S1625 Management of the Industrial and Crafts Heritage
Fontana Giovanni Luigi, Caracausi Andrea
This course aims to bring together the perspectives of material and immaterial heritage, allowing students to familiarize themselves with a key asset of our contemporary world. The current processes of de-industrialization in many countries across the globe invite us to reflect on the potential offered by the material heritage built environment, cities and regions. On the other hand, as these industries often relied on the long-term evolution of crafts and technical skills, preserving and managing the knowledge of that immaterial heritage represent a challenge for creative industries, museum curators and policy-makers. We will demonstrate therefore the importance of linking history and planning together as well as the role of historical approaches to industrial and crafts heritage.
Learning outcomes of the course
• Understanding how to manage the industrial and crafts heritage;
• Reading, analysis and discussion of texts on the industrial and crafts heritage;
• Linking theoretical approaches and best practices of the industrial and crafts heritage;
• Ability to reconstruct industrial and craft stories for storytelling;
• Skills in analyzing primary sources and digital tools (web-planning) to promote industrial and craft heritage;
Teaching methods
The course will be based on lectures, class-discussions, and group activities. We will discuss pre-circulated papers, scientific articles and book-chapters on each topic of the course in order to facilitate debate and stimulate critical thinking.
We will combine scientific academic articles with other tools, such as iconography, films, and web sites. The use of primary sources, databases and digital tools will also be introduced and encouraged. Sessions will be diversified and practice in active learning will be acquired through paper writing, working-groups, web site planning and promotion as well as trips to industrial sites and museums. The final aim is to combine theoretical knowledge with actual practices.
Co-curricular activities include two seminars given by museum curators and specialists in media & communication and trip-visits to museums and industrial sites.
Evaluation