Imaging Italy through the eyes of contemporary Australian travellers in the 21st century
by Macgeorge Fellow Roberta Trapè in discussion with historian Paul Carter
This lecture will explore what it is that continues to attract Australian writers and artists to Italy in our contemporary times and which Italy is portrayed in their works.
The image of Italy that emerges from the works of the authors who will be considered (Peter Robb, Robert Dessaix, Paul Carter) is different from the one that prevailed in the writings deriving from the previous tradition of Australian travel to Italy, and offers a compelling picture of Italy’s contemporary times.
Throughout their writings these contemporary Australian writers keep ‘going back’ to a country which, in spite of its decline, real or alleged, still represents for them a place that stimulates thought and imagination. Italy, as an idea of civility, strongly persists, as in the works by Paul Carter.
The second part of the lecture will be in discussion with Professor Paul Carter who, referring to his works inspired by Italy, will illustrate what is ‘found’ in translation when Australian authors write about Italy.