Fashion studies

The Twentieth Century: Political, Social and Economic History of Mass Society The course will examine the main events of contemporary history in the twentieth century, with particular attention to the social and cultural phenomena that characterized the rise of mass society, from the early 1900s to the beginning of the twenty-first century. A specific focus will also be devoted to June 2, 1946, the founding date of the Italian Republic, as a symbolic moment of political rebirth and the start of a new democratic season. Particular attention will finally be given to the history of mass society and to the historical roots of Italy’s emergence as a global reference point in the field of fashion.

Knowledge of the main themes of the history of the Nineteenth century: the industrial revolutions, the Italian Risorgimento, nations and nationalisms, and the birth of mass society.

G. Sabbatucci, V. Vidotto, Storia Contemporanea. Dalla Grande Guerra a oggi, Laterza, Roma, 2019 U. Gentiloni, 2 giugno, il Mulino, Bologna, 2025 E. Scarpellini, La stoffa dell'Italia. Storia e cultura della moda dal 1945 a oggi, Laterza, Roma, 2017 (esclusi il cap. I e il cap. III)

Attendance is recommended but not mandatory.

The achievement of the expected learning outcomes will be verified through an individual oral examination. The exam will consist of open-ended questions on the topics covered in lectures and in the reference materials. It is designed to assess: - Knowledge and understanding of the main events and processes of twentieth-century and early twenty-first-century history, with particular attention to mass society, June 2, 1946 as the founding date of the Italian Republic, and the history of fashion; - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding, through the critical analysis of texts, sources, and historical phenomena; - Autonomy of judgement, by evaluating the student’s ability to elaborate personal interpretations and to identify connections, continuities, and contradictions; -Communication skills, in terms of clarity of exposition, accuracy of terminology, and capacity for argumentation; - Learning skills, demonstrated through the autonomous use of sources and materials for further study and critical connections. The choice of an oral examination is motivated by the need to assess not only the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, but also mastery of disciplinary language, argumentative skills, and the ability to critically connect the various contents of the course, in coherence with the expected learning outcomes.

The teaching activity is structured around two complementary components. On the one hand, the lecture, which provides students with the theoretical foundations, conceptual frameworks, and key interpretative tools; on the other, the seminar discussion, which fosters critical engagement with the texts and topics covered, encouraging dialogue, active participation, and the development of argumentative skills. The lectures will be supported by the use of Prezi, PowerPoint, Mentimeter, and audiovisual materials (videos) in order to make the presentations more dynamic, interactive, and effective. The integration of these approaches makes it possible to consolidate knowledge and to strengthen analytical and reflective skills.