Reading Between the Humorous Lines
Students will be familiarised with the main linguistic and non-linguistic theories of humour (starting from March 3rd, 2025) – 14 hours of online classes. 1) kick-off meeting presenting in detail the aims of the project, the topics, the approaches. – 2 h – March 6, from 6 pm CET. 2) courses (introducing the main concepts and theoretical and methodological approaches; commenting on the relevant theories, approaches and methods): a) social and psychoanalytical theories of humour; General Theory of Verbal Humour 2 h - March 13 or 14?, from 6 pm CET. b) conversational humour approaches 2h – March 20, from 6 pm CET. c) humour translation; 2h – March 27, from 6 pm CET. d)-e) humorous mechanisms, multimodality included, social and communicative functions. 4 h – April 3 and April 10, from 6 pm CET. 3) presenting the tasks and the criteria for assessment, offering feedback on students’ proposals for research projects (e.g. the adequacy of the topic, the pertinence of the research methods, etc.). 2 h – April 24, from 6 pm CET. Virtual part after the physical component: 6 hours – tutoring for the projects (May 10 – June 10, 2025), on discriminatory humorous texts as well as discussing ways of cultivating other people’s critical literacy on such humour in education, the workplace, in peer groups, etc. Explore not only the bright side of humour, but also the way it can perpetuate, spread, or uphold forms of social discrimination, develop your critical literacy skills, and increase your social engagement, in your native language and your other language(s).
Application Deadline
Virtual Part starting date
2025-03-03
Virtual Part closing date
2025-06-11
Total student workload
160
Specific field of studies
Linguistics, Sociology, Philosophy, Education Sciences, Political Sciences, Languages, Translation
Pre-requisite for selection
Motivation Letter
Level of English (According to CEFR)
Academic pre-requisites for applicants
Humanities or Social Science background
Physical Part starting date
2025-05-05
Physical Part Description
The courses during the physical component will focus on specific kinds of humour which may reproduce social inequalities. Students will be asked to collect memes, cartoons, video clips, videos etc., on the topics of racist humour, ethnic humour, aggressive humour, humour and trauma, humour and healing, etc. and bring them into the classroom. Students will be trained to analyse humour in a critical manner, detecting the discriminatory messages, the messages promoting social inequality and injustice, and simultaneously to explore ways or actions of social engagement and activism. These courses are meant to increase the students’ engagement and to boost their analytical skills. They will also be able to compare how homour works transculturally and across different languages. Hence, we plan to invite humour professionals to share their experience with the students:
1. Stand-up comedy show performed by a professional Italian American comedian, Marsha De Salvatore. This one-woman show talks about her chronic illness (i.e., Beta-Thalassemia Major). Activism is contributing to fighting ableism. The show will be followed by a discussion with the comedian who will elaborate on the rationale behind this show and the reasons that motivated it.
2. Meet the Cartoonist, Michela Rossi. Students will have the opportunity to meet and engage in discussion with Michela Rossi, a cartoonist and graphic designer, who will talk about her daily activities, the sources of her inspiration and the ethical and ideological concerns that her work implies.
Physical Part closing date
2025-05-09
Language level required
B2
Field of studies related to the course
Social Science and Humanities
Course location
Rome, Italy
Course language
English