Session with Ludovica Malcknecht
On January 28, 2025, Ludovica Malcknecht gave a talk on her paper “Representing species otherness: Animal question and vegan debate in Italian television talk shows” to the students of Critical Animal and Media Studies, invited by Professor Núria Almiron.
About the Talk
Starting from the disciplinary positioning of the animal question within the social sciences and through a framing analysis of Italian television talk shows, this paper examines the ways in which information and media can influence the social construction of animal otherness and advocacy, as well as the absence or presence of issues relevant to animal living conditions in the media. On the one hand, media narratives and representations legitimise power relations with other species by normalising oppressive human practices and objectifying categorisations. On the other hand, information and representations of the oppressive conditions of 'farmed animals' support awareness of the consequences of consumption practices.
About Claudia Rosignoli
Ludovica Malknecht, PhD, is a researcher in Sociology of Cultural and Communicative Processes at the Department of Human Sciences of the European University of Rome and is qualified as an Associate Professor in the fields of SPS/08 (Sociology of Cultural and Communicative Processes) and M-FIL/03 (Moral Philosophy). She holds a PhD in Philosophy and Theory of Human Sciences from Roma Tre University (European Doctorate Label). She has carried out teaching and research activities at various universities, participating in national and international research projects, including PRIN (Projects of Relevant National Interest) and research programs funded by the European Commission. She has also taught in postgraduate education programs, including TFA (Initial Teacher Training), the 24-CFU pathway, and Master’s programs at both the European University of Rome (UER) and Roma Tre University.
Additionally, she was a visiting PhD student at the University of Vienna. At UER, she directs the Second-Level Master’s Program in “Digital Education Manager” (in collaboration with the Pontifical Salesian University) and coordinates the MOST EDU Project, co-funded by the Lazio Region, which focuses on advanced models and systems supported by technology for the promotion and development of educational and social services.