| A C T I V I T I E S | ||
| musicology | ||
| semiotics | ||
| teaching | ||
| other academic activities | ||
| music | ||
| writing | ||
| graphics |
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A brief report of my main concerns |
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| At
present, my main concerns are the following:
1) Zoomusicology. It's my main field of expertise, and possibly the topic I'm mostly interested in. I'm currently working on a new, revised zoomusicological book for the American publisher University of Scranton Press, on the Italian version of it for Il Saggiatore (both forthcoming in 2008, if everything goes smooth), and I'm editing a special issue of the ethnomusicological journal TRANS on the topic. 2) Electronic music. My main concern here is error aesthetics. 3) Popular music. I'm interested mainly in theoretical aspects concerning style, performance and aesthetics. UP |
| Zoosemiotics remains my main concern. I'm trying to frame the paradigm of the discipline in such a way that it includes the semiotic interaction between humans and other animals. This aspect was anticipated by Sebeok (founder of zoosemiotics) in some of his writings, however it was never fully developed by his followers. A book on the topic
was published in early 2007. More are on the way, namely a critical
companion for the German publisher Springer, and a special issue of
the semiotic journal Sign System Studies. I'm constantly interested in ethically-aware approaches to zoosemiotics. That is why most of my methodological work focuses on such issues as biocentrism, anthropomorphism/zoomorphism, intergroup biases in the human/other animal relationship, and the concept of 'animal'. A book on the topic is in preparation. Closely related with zoomusicology is my work on the foundation of aesthetic phenomena. I consider the latter as significantly connected with deceiving and play behaviour. Beside zoosemiotics, I have a major interest in Film Semiotics, with a special focus on Italian Cinema, and on several stylistical aspects. A collection of film semiotic essays will be published in 2008 by the Italian publisher Barbieri&Selvaggi. UP |
| At
present, I'm responsible for the Biosemiotic Unit at the Finnish
Network University of Semiotics, for which I've also prepared an
on-line course.
I've achieved the docentship (or Associate Professorship) in Semiotics and Musicology at the University of Helsinki. During 2006 and 2007, I've also been teaching Musicology and/or Semiotics in several European institutions, namely the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari (Italy), the Music Academy in Barcelona (Spain), and the New Bulgarian University (Sofia, Bulgaria). For the Academic
Year 2007-08, the following courses are scheduled: I'm currently supervising the PhD theses of four students. |
| With Guido
Ipsen, from the University of Dortmund (Germany), and Merja Bauters, from the University of Helsinki, I have co-founded a publishing series named "UmWeb", a pun between Umwelt (referring to
von Uexkull's theory on the semiotic environment) and 'web'. The first publication, which the three of us co-edited, is entitled "Semiotics from S to S", and features a preface by Eero Tarasti.
At present, Umweb has published 3 collections of essays, 2
monographs, and the proceedings of 1 conference (the biosemiotic
gatherings of 2006). On the works are the proceedings for another
conference (the International Congress on Musical Signification of
2006).
In 2007, together
with Lina Navickaite, and still for Umweb, I co-founded the academic
journal "IF - Journal of Italo-Finnish studies", of which
I'm co-editor-in-chief with Navickaite herself. I've been Secretary
General of the next Congress on Musical
Signifiication (19-23/9/2006 in Rome), and part of the organising
and scientific committee of the next World
Congress of the International Association for Semiotic Studies
(6/2007, Helsinki). |
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My main concern in music is composition. I'm mainly into songwriting and experimental-electronic music. I haven't had any professional/academic training as a
performer: I play a few instruments, but none of them as a virtuoso. I occasionally DJ for radio programs. Until summer 2007, I've been involved in the programs RadioFo and SemioRadio, both for the Helsinki radio station Lähiradio. At present, three
recordings featuring my music are scheduled for release in 2008: |
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Several monographs and edited collections are on the works, and scheduled for publication in 2008 and 2009: - MONOGRAPHS: - EDITED
COLLECTIONS I also have two columns in the on-line magazine La Rondine (directed by Nicola Rainò): one is called "Caro Dario" (letters from the readers), and the second one is "Teladoiolafinlandia" (ironic portraits of Finland). I must however admit that my contribution to the magazine is poorer and poorer, due to lack of time. Sorry Nicola! UP |
| Partly as a hobby, and partly with a more serious attitude, I've started free-lancing as a graphic-designer. Works include book covers, CD covers, ads, websites and other minor things. A detailed portfolio is available at www.umweb.org/portfolio UP |