Dario Martinelli (Andria, Italy, March 1, 1974) is an Italian semiotician, musicologist and composer.
He is Director of the International Semiotics Institute, Professor at Kaunas University of Technology, and is also affiliated to the University of Helsinki and the University of Lapland (adjunct professor in both cases). His visiting professorships include the University of Torino (2015-2016), the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (2012 to 2014), the Finnish Network University of Semiotics (2004 tp 2007) and the Fine Arts Academy of Bari (2005-2006).
He graduated at Bologna University in 1999 and earned his PhD at Helsinki University in 2002.
Editor in chief of the Springer book series in Numanities, he is also member of several editorial and scientific boards in journals, doctoral committees and academic associations.
He perform research and publish monographs and articles in the fields of Musicology, Popular music studies, Film studies, Semiotics, Animal studies (he is possibly best known for his work in Zoomusicology and Zoosemiotics) and a research platform called “Numanities”, devoted to the rethinking of the role and paradigm of humanities in nowadays society.
In 2006, he was knighted by the Italian Republic for his contribution to Italian culture. He is also the youngest winner of the Oscar Parland Prize for Prominent Semioticians, awarded by Helsinki University (2004).