The Renaissance Revolution. To the Roots of Modernity

The course examines Humanism and the Renaissance, from a perspective that weaves together the figurative arts, philosophical and political thought, literature and civil society. In the political sphere, Machiavelli and Guicciardini are considered. Literary texts by Ariosto and Michelangelo will studied. The works of these extraordinary personalities are studied in relation to the historical context with reference to decisive events (1441, 1492, 1494, 1525, 1527) and in relation to the issues of language; human dignity, freedom and individual creativity relevant to the period. Other topics will include the return to antiquity, the new philology; the foundation of models and countermodels; the official norm and parody of the official norm, as well as female Petrarchism.