Chapter 23
In: Handbook of Chinese Migration to Europe
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Abstract
This chapter examines media and cultural representations of diverse mainland Chinese populations in Italy since the 1980s through the lenses of cultural mobilities and communications. Initially outlining the interdisciplinary field of Chinese migrations to Italy, I emphasize the often-overlooked dimensions of various short- or long-term migrants, such as international students, skilled workers, businesspeople, and tourists. I argue that ignoring these mobilities results in an incomplete understanding of migrations from mainland China to Italy. Additionally, I underscore the need for further exploration of media, cinematic, and literary productions about Chinese migrants in Italy. In the second part, I interpret key 2010s popular cultural texts, analysing how multiple mobilities intersect with migration in cultural representations. Through analysis of works such as Italiani Made in China (2015), Lavazza’s Dr Ping advertisements, the graphic novel Chinamen (2017), and the crime novel Il Cinese (2018), I reveal the highly heterogeneous Italian-language representations of Chinese migrants. Some representations reflect the continuing resonance of highly negative stereotypes even as others are much more positive. I argue that while these recent supportive representations of Chinese migrants in Italy draw on “positive” American stereotypes to challenge anti-Chinese racism, they remain reactive to mainstream portrayals.