In technological terms social media may be seen as part of the so called digital turn but they appear to have had an impact that far goes far beyond discussions about the nature of representation. Their social impact at all levels of social communication seems to impose a qualitative reflection that extends all the way to any conception of how the social is constituted in the globalized public sphere, including established and more recent notions of social (i.e. cultural, collective, multidirectional, transcolonial etc…) memory. The project we are presenting would like to address this larger question by focusing on social media discourse related to the influx of refugees in Italy over the past several years. How has the migratory flux of refugees departing from an ex-Italian colony (Libya) affected, activated, and/or repressed the memory of Italian colonialism (Libya / Ethiopia / North Africa) and/or Italian emigration (to the Americas)? Has the cultural-territorial North-South division of Italy affected in any way the discourse on social media? We believe these questions to be addressable and also potentially relevant to give Europe-wide scope to our project.

Wine and snacks will be served.