimed at the acquisition of refined tools of textual analysis, interpretation and edition of works, to train specific skills in the creative production or revision of texts, in the exercise of criticism and in the selection of works in the editorial field. The disciplines of the historical area, in addition to providing the indispensable political-economic-social coordinates for the development of Italian, European and Mediterranean culture and civilization, ensure the necessary skills in the field of archival research, the study of documents, the conservation and enhancement of memories. In this context, the specific field of historical-religious teachings, while guaranteeing an essential support for the understanding of a cultural heritage often characterized by obvious religious implications, prepares, among other things, for the fulfilment of similar tasks in the field of ecclesiastical heritage.
The book and publishing area, covered with various specialized courses and laboratories, combines library skills that can be spent within libraries and archives with those of editorial production and marketing. Finally, the area of visual and performing arts outlines the versatile profile of an expert in languages and forms of expression, able to hold managerial and creative roles within conservative institutions, trade magazines, theaters, agencies specialized in the conception, organization and production of live shows, parties and events. Each course will ensure the accumulation, in the chosen field, of intellectual skills and advanced, autonomous and creative operational skills, combining lectures with integrative teaching of a distinctly interactive and experimental  nature (workshops, exercises, projects, case studies) and field experiences (internships and internships). Due emphasis will be given to the edition of the texts, as well as to the methodologically equipped analysis and  the critically informed and bibliographically informed interpretation of the works; the historical dimension of the phenomena studied, taking into account the changes and epochal turning points, but also  the authoritativeness of the canonical authors, the continuity of tradition and intertextual practice; the treatment of theoretical-epistemological issues and interdisciplinary aspects; the maturation of an overall vision of human facts and signs over time; the methodology of the research, the places, the sources and the tools, ancient and modern, available; skills in the analysis and interpretation of artistic, performing art, communication and media promotion contexts, in particular in their intermedial dimensions and in their relationship with literature; practical experimentation of operational techniques in the field, through exercises, laboratories and internships; finally, to carry out original research, in progress, within specific teaching activities, and of course to crown the cycle of studies, with the degree dissertation.