1-Day Conference
Date: April 22, 2025
Location: Sant’Anna Institute, Sorrento – Italy
We are delighted to announce a one-day interdisciplinary conference dedicated to exploring the representation of the Vice-Kingdom of Naples in literature, theater, cinema, and scholarship. This event will bring together researchers from diverse disciplines to investigate how the unique historical, cultural, and political landscape of the Vice-Kingdom of Naples (1503–1707) has been depicted and reimagined across different media and eras.
Conference Theme
The Vice-Kingdom of Naples occupies a distinctive place in the cultural imagination. A territory of immense political importance within the Spanish Empire, it also served as a crucible for artistic innovation, intellectual exchange, and social transformation. Its rich and complex history has inspired countless portrayals in literature, theater, and cinema, both during its existence and in later reinterpretations.
This conference seeks to examine these representations from a range of perspectives, addressing questions such as:
-How have writers, playwrights, historians, and filmmakers portrayed the political, social, and cultural dynamics of the Vice-Kingdom?
-What recurring themes, characters, or historical episodes are emphasized in these depictions?
-In what ways have representations of the Vice-Kingdom contributed to broader narratives of southern Italian identity or European cultural history?
-How do these portrayals negotiate the tension between historical authenticity and artistic license?
-What role do power dynamics, gender, class, and religion play in these representations?
We welcome contributions focusing on any period, genre, or approach, from early modern texts and performances to contemporary cinematic reinterpretations.
Submission Guidelines
We invite scholars, independent researchers, and postgraduate students to submit abstracts for 20-minute papers. Abstracts should:
-Be approximately 200 words.
-Include a title, the author’s name, institutional affiliation (if applicable), and contact information.
Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
-Literary and scholarly representations of the Vice-Kingdom of Naples, including poetry, prose, and historical narratives.
-Theatrical depictions of Neapolitan society and politics, from the 16th century to modern adaptations.
-Cinematic portrayals, including period dramas, documentaries, and contemporary films.
-Comparative analyses of literary, theatrical, and cinematic interpretations.
-The role of Neapolitan cultural practices, such as music, art, and folklore, in shaping these representations.
-The interplay between historical documentation and creative reimagining.
Abstracts must be submitted by January 31, 2025, to agiardino@stlawu.edu; msalvi@stalwu.edu; marco.marino@santannainstitute.com
Accepted participants will be notified by February 15, 2025.
Languages of the Conference
We value the multilingual heritage of the Vice-Kingdom and the broader Mediterranean world. Therefore, papers and presentations are welcomed in Italian, French, Spanish, or English.
Publication Opportunity
Following the conference, selected papers may be considered for inclusion in an edited volume or a special journal issue. More details will be provided during the conference.
We look forward to your contributions and to an engaging day of discussion about the fascinating legacy of the Vice-Kingdom of Naples!
