Ateneo - UPO

The course discusses the construction of the planetary imaginary during the 20th century. We will analyse philosophical texts from the phenomenological tradition, visual atlases of US counterculture and contemporary theoretical essays to comprehend how the planetarization process unfolded (and continues to unfold) on the aesthetic and artistic plane and at the level of sociotechnical imaginaries.

Edmund Husserl, Rovesciamento della dottrina copernicana nell’interpretazione della corrente visione del mondo, “Aut-Aut”, 245/1991; Martin Heidegger, L’origine dell’opera d’arte, in Holzwege. Sentieri erranti nella selva, Bompiani 2002; Stewart Brand, Whole Earth Catalog (selected passages); Tommaso Morawski, Matteo Vegetti, Earthscapes. Le conseguenze della visione della Terra dallo spazio, Donzelli 2023 (selected texts); Jean-Luc Nancy, La creazione del mondo o la mondializzazione, Einaudi 2003 (selected passages); Deborah Danowski, Eduardo Viveiros De Castro, Esiste un mondo a venire? Saggio sulla paura della fine, Nottetempo 2017 (selected passages).

At a basic level, the course aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the main topics, concepts and problems addressed in the course; the ability to understand and analyse the texts and philosophical problems included in the programme; the ability to present the contents clearly, using appropriate disciplinary terminology. At an advanced level, the course aims to develop in-depth and structured knowledge of the topics, concepts, and authors addressed in the course; the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to the analysis and interpretation of the texts and problems discussed; the ability to establish independent and well-argued connections between different topics, authors, and perspectives, using rigorous disciplinary terminology.

Knowledge of the Italian language.

Lectures with slides (available in the course’s DIR area), reading and discussion of texts, seminar discussions.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) or Special Educational Needs (BES) can request specific services and tools dedicated to them by contacting the Career Development and Coordination and Student Services Staff and consulting the dedicated page of the University website (https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentidisabili- e-dsa). Students with disabilities, DSA or BES, once they have made contact with the University Staff, they can contact the professor regarding educational aspects and examination mode.

The assessment is designed to verify the achievement of the course objectives and intended learning outcomes, both at a basic and at an advanced level. The final test consists in an 15/20-minutes long oral exam which verifies the learning objectives. The minimum passing level corresponds to knowledge of the fundamental contents and the ability to correctly reconstruct the main topics, concepts, and arguments addressed in the course. An advanced level requires, in addition to knowledge of the contents, the ability to carry out critical analysis and interpretation, establish connections, and formulate independent arguments, using disciplinary terminology rigorously. Top marks will be assigned on the basis of the accuracy, in-depth analysis and capacity of elaboration of the answers as well as the capacity of drawing connections internal to the program and critical references to concrete cases.

First part: phenomenological theories of the Earth and the representation of space. Second part: emergence of the planetary imaginary and planetary cosciousness in the 1960s, regimes of representation of the planet, Whole Earth aesthetics. Third part: theories of planetarization, planetary aesthetics, discussion of contemporary issues (ecological and post-planetary imaginaries, geopraxis, geopower).

At a basic level, at the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main contents, concepts, and problems addressed in the course; reconstruct the main theses and arguments of the authors and texts studied; correctly use the main concepts and disciplinary terminology. At an advanced level, at the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse the texts, theses, and problems addressed in the course; apply the knowledge acquired to the interpretation of the texts and problems proposed; establish independent and well-argued connections between the different topics, authors, and problems addressed.