The paper aims to trace the major changes that occurred in Italian publishing for children and ad... more The paper aims to trace the major changes that occurred in Italian publishing for children and adolescents with regard to the representation of feminine identities. The study moves from the first cultural and literary revolutions of the 1960s to the gendered models offered by some contemporary works. Different narrative formats are considered to provide an analysis that takes into account the diversity of children's books published in Italy, which move across different genres and target audiences: from the first editorial series that gave a new voice to the feminine, like 'Il Martin Pescatore' and 'Gl'Istrici', up to publishers or series that offered picturebooks following a precise gender-sensitive policy (Dalla parte delle bambine, Settenove, EDT, etc.); from the influence of the Japanese world through manga narratives, up to the latest comic books by Bao Publishing and Tunué. The contribution aims not only to highlight an ongoing social and literary change, but also to emphasize the pedagogical potential of anticanonical and egalitarian narratives on young readers.
Female imaginary has undergone strong transformations in recent decades, leading to more complex ... more Female imaginary has undergone strong transformations in recent decades, leading to more complex and multifaceted representations of female protagonists in children's narratives. Through stories that employ numerous narrative and artistic techniques, today's filmic characters are demonstrating an increasing adherence to socio-cultural changes as they are giving voice to diversified forms of identity in order to deconstruct those stereotypes that, historically, have categorised girls and women, both real and fictional. Starting from a theoretical basis grounded in Gender Pedagogy and Film Studies, the paper aims to offer a pedagogical overview of the portrayals presented in contemporary children's cinema, from the latest Disney heroines to the female protagonists of Hayao Miyazaki's works, up to independent cinema's products. KEYWORDS Children's films, animated films, female representation, visual pedagogy, gender identity. Film per l'infanzia, film d'animazione, rappresentazione femminile, pedagogia visuale, identità di genere. L'immaginario femminile costruito attraverso le narrazioni filmiche per l'infanzia ha subìto negli ultimi decenni forti trasformazioni che hanno portato a rappresentazioni di protagoniste sempre più complesse e ricche di sfumature. Tramite storie che utilizzano tecniche narrative ed artistiche diverse, gli attuali personaggi filmici stanno dimostrando una sempre maggiore aderenza ai cambiamenti socio-culturali, dando voce a forme identitarie diversificate e oltre gli stereotipi che, storicamente, hanno caratterizzato bambine, ragazze, donne, tanto reali quanto fittizie. A partire da una base teorica fondata sulla Pedagogia di genere e sui Film Studies, il saggio intende offrire una riflessione pedagogica sui nuovi ritratti femminili nei film di animazione contemporanei attraverso una panoramica dei nuovi ritratti presentati nel cinema per l'infanzia, dalle nuove eroine Disney al protagonismo femminile nelle opere di Hayao Miyazaki, fino ai prodotti del cinema indipendente.
The paper, starting with a historical look at the topic of infanticide and abandonment, aims to o... more The paper, starting with a historical look at the topic of infanticide and abandonment, aims to offer reflections on how the social perception of infanticide has changed alongside a transformation of the concept of childhood, family and motherhood. As the father figure has been de-emphasized, infanticide has become first and foremost a female 'deviance' from the presumed naturalness and universality of maternal love, defined by Badinter as "an extra love". Finally, the essay offers a perspective on modern 'collective' infanticides that see large groups of little boys and girls deprived of protections, care and often life due to situations of political or social conflict.
The essay examines the traits and pedagogical potential of the solarpunk artistic and narrative m... more The essay examines the traits and pedagogical potential of the solarpunk artistic and narrative movement by analyzing the specific case study of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984). The article first presents solarpunk and its association with environmental themes and successively applies the genre’s theoretical framework to the case study, as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind shares some of the movement’s approaches and aesthetics in relation to sustainability. The essay concludes with a pedagogical reflection on the potential of solarpunk to imagine and create sustainable worlds. Although this artistic movement is not explicitly aimed at a young audience, solarpunk stories (or a solarpunk reading of different narratives) could lead to a new understanding of the ongoing climate change and to a constructive call for environmental responsibility starting from a young age.
Forni D., “Solarpunk visions in youth fiction. The pedagogical utopia of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, in Education Sciences & Society, 2/2023, pp. 160-168.
Studi sulla Formazione/Open Journal of Education, Jul 18, 2023
Videogames are a fundamental tool in shaping new generations' collective imagination. In particul... more Videogames are a fundamental tool in shaping new generations' collective imagination. In particular, videogames usually present limited depictions of masculinity and femininity and, for this reason, offer canonical norms concerning gender identity. The present paper explores narrative videogames as a key medium to indirectly deconstruct gender canons. Specifically, the paper focuses on the analysis of non-conventional female identities in three videogames based on the adventures of three different protagonists that counteract gender standards.
