Abstract

This monographic issue delves into the multifaceted manifestations of exoticism within Italian colonial culture. Examining the systematic appropriation and re-signification of exotic imagery and narratives made during the fascist Ventennio and beyond, it explores how such elements were strategically utilised to popularise an image of Africa, which was instrumental to political and propagandistic purposes. The analysis encompasses and connects various domains and case-studies, including literature, visual arts, cinema, photography, exhibitions, and music, in order to assess the extent to which exotic discourses transcended and adapted across multiple media forms. Such a transmedial approach will elucidate how the discourse of exoticism contributed to shape pervasive and everchanging meanings about «otherness», which were fashioned according to different political and social contexts of reception. Furthermore, by unravelling the complexities of exoticism in fascist Italy and even in the Post-War scenario, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural strategies aiming to fashion a certain image of national identity and qualities