Cycle: XXXVIII

PhD student: Arianna Careddu

Role: R1 - First Stage Researcher

Supervisor: Prof. Elisabetta Gola, Dr. Chiara Seazzu

I am a PhD student in Philosophy of Language at the University of Cagliari, working on a thesis on inclusive verbal-visual language in institutional communication. My research examines how institutions address linguistic inclusivity in public discourse, analysing both theoretical foundations and practical applications of language policies. I adopt an interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from linguistics, media studies, and visual communication.

My research investigates the role of inclusive language — both verbal and visual — in institutional communication, with a particular focus on its performative, reiterative, and reproducible dimensions. Through the integration of perspectives from philosophy of language, aesthetics, and visual studies, my research aims to build a critical framework for analysing how institutions construct meaning through both text and image, and outline strategies to develop more inclusive linguistic and visual practices capable of challenging entrenched discursive patterns and generating new modes of representation.

My study is grounded in Judith Butler’s theory of performativity and the theories of metaphorical language developed by George Lakoff, Mark Johnson (CMT), and Max Black, and it explores how linguistic and visual metaphors contribute to processes of self-identification and self-perception in the recipients of institutional discourse. Furthermore, my research draws on Marshall McLuhan’s insights into media as message, my research examines how digital media, as dominant contemporary communicative platforms, shape and disseminate inclusive or exclusionary discourses. The study pays particular attention to the representation of disability, gender, and minority groups, highlighting how communicative practices often originate from perspectives external to these communities. This raises concerns regarding stereotyping, the reproduction of biases, and the perpetuation of exclusionary narratives. Therefore, the thesis examines in particular how metaphors, both verbal and visual, are employed within institutional communication and public administration discourses, assessing their impact on audience reception and the co-construction of meaning. As contemporary media increasingly rely on multimodal strategies, my research also considers how digital platforms and new media environments influence the ways in which institutional messages are received, reinterpreted, and shared.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests lie in the intersection of visual culture, communication, and inclusivity, with a keen focus on how images shape understanding and perception. I examine visual metaphors and the role of colour in meaning-making, particularly in relation to gender and disability. My work is solidly rooted in theories of the image, and engages with film studies and expanded cinema, considering how moving images challenge conventional narratives and representations. Through the integration of these perspectives, I aim at contributing to a more inclusive approach to visual communication.