Alessandro Macilenti - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

PhD by Alessandro Macilenti

Research paper thumbnail of Delta Blues: An Ecocritique

Alessandro Macilenti is a graduate student of Italian at the School of Languages and Cultures of ... more Alessandro Macilenti is a graduate student of Italian at the School of Languages and Cultures of the Victoria University of Wellington. He is interested in determining how literary language can convey urgency to the environmentalist narrative and can increase awareness of environmental degradation among readers.

Research paper thumbnail of Conference Notes: Mourning as Adaptation to Ecological Loss

Environmental ethics identifies the ultimate source of environmental loss in assumptions deeply e... more Environmental ethics identifies the ultimate source of environmental loss in assumptions deeply embedded in modern culture, such as humanity's supremacy over nature, the pursuit of never-ending economic growth, and the very idea of progress as accumulation of material wealth. This socio-economic model is unsustainable and yet, challenging such basic tenets of modernity is difficult because of the common feeling of powerlessness that results from an inability to imagine possible alternatives. Here, I introduce the audience to Rosemary Randall's framework on mourning ecological loss and show how socially engaged literary writing provides an ideal framework allowing the individual to overcome powerlessness and denial. I show how stories about individuals grappling with environmental loss affect readers' psychology and provide models which reveal possible paths toward healing and change. Climate change epitomises humanity's dysfunctional relationship with nature and provides a framework through which I address all types of environmental concerns. Aitken et al. identify the main reason for the lack of meaningful action 1

Research paper thumbnail of Research proposal: Italian Literary Writing in the Late Anthropocene

The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manife... more The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manifest themselves in the mid-twentieth century. It is increasingly clear that the current environmental crisis poses an unprecedented existential threat to civilization as well as to Homo sapiens itself. Whereas the physical and social sciences have been defining the now inevitable transition to a very different (and more inhospitable) Earth, the humanities have yet to assert their role as a transformative force in the current environmental criticalities.
My thesis shows how Italian literature draws from the treasure-trove of the emotive to exert powerful psychological effects on the reader, therefore representing an invaluable tool to introduce the Italian public to the discomforting truths of a rapidly degrading global ecosystem while avoiding the polarising effect which haunts impersonal science communication.

Master's by Alessandro Macilenti

Research paper thumbnail of Il ruolo del gioco nel gioco di ruolo: interpretare la didattica ludica nella classe di italiano lingua straniera

Questa tesi esplorerà le caratteristiche e le potenzialità del gioco di ruolo “carta e penna” com... more Questa tesi esplorerà le caratteristiche e le potenzialità del gioco di ruolo “carta e penna” come strumento didattico, quindi promuovendo l’uso di questa tecnica nella classe di italiano lingua straniera.
Il primo capitolo, “Introduzione al gioco di ruolo”, definisce cosa si intenda per gioco di ruolo “carta e penna” e fornisce brevi cenni storici per inquadrare le origini e l’evoluzione di questo passatempo fino ai tempi moderni, individuandone i precursori: la Commedia dell’Arte, la drammaterapia e il wargame. Inoltre, differenzia il role-play e il gioco di ruolo inquadrando quest’ultimo all’interno della teoria del gioco elaborata da Callois e quindi concludendo che il gioco di ruolo si differenza sostanzialmente dal role-play. Il paragone viene quindi esteso analizzando le caratteristiche del gioco di ruolo e come queste si differenzino da quelle del roleplay.
Il secondo capitolo, “Il ruolo del gioco nel gioco di ruolo: basi teoriche”, inserisce il gioco di ruolo all’interno del panorama delle principali teorie glottodidattiche moderne e pone le fondamenta
teoriche che permettono l’accettazione del gioco di ruolo come tecnica didattica da parte del docente di italiano lingua straniera. Per prima cosa, dimostra che le caratteristiche del gioco di
ruolo lo rendono coerente con gli approcci sia costruttivista sia umanistico-affettivo e inoltre compatibile con i metodi del cooperative learning e della didattica ludica. Infine, richiama la
teoria delle intelligenze multiple di Gardner e la necessità non solo di istruire ma anche e soprattutto di educare per dimostrare l’efficacia della tecnica dei giochi di ruolo laddove questa sia
correttamente impiegata e seguita da una fase di riflessione linguistico-comunicativa e conoscitivo-culturale.
Infine, il capitolo “Anatomia di una sessione” della parte operativa delinea le caratteristiche di una sessione di gioco e descrive i materiali e gli accorgimenti tecnici necessari alla preparazione della stessa e il momento della riflessione linguistica necessario alla chiusura dell’incontro didattico.
La parte operativa vera e propria propone una sessione di gioco ambientata nella Toscana rinascimentale i cui obiettivi sono sia di tipo linguistico-comunicativo sia conoscitivo-culturale, seguita da spunti per lo svolgimento della fase di riflessione e per la preparazione di ulteriori campagne.