"Immaginare e costruire mondi ecologici attraverso la letteratura
Solarpunk", in Braga C., Cagol ... more "Immaginare e costruire mondi ecologici attraverso la letteratura Solarpunk", in Braga C., Cagol M. (a cura di), Educare al cambiamento tra sostenibilità e responsabilità, Zeroseiup, Bergamo, 2022.
“Educare alla valorizzazione delle differenze di genere con la Letteratura per l’infanzia. Un pro... more “Educare alla valorizzazione delle differenze di genere con la Letteratura per l’infanzia. Un progetto annuale con il comune di Livorno”, in M. Fiorucci, E. Zizioli (a cura di), La formazione degli insegnanti: problemi, prospettive e proposte per una scuola di qualità e aperta a tutti e tutte, PensaMultimedia, Lecce-Brescia 2022, 978‐88‐6760‐944‐4, pp. 344-348.
“Dai classici della letteratura ai graphic novel. Adattare i Classici a fumetti per una nuova edu... more “Dai classici della letteratura ai graphic novel. Adattare i Classici a fumetti per una nuova educazione letteraria e visuale”, in Corbi E., Sirignano M. (a cura di), Sguardi sull’educazione, PensaMultimedia, Bergamo-Lecce 2022, 978‐88‐6760‐737‐2, pp. 247-270.
“Bambine e ragazze a scuola. Rompere gli schemi dell’istruzione femminile nei romanzi per ragazzi... more “Bambine e ragazze a scuola. Rompere gli schemi dell’istruzione femminile nei romanzi per ragazzi degli ultimi 150 anni”, in Borruso F., Gallelli R., Seveso G. (a cura di), Dai saperi negati alle avventure della conoscenza. Esclusione ed emancipazione delle donne nei percorsi educativi fra storia e attualità, Unicopli, Milano 2023, 9788840022505, pp. 151-164.
"New Gendered Representations in Contemporary Disney-Pixar Villains”, in Ayres B., Sarah E Maier ... more "New Gendered Representations in Contemporary Disney-Pixar Villains”, in Ayres B., Sarah E Maier S. (a cura di), Neo-Disneyism: Inclusivity in the Twenty-First Century of Disney's Magic Kingdom, Peter Lang, New York 2022, 9781800797994, pp. 241-262.
“Donne, streghe e streghette nella Letteratura per l'infanzia del secondo Novecento. Dalla caccia... more “Donne, streghe e streghette nella Letteratura per l'infanzia del secondo Novecento. Dalla caccia alle streghe al femminismo magico”, in Quaderni di Intercultura, anno XIII/2021, pp. 21-43.
Trisciuzzi M.T.; Forni D., “Il baule dei sogni. Vecchie e nuove forme di narrazione per l’infanzi... more Trisciuzzi M.T.; Forni D., “Il baule dei sogni. Vecchie e nuove forme di narrazione per l’infanzia”, in Graphos – Rivista internazionale di Pedagogia e Didattica della scrittura, vol. 1, n. 1, 2022, pp. 77-95.
“Emancipazione e rivolta femminile nel cinema a partire dagli anni Ottanta”, in Medical Humanitie... more “Emancipazione e rivolta femminile nel cinema a partire dagli anni Ottanta”, in Medical Humanities & Medicina Narrativa, Anno 3, n. 1, giugno 2022, a cura di Simonetta Ulivieri e Valerio Ferro Allodola, pp. 109-124 (peer review).
“Lumberjanes e Hilda, serie a fumetti scout tra ecocritica ed ecofemminismo”, in Italica Wratisla... more “Lumberjanes e Hilda, serie a fumetti scout tra ecocritica ed ecofemminismo”, in Italica Wratislaviensia, L’“eco-letteratura” per l’infanzia: studi letterari e traduttologici, vol. 13, n.1, 2022, pp. 75-96 (double peer review).
“Eco Gender Gap in Animated Films: Real and Fictional Gender-based Differences in Environmental S... more “Eco Gender Gap in Animated Films: Real and Fictional Gender-based Differences in Environmental Sensitivity”, in Formazione & Insegnamento, vol. 20, n. 1, 2022, pp. 603-611.
