Mobility and identity in Chinese Italian writings

Abstract

The goal of this essay is to create an analytical framework for Sino-Italian literary production that accounts for the diverse patterns of mobility from China to Italy. To achieve this, I integrate theories from mobility studies (Sheller and Urry 2006; Hannam, Sheller, and Urry 2006; Cresswell 2006; Urry 2007) and Sinophone studies (Shih 2007, 2010, 2011). Cresswell (2006) defines "mobility" as the combined effect of movement, meaning, and power. Adopting this perspective encourages us to account for the diversity within mobilities from China to Italy. This approach broadens the focus on Chinese Italian writings, which are not exclusively produced by people drawn by low-skilled labor opportunities—a group that has been the primary focus of academic attention so far.

Conversely, Sinophone studies, as developed by Shih Shu-Mei, encourage interpreting cultural texts by people of Chinese origin permanently residing in Italy as place-based articulations, regardless of the languages used.

In the essay, I analyze three Italy-based Sinophone authors: Deng Yuehua, an immigrant worker writer; Gao Liang, a diasporic writer associated with a cosmopolitan elite; and Heng Zhi, a liuxuesheng poet. These three case studies represent different ways of living across the People's Republic of China and Italy. By examining their works, the paper highlights the impact of their specific conditions of mobility (both physical and symbolic) on them and, consequently, on their writings.