Here’s what I’ve been talking about.
I love to share my expertise with audiences across the world, and I have been invited to present my work at an array of venues and covering a number of topics. I have also participated as a moderator or discussant for both academic symposia and events for a broader public. Here are some of my recent specialist talks and appearances at various cultural events.
Invited Academic Talks
“Modernist Syncretisms: Gabriele d’Annunzio, TS Eliot, and Religious Models for a Modern Aesthetic.” Italian Research Seminar, Center for Italian Studies, University of Notre Dame. December 4, 2025. Video available online here.
“Italian Modernism: Transforming Ideas (and Ideals) into Art.” Ferrucci Institute for Italian Experience and Research. Chapman University. September 2024.
“Alienated Awareness: Meditative Paradigms of Modernist Aesthetics.” Junior Faculty Lecture Exchange. UCLA (remote presentation). May 2021.
“Occult Idealism: Reanimating the Dead in Modernist Literature and Film.” Italian Colloquium, UC Berkeley. February 28, 2019.
“Avant-Garde Idealism: The Ambivalence of Futurist Vitalism.” Italian Modernities Seminar, Stanford University. January 24, 2019.
“Occult Spiritualism in a Positivist Age: Modernist Reanimations.” University of Leeds. October 2018.
“Pirandello’s Visual Philosophy: The Languages of the Image.” Department of French and Italian, Princeton University. May 2017.
“Futurism and the Great War.” Somerville College History Society. Taylor Institution Library. University of Oxford. May 2015.
“Suffering Beauty on Stage and Screen.” St Hugh’s College. University of Oxford. November 2014.
“Modernism at War: Pirandello and the Crisis of Cultural Identity.” University of Notre Dame Italian Seminar. Notre Dame, IN. October 2014.
“The Meaning of Acting in the Age of Cinema: Methods at the Intersection of Italian Literature, Theatre, Film, and Theory.” Post-Graduate Training Consortium in Italian Studies. University of London. May 2014.
“In Search of Authenticity: Pirandello’s Actresses (and Actors), from Stage to Screen.” New York University. New York. March 2014.
“A Diva’s Life: The Meaning of Aesthetic Presence, from Stage to Screen.” Literature and Cinema in Italian Cultural Studies: A Conference in Honor of Rebecca West. University of Chicago. December 2013.
“Modernist Modes of Aesthetic Meaning.” Literature and Philosophy Workshop. University of Chicago. December 2013.
General Audience Events
Speaker and Interviewer/Discussant, “Andrea Camilleri 100: Celebrating the Enduring Legacy of a Sicilian Literary Icon.” Lecture and discussion with author Nadia Terranova. Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) San Francisco. October 14, 2025.
“Global Decadence.” Colloquium discussion with Matthew Creasy, Julia Hartley, and Elisa Segnini. University of Glasgow. October 2023.
Invited Speaker, “Presentazione del libro D’Annunzio & World Literature.” Conference Panel at the Festival Dannunziano, Pescara, Italy. September 5, 2023.
Presentation reviewed in local news by Lorenzo Antenucci, “D’Annunzio e la letterature mondiale, ieri all’Autum la presentazione del libro,” Allnews Abruzzo (Sep. 6, 2023).
Moderator and Interviewer, “Michael Moore Presents His New Translation of I promessi sposi.” Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) San Francisco. May 17, 2023.
“Pirandello in Translation.” Interview for Davis Humanities Institute Podcast, Dialogic, with Elmira Louie. Winter 2023.
“Six Characters on the International Stage.” Presenter at special event, “Sei personaggi in cerca d’autore (1921-2021),” Istituto Italiano di Cultura, New York. December 13, 2021.
Moderator/Interviewer, “Dante – A Presentation by Alessandro Barbero.” Webinar hosted by the IIC San Francisco. February 25, 2021.
Invited Speaker, “Pirandello ON AIR: Meet the PSA.” Facebook Live Event hosted by the Pirandello Society of America. Jan. 22, 2021.
“Pirandello’s Cinema: From European Avant-Garde to Hollywood Studios.” Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Los Angeles and UCLA. May 2017.
“Futurism, Fascism, and the Art of War.” Invited Talk at Taylor Institution and Summary on Library Blog. University of Oxford. April 29, 2015.
