The Metaphorization of Academic Discourse: Criticism and Freedom of Speech

The essay develops a theoretical reflection on the metaphorization of University criticism inspired by the approval and almost immediate repeal of the Higher Education (Freedom of speech) Act 2023 in the UK, which can trigger some sociological considerations on the communicative and relational drawbacks engendering the new forms of censorship within digitalized universities. More specifically, the paper deals with the tenets of miscommunication, academic reputation and educational proficiency as they are considered epistemological topics. The complexity of such a topic may be referred to the risks afflicting higher education systems in the era of hyperconnected relationships, such as infantilization, medicalization and emotional “weaponization,” as Frank Furedi points out in his pivotal work, What’s happened to the University? (2017). Some forms of miscommunication stimulate not only the perception of unsafety and uncertainty, but also undermine the reputation of educational institutions. For instance, the removal of controversial speakers, the banning of minority opinions and the discrimination of individual needs fuel the representation of risks lurking in everyday academic interactions. Starting from the sudden repeal of the Higher Education bill in 2024, it is possible to shed light on the role played by censorship and miscommunication in our digitalized educational environment in line with the side effects of content and thought repression.