The course aims to explore the social and cultural aspects related to contemporary consumption practices. Special attention will be paid to ethnographic methods of classifying and describing social practices, which enable the analysis of practices as forms and processes of value attribution and transformation. The focus on ethnographic analysis of practices allows for the identification of key factors for understanding the relationship between consumption choices and the construction of specific identities. This approach also highlights the social and territorial impact of consumption dynamics related to specific areas, such as food, cultural tourism, and food and wine tourism.

• Introduction and examples from the socio-anthropological context of consumption studies
• Ethnographic research methods and techniques for analyzing consumption phenomena.
• Consumption practices as forms of valorization: examples and preliminary case studies for the group work.
• Building research on consumption practices, selecting a case study from the following areas: tourist practices, food consumption practices, food and wine tourism practices.
• Group work and in-class presentation of a case study on consumption practices

1. Knowledge and understanding: students should understand the basics of practice theory, understand what practices are and what conceptual tools to use to observe them.

1.1.  Students reach these basic knowledge attending lessons, studying mentioned textbooks and case histories shown in class.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding: students should be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of contemporary consumption practices

2.2. Students reach these skills by laboratory activities during class hours.

3. Making informed judgments: students should be able to present and discuss the issues and concepts presented in the course.

3.1. Students reach and demonstrate these skills during debates with the Professor and with the class, during laboratory activities and during the preparation of the final exam.

4. Communication skills: students should have the necessary communication skills and basic competence in the specialist language of the discipline.

4.1. Students reach these skills organizing discussions, excercises and presentations.

5. Learning skills: students have to adopt a critical approach while studying in order to connect theoretical knowledge with empirical analysis.

5.1. Students strengthen these skills debating with the Professor and the rest of the class. 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Seminars aligned with the teaching topics and collaboration between the teacher and students in designing group research activities, to be conducted both in class and independently, are expected to be organized.

Teaching

Lectures, presentations of case histories, team works and laboratory activities.

Innovative teaching methods

Part of the course is devoted to in-class group work. During these sessions, there will be debates, problem-based learning, and design and research related to the course topics, with active participation from both students and the lecturer.

Attendance

Students must take part to at least the 3/4 of the classes; Study of assigned readings

Course books

J.M. Floch (1992) Semiotica, Marketing e Comunicazione, Milano, Franco Angeli (introduction and first three chapter)

Sassatelli R., Santoro M., Semi G. (2015) Fronteggiare la crisi. Come cambia lo stile di vita del ceto medio, Bologna, il Mulino (introduzione, first and three chapter)

Sassatelli R. (a cura di - 2024) Consumo e teoria sociale, Bologna, il Mulino (introduzione, chapter I, II, IV e VI)

Those who choose not to participate in the group work must also bring one article of their choice from the following options.

Bartoletti R., Paltrinieri R., Parmiggiani P. (2022) Pratiche di consumo alla prova del Covid-19, Milano, Franco Angeli (pp. 1-42; 93-116)

Mariani E. (2023) Osservare, Immergersi, Produrre. Immagini del borgo e forme di valorizzazione nelle aree interne italiane: il caso di Castelluccio di Norcia. E|C, (38), 147-162. Retrieved from https://mimesisjournals.com/ojs/index.php/ec/article/view/3100

Semi G., Caselli D. (2015), “La casa e il quartiere del ceto medio a Bolognina e Isola”, in Sassatelli R., Santoro M., Semi G., Fronteggiare la crisi. Come cambia lo stile di vita del ceto medio, Bologna, il Mulino, pp. 51-95.

Sedda F., Sorrentino P. (2021) “Piaceri e tormenti dell’isola paradiso. La Sardegna fra strategie di comunicazione, immagini in rete, pratiche turistiche”, in Pezzini I., Virgolin L., a cura di, Usi e piaceri del turismo. Percorsi semiotici, Torino, Aracne, pp. 167-190.

Assessment

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting.

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

To provide the opportunity for non-attending students to balance out their individual study with the content of the lessons and gain a full understanding of the course, the programme includes following supplementary materials

Course books

J.M. Floch (1992) Semiotica, Marketing e Comunicazione, Milano, Franco Angeli (introduction and first three chapter)

Sassatelli R., Santoro M., Semi G. (2015) Fronteggiare la crisi. Come cambia lo stile di vita del ceto medio, Bologna, il Mulino (introduzione and first three chapter)

Sassatelli R. (a cura di - 2024) Consumo e teoria sociale, Bologna, il Mulino 

Assessment

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting.

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.