Marvelous Bodies

Italy's New Migrant Cinema

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Film, History & Criticism, Performing Arts
Cover of the book Marvelous Bodies by Vetri Nathan, Purdue University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Vetri Nathan ISBN: 9781612494890
Publisher: Purdue University Press Publication: August 15, 2017
Imprint: Purdue University Press Language: English
Author: Vetri Nathan
ISBN: 9781612494890
Publisher: Purdue University Press
Publication: August 15, 2017
Imprint: Purdue University Press
Language: English

Historically a source of emigrants to Northern Europe and the New World, Italy has rapidly become a preferred destination for immigrants from the global South. Life in the land of la dolce vita has not seemed so sweet recently, as Italy struggles with the cultural challenges caused by this surge in immigration. Marvelous Bodies by Vetri Nathan explores thirteen key full-length Italian films released between 1990 and 2010 that treat this remarkable moment of cultural role reversal through a plurality of styles. In it, Nathan argues that Italy sees itself as the quintessential internal Other of Western Europe, and that this subalternity directly influences its cinematic response to immigrants, Europe's external Others. In framing his case to understand Italy's cinematic response to immigrants, Nathan first explores some basic questions: Who exactly is the Other in Italy? Does Italy's own past partial alterity affect its present response to its newest subalterns? Drawing on Homi Bhabha's writings and Italian cinematic history, Nathan then posits the existence of marvelous bodies that are momentarily neither completely Italian nor completely immigrant. This ambivalence of forms extends to the films themselves, which tend to be generic hybrids. The persistent curious presence of marvelous bodies and a pervasive generic hybridity enact Italy's own chronic ambivalence that results from its presence at the cultural crossroads of the Mediterranean.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Historically a source of emigrants to Northern Europe and the New World, Italy has rapidly become a preferred destination for immigrants from the global South. Life in the land of la dolce vita has not seemed so sweet recently, as Italy struggles with the cultural challenges caused by this surge in immigration. Marvelous Bodies by Vetri Nathan explores thirteen key full-length Italian films released between 1990 and 2010 that treat this remarkable moment of cultural role reversal through a plurality of styles. In it, Nathan argues that Italy sees itself as the quintessential internal Other of Western Europe, and that this subalternity directly influences its cinematic response to immigrants, Europe's external Others. In framing his case to understand Italy's cinematic response to immigrants, Nathan first explores some basic questions: Who exactly is the Other in Italy? Does Italy's own past partial alterity affect its present response to its newest subalterns? Drawing on Homi Bhabha's writings and Italian cinematic history, Nathan then posits the existence of marvelous bodies that are momentarily neither completely Italian nor completely immigrant. This ambivalence of forms extends to the films themselves, which tend to be generic hybrids. The persistent curious presence of marvelous bodies and a pervasive generic hybridity enact Italy's own chronic ambivalence that results from its presence at the cultural crossroads of the Mediterranean.

More books from Purdue University Press

Cover of the book Nossa and Nuestra América by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Essential Readings in Problem-Based Learning by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Unfinalized Moments by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Lemberg, Lwów, L'viv, 1914 - 1947 by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Tastes of Faith by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Perspectives on Science and Culture by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Where Do We Go From Here? by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR) by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book A Fish in the Moonlight by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Beyond Stereotypes by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Methods of IT Project Management by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book Ilusionismo verbal en Elogio de la madrastra y Los cuadernos de don Rigoberto de Mario Vargas Llosa by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book The Peace of Passarowitz, 1718 by Vetri Nathan
Cover of the book A Life Constructed by Vetri Nathan
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy