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The publication of a monograph like this is usually announced with phrases such as “I am excited to share the news of the publication of…”, “I am delighted to announce that…”, and so on. Unfortunately, that is not the case here.

This volume, the most precious fruit of over a decade of research, discussed as a habilitation thesis at the University of Innsbruck, was written and completed during a challenging period of my professional career.

It followed a stalking process of unprecedented violence — a practice now known as ‘callout’, which is common on social media, but elsewhere too. One or more people band together to spread vague accusations against an unfortunate victim, with the aim of causing his professional and moral death — sometimes even literal… This involves fabricating lies and passing them off as credible rumours, or simply ‘linking’ distant, irrelevant events in such a way that a skilful montage creates an air of ambiguity. This ambiguity can be enough to destroy a decent person.

What are the motivations? Personal hatred, economic envy, and resentment. There is no need to prove anything — the fantasies in question are laughable nonsense, disconnected from reality, and destined to melt away under the rational scrutiny by a judicial authority.

„Es gibt Lebensmomente, die wie Grenzmarken vor eine abgelaufene Zeit sich stellen, aber zugleich auf eine neue Richtung mit Bestimmtheit hinweisen.
In solch einem Übergangspunkte fühlen wir uns gedrungen, mit dem Adlerauge des Gedankens das Vergangene und Gegenwärtige zu betrachten, um so zum Bewußtsein unserer wirklichen Stellung zu gelangen“.

“There are moments in life that stand like boundary markers in front of a time that has passed, but at the same time they point with certainty in a new direction.
At such points of transition, we feel compelled to look at the past and present with the eagle eye of thought in order to become aware of our true position”.

Karl Marx, Brief an den Vater, 1837

Das Habilitationsverfahren wurde an der Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck ordnungsgemäß durchgeführt. Ihre hervorragende wissenschaftliche Qualifikation ist auf Grund der Gutachten und Stellungnahmen nachgewiesen, Ihre didaktischen Fähigkeiten sind durch die mehrmalige Lerhtätigkeit an anerkannten postsekundären Bidlungseinrichtungen belegt. Die Voraussetzungen für die Erteilung der Lehrbefugnis sind somit erfüllt.

Innsbruck, am 4. Dezember 2023

Last 24 October 2023 marked the culmination of a journey of professional growth that began more than 10 years ago and was vigorously pursued despite the efforts of those who, between 2018 and 2020, did everything in their power to end my career.

After the evaluation of the Habilitationsschrift entitled Durch einen Gazeschleier. Ästhetik der Filmmusik in der Stummfilm-Ära, the Department of Musicology at the University of Innsbruck awarded me the Habilitation und venia legendi in Historische Musikwissenschaft.

The final event of the habilitation process was the lecture Paradigmen der Gegensätze. Als Musiker und Maler ins Kino gingen.

The newly designeted PD Dr. phil. Francesco Finocchiaro thanks the Evaluation Committee for their valuable suggestions and the Chairman of the Habilitation Committee, Univ.-Prof. Federico Celestini, for his rare professional and human care.

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New doors will open and new experiences will begin. A new start in beautiful surroundings, with all comforts and facilities.
But all of this blessed beauty would be of no use without a sane relationship and an ethically based human environment.