Call for Papers: The Aesthetic Aspects of Metaphor: Philosophical Perspectives on an Interdisciplinary Dialogue
In this issue of Itinera, we aim to reclaim a philosophical perspective on the aesthetic aspects of metaphor. Articles must follow Itinera editorial standards and be between 25,000 and 40,000 characters.
Deadline: 31 July 2026
Expected release: December 2026
Languages accepted: English, Italian, French, Spanish
In this issue of Itinera, we aim to reclaim a philosophical perspective on the aesthetic aspects of metaphor, gathering contributions that can broaden the philosophical dialogue. These aspects constitute a promising research topic for a renew philosophical debate on metaphor, engaging with its interdisciplinary nature from a standpoint different from the cognitive paradigm.In contemporary studies, the aesthetic dimensions of metaphor serve as a bridge between various approaches and disciplinary fields: consider research on embodied cognition (Gibbs 2005) and metaphorical creativity in psychology (Glicksohn and Goodblatt 1993), or linguistic inquiries into the innovating power of metaphor (Prandi 2017; Glucksberg and Haugh 2006; Steen 2010). The aesthetic dimension of metaphor has also become central in communication theories, which, following Forceville (1998), examine the status of visual metaphors—characterized by greater immediacy, stronger emotional impact, and a more explicit interpretative nature.
The publication particularly seeks to foster research into new categories for addressing these aspects, drawing on a reinterpretation of the interdisciplinary dialogue surrounding them and engaging with the language of literary and artistic disciplines.
The special issue will focus, among others, on the following topics:
- The aesthetic aspects of cognitive metaphor: the “perspective shift” between framing theories, constructivism, and phenomenology
- The aesthetic aspects of cognitive metaphor: intuitive perception, with particular attention to the Aristotelian notion of “insight”
- Metaphors and embodiment: exploring the embodied nature of conceptual and linguistic metaphors
- Creativity as an aesthetic aspect of metaphor in contemporary linguistics and philosophy: analysis of meaning transfer and semantic innovation
- Metaphor as a model for interpreting the symbolic aspect of artistic creation
- Conventional and new metaphors: aesthetic aspects of their distinction
- Metaphor as a specific linguistic figure: the perspective of a philosophical rhetoric
- The aesthetic aspects of linguistic and visual metaphors: immediacy, emotional impact, interpretative nature
- Aesthetic and epistemic emotions: an inquiry into their role in learning processes and, through metaphor mediation, in knowledge construction
- The function of metaphor in expressing emotions and aesthetic experiences through language, with an analysis of its potential implications for education
Languages accepted: English, Italian, French, Spanish
Articles must follow Itinera editorial standards (https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/itinera/norme) and be between 25,000 and 40,000 characters
Articles should be sent to:
- Alice Giuliani (alice.giuliani@unimore.it)
- Francesca D'Alessandris (francesca.dalessandris@unimore.it)
- Marco Franceschina (marco.franceschina@unimi.it)
Deadline: 31 July 2026
Expected release: December 2026
