Abstract
Departing from the contemporary work of migrant authors of Albanian origin − OrnelaVorpsi, Anilda Ibrahimi and Elvira Dones − as well as from the theatrical monologueItalianesi by Saverio La Ruina, this article delves into the question of identity within postcolonial discourse. What role, in fact, do the Italian colonizers that remainedbehind in the liberated colonies play? How does their ‘hybrid’ identity help us toreflect upon colonial violence and upon the difficulties the colonizers themselves would have experienced internally when faced with accepting this violence? Additionally, the specific discussion of Albania, vis-a-vis narratives of contemporary migrants, allows us to reflect upon the Italian situation in particular, which, from unification to the present day offers specific material for the discussion of the relationship to, and the confronting of, the theme of ‘otherness’. A broad definition of ‘European’ colonialism − that goes beyond the alleged African otherness and runs along the same lines as a redefinition vehemently proposed by new groups of migrants in Italy (in particular by those from the Albanian immigration wave of 1991)− allows one to question the Italian ambitions in regards to the Balkans and the Eastern expansion across national borders.
Highlights
Per una conclusione L’approdo sulle coste italiane rappresenta, nelle contronarrazioni degli scrittori albanesi, un momento topico: gli ‘italianesi’ di La Ruina, il giovane protagonista di Guaci o la ragazza che giunge in Italia insieme alla madre in Il paese dove non si muore mai di Vorpsi, vengono immediatamente ‘respinti’ dal punto di vista culturale
Departing from the contemporary work of migrant authors of Albanian origin − Ornela Vorpsi, Anilda Ibrahimi and Elvira Dones − as well as from the theatrical monologue Italianesi by Saverio La Ruina, this article delves into the question of identity within postcolonial discourse
Do the Italian colonizers that remained behind in the liberated colonies play? How does their ‘hybrid’ identity help us to reflect upon colonial violence and upon the difficulties the colonizers themselves would have experienced internally when faced with accepting this violence? the specific discussion of Albania, vis-à-vis narratives of contemporary migrants, allows us to reflect upon the Italian situation in particular, which, from unification to the present day offers specific material for the discussion of the relationship to, and the confronting of, the theme of ‘otherness’
Summary
In quest’ottica è di grande aiuto un saggio di Luca Scarlini, in cui è proposto un ampliamento del concetto di ‘letteratura d’oltremare’, che a suo dire va esteso anche a paesi che non furono direttamente colonizzati dall’Italia, come ad esempio la Tunisia, ma verso i quali le mire espansionistiche e le pressioni politiche e culturali italiane furono sempre costanti.[11] L’Italia, in effetti, conquistò alcuni paesi senza un progetto politico preciso, ma solo perché in quel momento erano più deboli e quindi più facilmente attaccabili o perché li considerava un ripiego rispetto ad altre mete più ambite (è il caso della Libia, che fu frettolosamente occupata perché la Tunisia, vero obiettivo di Crispi, era già entrata nell’orbita francese).
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