The series of encounters entitled “The travelling Genius : Italians Art, humanities, science … in the world“, is a space for discussion and cultural dialogue that the Italian Cultural Institute has developed especially for young Italians in world. Italians who, beyond any orientation, are the bearers of knowledge accumulated in Italy and diffuse the following, even without their knowledge, a provision or a vocation of ancient origin: the generous exchange of culture, comforted by a keen sense of human comprehension.
December 7, 2017, 6pm Free Admission
Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Montreal
1200 Av. du Dr Penfield
Conference in Italian
The debate around migration and societal pluralism continues to make the front-page headlines of Italians newspapers. Beyond what it is stated, what can we say about the role of the images in this debate? The presentation delves into the representation of the Other in the Italian popular culture through an analysis of images from the end of the 19th century until today. Through interdisciplinary postcolonial and decolonial approaches that combine critical analysis, Cultural Studies and Sociology of Media, it explores the symbolism behind the construction of the Other in Italian popular imaginary. Focusing on the representations of the “colonized” in the past and the “immigrant” today, we evaluate if and how these images have changed, or rather how they continue to contribute to the fabrication of Alterity. Finally, building on the hypothesis that images explain more about those who create them than those who are represented in them, our presentation will reflect on the impact on these images on the building of contemporary Italian national identity.
Valentina Gaddi is a doctoral student in Sociology at Université de Montréal and Vanier scholar. She is established in Québec since 2012, when she arrived for a research associate position with the Canada Research Chair in Religious Pluralism and Ethnicity. Her background is defined by mobility: Morocco, Italy, France, Spain and England are among the countries where she has studied or led research activities. Valentina obtained a European Master in Inter-Mediterranean mediation, and a Master in Sociology at the Université de Montréal. Her current research focuses mainly on religious pluralism, with a specific attention to the Jewish Hassidic communities in Montréal. More recently, she has developed an interest in the new Italian migration in Canada.
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