Themes and Topics Explored

1. Climate Change: Participants explored the impact of rising sea levels on Venice's delicate ecosystem, producing creative works that reflected the city's vulnerability and the global significance of climate change.
2. Environmental Preservation: Emphasizing the importance of conserving Venice's unique flora and fauna, discussions and writings focused on pollution, habitat destruction, and the conservation of the lagoon.
3. Sustainable Tourism: Recognizing the detrimental effects of mass tourism, the programme encouraged responsible travel practices and minimizing ecological footprints to preserve Venice's beauty and cultural heritage.
4. Water Management: Venice's complex water management challenges were a critical focus, with participants examining flood control, sustainable water usage, and innovative engineering solutions.
5. Traditional Crafts and Local Sustainability: The significance of supporting local artisans and sustainable production practices was underscored, connecting Venice's rich cultural traditions with modern eco-writing.
6. Community Resilience: The resilience of Venice's community in adapting to environmental challenges was a recurring theme, showcasing innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to ensure a sustainable future.

Innovative Approach

In alignment with Rancière's theory of distributed education, the summer school was designed to be highly experimental and participatory. The programme's structure encouraged students to engage deeply with Venice's environment, history, and culture through a mix of psychogeography, in-situ writing, and intertextuality. Sessions were provocations and seeds of ideas rather than traditional lectures, promoting active engagement and creative exploration.

• Alternative Map Project: A psychogeographical exploration of Venice, focusing on bridges, gateways, and canals. This ongoing project involved in-situ writing and personal observations.
• Eco-Writing Workshops: Sessions that explored the nuances of writing about nature and environmental threats without personification, emphasizing sophisticated methods of natural voice.
• Group Podcast: A collaborative project recording participants' reflections and discussions on Venice's environmental challenges and their writing experiences.

Daily Schedule Highlights

• Morning Sessions: Focused on the theoretical underpinnings of eco-writing, including the challenges of ecological literature and alternative mappings of Venice through its bridges, gateways, and canals.

• Evening Sessions: Included thematic discussions on topics such as "Venice: Schrödinger's City" and "The Aesthetics of Hidden Worlds," culminating in a group podcast exploring alternative futures.
• Collective Dinners: Provided a platform for informal discussions and reflections, enhancing the communal learning experience.

Participant Feedback

• The sessions were described as thought-provoking and enriching, with a particular appreciation for the philosophical approaches that connected deeply with participants' writing.
• Many highlighted how the immersive experience of Venice transformed the mundane into the magical, inspiring a wealth of new ideas and perspectives.
• The hands-on approach and the integration of personal exploration with academic research were particularly praised, fostering a sense of empowerment and creativity among participants.

Specific Feedback Examples

• “I had a routine there unlike any I had ever experienced. The two things I will carry with me forever are how the mundane became magical or inspiring - an act of noticing. And the sheer number of ideas I generated through reading, thinking, and discussing - an act of being. In my artistic development, I think I learned how these things feel, and how to fix my engagement with the world so that it feels like that more often.”
• “I think it's pushed me to think in different ways. I was interested in place/space writing before the summer school, but this has pushed me to think in an entirely different way. I have a newfound desire to write about place, but not only that, it's a newfound desire to get lost in cities I don't know and find out what makes them tick. I feel more open to writing about the culture and politics of disappearance.”

• “The sessions were thought-provoking. They showed how philosophical approaches can relate to our writing. The interpretation of space took a while, but the penny dropped eventually, and by considering space in this way there is greater opportunity to add life and zest to our descriptions of place. Schrödinger’s cat was also a little abstract at first, but the coin-tossing example was an excellent way of explaining it. Bridges, gateways and canals were great topics to get us thinking. Ultimately, I have developed a writing project from this course which I intend to pursue once my current writing/academic commitments allow. And that gives me good reason to return to the beautiful city. So, thank you for a wonderful mini-course and summer school!.”

Conclusion