In terms of knowledge, the course aims to:
• Develop familiarity with the evolution of the cultural economy, including its philosophical aspects
• Understand the concepts of market, mainstream, and counterculture, and their current dynamics
• Become familiar with cultural property and activity law
In terms of skills, the course aims to:
• Develop critical reading skills regarding cultural dynamics
• Be able to apply this critical perspective to practical cases
Knowledge of the contemporary cultural context in order to be able to place the course topics in the relevant segment.
The course is delivered through in-person lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations, which will be made available to attending students. Active attendance and participation are highly encouraged, as the course aims to develop critical tools for understanding contemporary culture through a practical and dynamic approach involving discussion.
Throughout the course, attending students will be invited to read the bibliography progressively indicated.
Experts and cultural practitioners will be invited to share their experiences with students.
The final exam is oral and evaluates, through a series of open-ended questions, the student’s preparation and development of the competencies addressed during the course (or through self-study for non-attending students).
Specifically, students will be expected to analyze contemporary cultural dynamics and apply them to real-world cases and experiences.
The following competencies will be assessed:
• Ability to work independently with solid analytical tools
• Breadth of reasoning, intellectual curiosity, and lateral thinking
• Contextual analysis and personal critical thinking
• Accuracy of language
The course will examine contemporary cultural dynamics starting from the economic history and related studies from the post-WWII period to the present.
It will cover the relationship between mainstream and counterculture through the lens of punk and rap, the development of new cultural forms such as comics and publishing, the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on creative and legal relationships, cultural labor and the gaps in its regulation, the evolution of pricing in cultural consumption (e.g., concerts and theatre) as well as in film production.
It will also present methods for impact assessment and key elements of cultural heritage law.
Significant attention will be given to the art market, starting with the analysis of key players in the value chain and moving to the examination of the relationships that regulate the market.
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