NEMLA 2025---PHILADELPHIA, PA---MARCH 6-9, 2025

ABSTRACT DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024

The Southern Re(volution): Rethinking the Italian South

The Italian South has long been perceived through the lens of its developmental lag in comparison to the industrialized North, a view solidified during the post-unification period. This "Southern Question," traditionally tied to agrarian concerns, has emphasized the need for a productive alliance between the Southern peasants and the Northern workers to bridge the industrial gap. However, the contemporary "Meridian Thought" challenges this narrative, advocating for the intrinsic value of the South beyond its comparison to the North. It rejects the pursuit of industrialization to emulate the North, promoting instead a celebration of lentezza and the appreciation of regional and Southern diversities. This reevaluation encourages a multiplicity of experiences over the singularity of a homogenized thought.

Considering this paradigm shift, the proposed panel will explore the Southern (R)evolution in Italian, literature, and media. It will delve into themes of transformation, examining how the South's identity is reshaped; adaptation, observing the South's response to global changes; migration/immigration, discussing the migratory movements that define and redefine the region (towards new regions, Countries and the more recently arrival of migrants towards southern Italy; environment/agriculture, highlighting the unique ecological and agrarian practices; minority communities, acknowledging the diverse cultures within the South; subalternity, giving voice to the marginalized; and Cultural segregation.

Through these lenses, the proposed panel aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the Italian South, advocating for a recognition of its distinct cultural contributions and challenging the monolithic narratives that have historically marginalized it.

Please submit an abstract of 300 words max to the NeMLA portal, https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/S/21162. For questions, please contact Valentina Morello (vmorello@uark.edu) or Irene Hatzopoulos (ireneh@ucr.edu)