Modern humanities

Starting from a reading of Leopardi, and moving in particular from a re-understanding of Leopardi's notion of ‘ultra-philosophy’, the course proposes to explore the semantic polyvalence, and at the same time the theoretical depth, that pertains to the idea of ‘fashion’. Already in Leopardi, in fact, fashion can be described as a figure in which two of the main aspects qualifying the idea of ‘modernity’ are brought together, i.e. are joined in the intimately dual unity of a single mask: of a single allegorical sign. That is, on the one hand, the fall of the Immutable, a fall in which is implicit the possibility of again reflecting (but in what sense, and under what conditions?) on the necessity of ‘saving appearance’, and on the other hand, homologation: the double triumph achieved, in modern times, by abstraction and uniformity. Hence, then, the need for a reading of the ‘fashion form’ that is capable, at the same time, of safeguarding its problematic tenor, which cannot be separated from the ‘dialectical’ nature of the phenomenon, and of focusing on its surprising potential of sense. This is what will be shown through the construction of an itinerary that, starting from Leopardi, from taking up the theoretical challenge (still very topical) expressed by his ‘philosophical theatre’, will be marked by the analysis of some aesthetically crucial places of modern-contemporary reflection on the theme of fashion.

A basic knowledge of philosophical disciplines (corresponding to the level of the upper secondary school) is required. In particular, it is needed a knowledge of the history of philosophy and a mastery of the basic philosophical lexicon.

EXAM TEXTS 1) G. Leopardi, Operette morali, ed. by A. Prete, Feltrinelli, Milano 2023, only the following parts: Introduzione di A. Prete (“Le Operette morali: un libro poetico ovvero morale”), pp. 5-29; Storia del testo, pp. 31-39; Dialogo della Moda e della Morte, pp. 75-78; Il Parini ovvero della gloria, pp. 123-149; Elogio degli uccelli, pp. 179-186; Dialogo di Timandro e di Eleandro, pp. 194-202; Dialogo di Tristano e di un amico, pp. 227-234; 2) L. Fr. H. Svendsen, Filosofia della moda, Guanda editore, Parma 2006; 3) A. Valentini, Moda e Morte in dialogo. Il tragico e il comico nell’“ultrafilosofia” di Giacomo Leopardi, Mimesis, Milano 2025; 4) A. Valentini, Necessità dell’apparenza e memoria dell’effimero: Il doppio volto della moda nella riflessione estetica di Th. W. Adorno, in “Syzetesis”, X, 2023, pp. 59-79 (paper available online at the following link: https://syzetesis.it/doc/rivista/archivio/2023/03-Valentini.pdf );

Attending the course is highly recommended.

The evaluation consists of an oral examination. The following will be assessed (also during the course): 1. Knowledge and comprehension of the texts covered in the course, from their most general aspects down to their details; in particular, the students' ability to read and comment on the texts covered in the course from an aesthetic-philosophical perspective will be assessed, as will their ability to critically analyse specific aspects of them (evaluation points 1-15); 2. The students' ability to express themselves and to master the vocabulary (evaluation points 1-10); 3. The ability to establish transversal connections between the different texts in the programme, as well as between the different themes and problems emerging from their analysis (evaluation points 1-5).

1) P. Colaiacomo, V. Caratozzolo, Cartamodello. Antologia di scrittori e scritture sulla moda, Luca Sossella Editore, Roma 2000; 2) R. Damiani, Commento a G. Leopardi, Poesie e prose, volume II, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Milano 1988; 3) F. D’Intino, L’immagine della voce. Leopardi, Platone e il libro morale, Marsilio, Venezia 2009 4) U. Dotti, Lo sguardo sul mondo. Introduzione a Leopardi, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1999; 5) A. Prete, Il pensiero poetante. Saggio su Leopardi, Feltrinelli, Milano 1980; 6) M. A. Rigoni, Il pensiero di Leopardi, La Scuola di Pitagora editrice, Napoli 2020 7) F. Secchieri, Con leggerezza apparente. Etica e ironia nelle “Operette morali”, Mucchi editore, Modena 1992; 8) The bibliographical indications contained in the teacher’s book and in the teacher's paper included in the examination texts.

Frontal lessons. The texts presented will be read, commented and interpreted, under an aesthetical-philosophical perspective, also by means of the valorisation of the intertextual links and by using historical-artistic and historical-literary references, with the aim to focus on and to newly understand the theoretical questions object of the course. The first lessons of the course will have an introductory character (under both the theoretical and the methodological profile). The following lessons will be dedicated to the reading and to the analysis of the adopted texts. The attention will be oriented, in particular, towards the exploration of the principal theoretical and problematic knots of the course. The active participation of students (e.g. through questions and/or requests for clarification) will be encouraged and stimulated during the lessons. In relation to specific occasions, appropriately selected by the teacher, the lesson may take on a more markedly interactive and laboratory character, also as an ongoing check of the knowledge/skills gradually acquired by the students.

Starting from a reading of Leopardi, and moving in particular from a re-understanding of Leopardi's notion of ‘ultra-philosophy’, the course proposes to explore the semantic polyvalence, and at the same time the theoretical depth, that pertains to the idea of ‘fashion’. Already in Leopardi, in fact, fashion can be described as a figure in which two of the main aspects qualifying the idea of ‘modernity’ are brought together, i.e. are joined in the intimately dual unity of a single mask: of a single allegorical sign. That is, on the one hand, the fall of the Immutable, a fall in which is implicit the possibility of again reflecting (but in what sense, and under what conditions?) on the necessity of ‘saving appearance’, and on the other hand, homologation: the double triumph achieved, in modern times, by abstraction and uniformity. Hence, then, the need for a reading of the ‘fashion form’ that is capable, at the same time, of safeguarding its problematic tenor, which cannot be separated from the ‘dialectical’ nature of the phenomenon, and of focusing on its surprising potential of sense. This is what will be shown through the construction of an itinerary that, starting from Leopardi, from taking up the theoretical challenge (still very topical) expressed by his ‘philosophical theatre’, will be marked by the analysis of some aesthetically crucial places of modern-contemporary reflection on the theme of fashion.

A basic knowledge of philosophical disciplines (corresponding to the level of the upper secondary school) is required. In particular, it is needed a knowledge of the history of philosophy and a mastery of the basic philosophical lexicon.

EXAM TEXTS 1) G. Leopardi, Operette morali, ed. by A. Prete, Feltrinelli, Milano 2023, only the following parts: Introduzione di A. Prete (“Le Operette morali: un libro poetico ovvero morale”), pp. 5-29; Storia del testo, pp. 31-39; Dialogo della Moda e della Morte, pp. 75-78; Il Parini ovvero della gloria, pp. 123-149; Elogio degli uccelli, pp. 179-186; Dialogo di Timandro e di Eleandro, pp. 194-202; Dialogo di Tristano e di un amico, pp. 227-234; 2) L. Fr. H. Svendsen, Filosofia della moda, Guanda editore, Parma 2006; 3) A. Valentini, Moda e Morte in dialogo. Il tragico e il comico nell’“ultrafilosofia” di Giacomo Leopardi, Mimesis, Milano 2025; 4) A. Valentini, Necessità dell’apparenza e memoria dell’effimero: Il doppio volto della moda nella riflessione estetica di Th. W. Adorno, in “Syzetesis”, X, 2023, pp. 59-79 (paper available online at the following link: https://syzetesis.it/doc/rivista/archivio/2023/03-Valentini.pdf );

Attending the course is highly recommended.

The evaluation consists of an oral examination. The following will be assessed (also during the course): 1. Knowledge and comprehension of the texts covered in the course, from their most general aspects down to their details; in particular, the students' ability to read and comment on the texts covered in the course from an aesthetic-philosophical perspective will be assessed, as will their ability to critically analyse specific aspects of them (evaluation points 1-15); 2. The students' ability to express themselves and to master the vocabulary (evaluation points 1-10); 3. The ability to establish transversal connections between the different texts in the programme, as well as between the different themes and problems emerging from their analysis (evaluation points 1-5).

1) P. Colaiacomo, V. Caratozzolo, Cartamodello. Antologia di scrittori e scritture sulla moda, Luca Sossella Editore, Roma 2000; 2) R. Damiani, Commento a G. Leopardi, Poesie e prose, volume II, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Milano 1988; 3) F. D’Intino, L’immagine della voce. Leopardi, Platone e il libro morale, Marsilio, Venezia 2009 4) U. Dotti, Lo sguardo sul mondo. Introduzione a Leopardi, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1999; 5) A. Prete, Il pensiero poetante. Saggio su Leopardi, Feltrinelli, Milano 1980; 6) M. A. Rigoni, Il pensiero di Leopardi, La Scuola di Pitagora editrice, Napoli 2020 7) F. Secchieri, Con leggerezza apparente. Etica e ironia nelle “Operette morali”, Mucchi editore, Modena 1992; 8) The bibliographical indications contained in the teacher’s book and in the teacher's paper included in the examination texts.

Frontal lessons. The texts presented will be read, commented and interpreted, under an aesthetical-philosophical perspective, also by means of the valorisation of the intertextual links and by using historical-artistic and historical-literary references, with the aim to focus on and to newly understand the theoretical questions object of the course. The first lessons of the course will have an introductory character (under both the theoretical and the methodological profile). The following lessons will be dedicated to the reading and to the analysis of the adopted texts. The attention will be oriented, in particular, towards the exploration of the principal theoretical and problematic knots of the course. The active participation of students (e.g. through questions and/or requests for clarification) will be encouraged and stimulated during the lessons. In relation to specific occasions, appropriately selected by the teacher, the lesson may take on a more markedly interactive and laboratory character, also as an ongoing check of the knowledge/skills gradually acquired by the students.