Performing National Identity: Anglo-Italian Cultural TransactionsNational identity is not some naturally given or metaphysically sanctioned racial or territorial essence that only needs to be conceptualised or spelt out in discursive texts; it emerges from, takes shape in, and is constantly defined and redefined in individual and collective performances. It is in performances—ranging from the scenarios of everyday interactions to ‘cultural performances’ such as pageants, festivals, political manifestations or sports, to the artistic performances of music, dance, theatre, literature, the visual and culinary arts and more recent media—that cultural identity and a sense of nationhood are fashioned. National identity is not an essence one is born with but something acquired in and through performances. Particularly important here are intercultural performances and transactions, and that not only in a colonial and postcolonial dimension, where such performative aspects have already been considered, but also in inner-European transactions. ‘Englishness’ or ‘Britishness’ and Italianità, the subject of this anthology, are staged both within each culture and, more importantly, in joint performances of difference across cultural borders. Performing difference highlights differences that ‘make a difference’; it ‘draws a line’ between self and other—boundary lines that are, however, constantly being redrawn and renegotiated, and remain instable and shifting. |
Contents
Performing National Identity | 9 |
1 Early Modern Literary Exchanges | 29 |
2 Italian and English Art in Dialogue | 63 |
3 Travelling Images | 101 |
4 Political Negotiations | 157 |
5 Contemporary Mediations | 213 |
Notes on Contributors | 323 |
Other editions - View all
Performing National Identity: Anglo-Italian Cultural Transactions Manfred Pfister,Ralf Hertel Limited preview - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
accessed 23 February album Alexander Korda Anglo-Italian Arandora Star artistic Assunta audience Barrett Browning’s beauty Beavington Berlusconi biggest clubs Britain British Byron Cambridge Casa Guidi Windows Caterina century contemporary critical Cymbeline Elizabeth Barrett Browning England English fans Europe European football example film Florence foreign Franco Garibaldi Giordano Bruno girl Gramsci Hamilton Woman Hosmer Iachimo Ibid images Inigo Jones International Exhibition Italy Italy’s Jethro Tull John Juventus King King Crimson Korda language Letters literary literature Liverpool London Malta Maltese Manchester United Manchester United fans Marxism Milan modern Murray Murray’s national identity Nelson Oxford passion performance play poem poet poet’s poetical poetry political popular Posthumus progressive rock Renaissance Risorgimento role Roman Rome Rosinella scene Scottish sculpture Shakespeare social songs stage stereotypes texts theatre theatrical tion tourist traditional translation University Press woman women writing Zeffirelli’s Zuppa Inglese