Papers by Alessandro Macilenti

Research paper thumbnail of Characterising the Anthropocene

Research paper thumbnail of Characterising the Anthropocene: Ecological Degradation in Italian Twenty-First Century Literary Writing

The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manife... more The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manifest themselves in the mid-twentieth century. It has become increasingly clear that the current environmental crisis poses an unprecedented existential threat to civilization as well as to Homo sapiens itself. Whereas the physical and social sciences have been defining the now inevitable transition to a different (and more inhospitable) Earth, the humanities have yet to assert their role as a transformative force within the context of global environmental change. Turning abstract issues into narrative form, literary writing can increase awareness of environmental issues as well as have a deep emotive influence on its readership. To showcase this type of writing as well as the methodological frameworks that best highlights the social and ethical relevance of such texts alongside their literary value, I have selected the following twenty-first century Italian literary works: Roberto Saviano’...

Research paper thumbnail of Deep Breathing Ecocriticism: Stories, Matter, and Spiritual Dimensions

Iovino, Serenella, and Serpil Oppermann, eds. 2014. Material Ecocriticism . Bloomington: Indiana ... more Iovino, Serenella, and Serpil Oppermann, eds. 2014. Material Ecocriticism . Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 376 pp. $ 40.00 ISBN: 978-0253013989

Research paper thumbnail of Characterising the Anthropocene: Ecological Degradation in Italian Twenty-First Century Literary Writing

The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manife... more The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manifest themselves in the mid-twentieth century. It has become increasingly clear that the current environmental crisis poses an unprecedented existential threat to civilization as well as to Homo sapiens itself. Whereas the physical and social sciences have been defining the now inevitable transition to a different (and more inhospitable) Earth, the humanities have yet to assert their role as a transformative force within the context of global environmental change. Turning abstract issues into narrative form, literary writing can increase awareness of environmental issues as well as have a deep emotive influence on its readership. To showcase this type of writing as well as the methodological frameworks that best highlights the social and ethical relevance of such texts alongside their literary value, I have selected the following twenty-first century Italian literary works: Roberto Saviano’...

Drafts by Alessandro Macilenti

Research paper thumbnail of Research Statement: Italian Cli-fi

Research paper thumbnail of Delta Blues: An Ecocritique

Alessandro Macilenti is a graduate student of Italian at the School of Languages and Cultures of ... more Alessandro Macilenti is a graduate student of Italian at the School of Languages and Cultures of the Victoria University of Wellington. He is interested in determining how literary language can convey urgency to the environmentalist narrative and can increase awareness of environmental degradation among readers.

Research paper thumbnail of Conference Notes: Mourning as Adaptation to Ecological Loss

Environmental ethics identifies the ultimate source of environmental loss in assumptions deeply e... more Environmental ethics identifies the ultimate source of environmental loss in assumptions deeply embedded in modern culture, such as humanity's supremacy over nature, the pursuit of never-ending economic growth, and the very idea of progress as accumulation of material wealth. This socio-economic model is unsustainable and yet, challenging such basic tenets of modernity is difficult because of the common feeling of powerlessness that results from an inability to imagine possible alternatives. Here, I introduce the audience to Rosemary Randall's framework on mourning ecological loss and show how socially engaged literary writing provides an ideal framework allowing the individual to overcome powerlessness and denial. I show how stories about individuals grappling with environmental loss affect readers' psychology and provide models which reveal possible paths toward healing and change. Climate change epitomises humanity's dysfunctional relationship with nature and provides a framework through which I address all types of environmental concerns. Aitken et al. identify the main reason for the lack of meaningful action 1

Research paper thumbnail of Research proposal: Italian Literary Writing in the Late Anthropocene

The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manife... more The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manifest themselves in the mid-twentieth century. It is increasingly clear that the current environmental crisis poses an unprecedented existential threat to civilization as well as to Homo sapiens itself. Whereas the physical and social sciences have been defining the now inevitable transition to a very different (and more inhospitable) Earth, the humanities have yet to assert their role as a transformative force in the current environmental criticalities.
My thesis shows how Italian literature draws from the treasure-trove of the emotive to exert powerful psychological effects on the reader, therefore representing an invaluable tool to introduce the Italian public to the discomforting truths of a rapidly degrading global ecosystem while avoiding the polarising effect which haunts impersonal science communication.

