Course description
The University of Macerata offers an intensive course held by professors Giuseppina Larocca and Irene Zanot. The course is scheduled for the 8th till the 11th of June 2026.
During this intensive module, students will be introduced to the concepts of voice, intonation, and silence, approached not merely as phonetic or stylistic features of language, but as dialogical dimensions shaped by the presence of the other and by the inherently social nature of speech and silence. Voice, intonation, and silence will be examined as meaningful practices embedded in social interaction and cultural contexts.
The module is structured around a combination of theoretical lectures, multidisciplinary discussions, and practical activities:
- The theoretical session (1 lecture, 2 hours) will examine the meaning of voice and silence in artistic production, as well as in everyday practice, in order to highlight how they function as expressions of individual identity.
- The multidisciplinary sessions consist of 4 hours (2 lectures by Irene Zanot and Giuseppina Larocca) and will explore the role of voice and silence from multiple perspectives, including linguistics, literary studies, philosophy, dialogue interpreting, and audiovisual translation. Special emphasis will be placed on the material and experiential impact of these phenomena in everyday life.
- In addition, the module includes a lecture on opera (2 hours), focusing on the relationship between voice, performance, and space. This lecture is closely connected to a guided visit to the Sferisterio, the historic open-air theatre of the city of Macerata, renowned for its rich and internationally recognized artistic programme. The visit is conceived as an experiential learning activity, allowing students to directly engage with the material, architectural, and acoustic dimensions of voice and silence in an opera context.
Alongside these activities, students will participate in seminar-style discussions and laboratory-based activities, designed to foster critical engagement with the topics addressed. These sessions will include comparative analyses of different cultures and societies, with the aim of identifying shared foundations linking language, silence, and emotional expression. Particular attention will be devoted to debates on language and silence as forms of power and control, examined from political, racial, and gender perspectives.
Students will work in groups throughout the module to develop an original project applying the theoretical frameworks introduced during the course.
The final day of the intensive module will be focused to the presentation and collective discussion of group projects, involving both students and professors. A total of 4 hours will be allocated to the evaluation of students’ group work, complemented by contemporary and up-to-date comparisons involving popular brands and artists, in order to connect academic reflection with current cultural practices.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the intensive courses the students will be able to:
- recognize the ways in which speech, voice and silence can be written in a literary or in a non-literary text;
- identify the ways in which speech, voice and silence can be represented in art (both plastic art and painting);
- recognize the role of intonation and silence in music and opera;
- distinguish the different values and symbols inherent to speech, voice and silence, also with reference to political and gender issues.
Assessment methods
Oral presentation of group work. Each group will prepare and present a project consisting of an original application of the theoretical content from a selected course lecture.
Who can apply?
The course is open to 20 Bachelor and Master students from ERUA universities. Applicants should have a good level of English (B2).
A general knowledge of European modern and contemporary history and culture are appreciated as it is appreciated an interest in European literature.
How to apply
Apply by 29th April 2026 sending Cover letter and Academic CV, filling in the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzrW5nWRGV5ezVHNmB0bda1wcfC-0Gp27Vi3ZTis87SPt0yw/viewform?usp=dialog
For any further info, please contact: tobia.ciarrocchi@unimc.it