Research paper thumbnail of Il ruolo del gioco nel gioco di ruolo: interpretare la didattica ludica nella classe di italiano lingua straniera

Questa tesi esplorerà le caratteristiche e le potenzialità del gioco di ruolo “carta e penna” com... more Questa tesi esplorerà le caratteristiche e le potenzialità del gioco di ruolo “carta e penna” come strumento didattico, quindi promuovendo l’uso di questa tecnica nella classe di italiano lingua straniera.
Il primo capitolo, “Introduzione al gioco di ruolo”, definisce cosa si intenda per gioco di ruolo “carta e penna” e fornisce brevi cenni storici per inquadrare le origini e l’evoluzione di questo passatempo fino ai tempi moderni, individuandone i precursori: la Commedia dell’Arte, la drammaterapia e il wargame. Inoltre, differenzia il role-play e il gioco di ruolo inquadrando quest’ultimo all’interno della teoria del gioco elaborata da Callois e quindi concludendo che il gioco di ruolo si differenza sostanzialmente dal role-play. Il paragone viene quindi esteso analizzando le caratteristiche del gioco di ruolo e come queste si differenzino da quelle del roleplay.
Il secondo capitolo, “Il ruolo del gioco nel gioco di ruolo: basi teoriche”, inserisce il gioco di ruolo all’interno del panorama delle principali teorie glottodidattiche moderne e pone le fondamenta
teoriche che permettono l’accettazione del gioco di ruolo come tecnica didattica da parte del docente di italiano lingua straniera. Per prima cosa, dimostra che le caratteristiche del gioco di
ruolo lo rendono coerente con gli approcci sia costruttivista sia umanistico-affettivo e inoltre compatibile con i metodi del cooperative learning e della didattica ludica. Infine, richiama la
teoria delle intelligenze multiple di Gardner e la necessità non solo di istruire ma anche e soprattutto di educare per dimostrare l’efficacia della tecnica dei giochi di ruolo laddove questa sia
correttamente impiegata e seguita da una fase di riflessione linguistico-comunicativa e conoscitivo-culturale.
Infine, il capitolo “Anatomia di una sessione” della parte operativa delinea le caratteristiche di una sessione di gioco e descrive i materiali e gli accorgimenti tecnici necessari alla preparazione della stessa e il momento della riflessione linguistica necessario alla chiusura dell’incontro didattico.
La parte operativa vera e propria propone una sessione di gioco ambientata nella Toscana rinascimentale i cui obiettivi sono sia di tipo linguistico-comunicativo sia conoscitivo-culturale, seguita da spunti per lo svolgimento della fase di riflessione e per la preparazione di ulteriori campagne.

Research paper thumbnail of Characterising the Anthropocene

Research paper thumbnail of Characterising the Anthropocene: Ecological Degradation in Italian Twenty-First Century Literary Writing

The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manife... more The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manifest themselves in the mid-twentieth century. It has become increasingly clear that the current environmental crisis poses an unprecedented existential threat to civilization as well as to Homo sapiens itself. Whereas the physical and social sciences have been defining the now inevitable transition to a different (and more inhospitable) Earth, the humanities have yet to assert their role as a transformative force within the context of global environmental change. Turning abstract issues into narrative form, literary writing can increase awareness of environmental issues as well as have a deep emotive influence on its readership. To showcase this type of writing as well as the methodological frameworks that best highlights the social and ethical relevance of such texts alongside their literary value, I have selected the following twenty-first century Italian literary works: Roberto Saviano’...

Research paper thumbnail of Deep Breathing Ecocriticism: Stories, Matter, and Spiritual Dimensions

Iovino, Serenella, and Serpil Oppermann, eds. 2014. Material Ecocriticism . Bloomington: Indiana ... more Iovino, Serenella, and Serpil Oppermann, eds. 2014. Material Ecocriticism . Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 376 pp. $ 40.00 ISBN: 978-0253013989

Research paper thumbnail of Characterising the Anthropocene: Ecological Degradation in Italian Twenty-First Century Literary Writing

The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manife... more The twenty-first century has witnessed the exacerbation of ecological issues that began to manifest themselves in the mid-twentieth century. It has become increasingly clear that the current environmental crisis poses an unprecedented existential threat to civilization as well as to Homo sapiens itself. Whereas the physical and social sciences have been defining the now inevitable transition to a different (and more inhospitable) Earth, the humanities have yet to assert their role as a transformative force within the context of global environmental change. Turning abstract issues into narrative form, literary writing can increase awareness of environmental issues as well as have a deep emotive influence on its readership. To showcase this type of writing as well as the methodological frameworks that best highlights the social and ethical relevance of such texts alongside their literary value, I have selected the following twenty-first century Italian literary works: Roberto Saviano’...