“Italy – LGBTQ Families and Picture Books: New Perspectives in Italian Children’s Literature”, in... more “Italy – LGBTQ Families and Picture Books: New Perspectives in Italian Children’s Literature”, in B.J Epstein., E. Chapman (a cura di), International LGBTQ+ Literature for Children and Young Adults, Anthem Press, Londra 2021, ISBN 9781785279843, pp. 129-146.
“Il cinema come mezzo di studio, valorizzazione e conoscenza attiva del patrimonio storico-educat... more “Il cinema come mezzo di studio, valorizzazione e conoscenza attiva del patrimonio storico-educativo”, in A. Ascenzi, G. Zago, C. Covato (a cura di), Il patrimonio storico-educativo come risorsa per il rinnovamento della didattica scolastica e universitaria: esperienze e prospettive, collana Thesaurus Scholae. Fonti e studi sul patrimonio storico-educativo, 2021, ISBN 9788860567628, pp. 109-122.
“Gli albi illustrati e i nuovi modelli maschili e femminili, per un immaginario oltre gli stereot... more “Gli albi illustrati e i nuovi modelli maschili e femminili, per un immaginario oltre gli stereotipi”, in S. Polenghi, F. Cereda, P. Zini (a cura di), La responsabilità della Pedagogia nelle trasformazioni dei rapporti sociali. Storia linee di ricerca e prospettive, PensaMultimedia, Lecce-Brescia 2021, ISBN 978‐88‐6760‐830‐0, pp. 377-384.
“Le ‘narrazioni dell’oppresso’ e le potenzialità del racconto interattivo”, in M. Fiorucci, S. Na... more “Le ‘narrazioni dell’oppresso’ e le potenzialità del racconto interattivo”, in M. Fiorucci, S. Nanni, M. Traversetti, A. Vaccarelli (a cura di), Pedagogia e politica in occasione dei 100 anni dalla nascita di Paulo Freire, PensaMultimedia, Lecce-Brescia 2022, 978‐88‐6760‐874‐4, pp. 161-168.
“Educare alla valorizzazione delle differenze di genere con la Letteratura per l’infanzia. Un pro... more “Educare alla valorizzazione delle differenze di genere con la Letteratura per l’infanzia. Un progetto annuale con il comune di Livorno”, in M. Fiorucci, E. Zizioli (a cura di), La formazione degli insegnanti: problemi, prospettive e proposte per una scuola di qualità e aperta a tutti e tutte, PensaMultimedia, Lecce-Brescia 2022, 978‐88‐6760‐944‐4, pp. 344-348.
The paper aims to trace the major changes that occurred in Italian publishing for children and ad... more The paper aims to trace the major changes that occurred in Italian publishing for children and adolescents with regard to the representation of feminine identities. The study moves from the first cultural and literary revolutions of the 1960s to the gendered models offered by some contemporary works. Different narrative formats are considered to provide an analysis that takes into account the diversity of children's books published in Italy, which move across different genres and target audiences: from the first editorial series that gave a new voice to the feminine, like 'Il Martin Pescatore' and 'Gl'Istrici', up to publishers or series that offered picturebooks following a precise gender-sensitive policy (Dalla parte delle bambine, Settenove, EDT, etc.); from the influence of the Japanese world through manga narratives, up to the latest comic books by Bao Publishing and Tunué. The contribution aims not only to highlight an ongoing social and literary change, but also to emphasize the pedagogical potential of anticanonical and egalitarian narratives on young readers.
Female imaginary has undergone strong transformations in recent decades, leading to more complex ... more Female imaginary has undergone strong transformations in recent decades, leading to more complex and multifaceted representations of female protagonists in children's narratives. Through stories that employ numerous narrative and artistic techniques, today's filmic characters are demonstrating an increasing adherence to socio-cultural changes as they are giving voice to diversified forms of identity in order to deconstruct those stereotypes that, historically, have categorised girls and women, both real and fictional. Starting from a theoretical basis grounded in Gender Pedagogy and Film Studies, the paper aims to offer a pedagogical overview of the portrayals presented in contemporary children's cinema, from the latest Disney heroines to the female protagonists of Hayao Miyazaki's works, up to independent cinema's products. KEYWORDS Children's films, animated films, female representation, visual pedagogy, gender identity. Film per l'infanzia, film d'animazione, rappresentazione femminile, pedagogia visuale, identità di genere. L'immaginario femminile costruito attraverso le narrazioni filmiche per l'infanzia ha subìto negli ultimi decenni forti trasformazioni che hanno portato a rappresentazioni di protagoniste sempre più complesse e ricche di sfumature. Tramite storie che utilizzano tecniche narrative ed artistiche diverse, gli attuali personaggi filmici stanno dimostrando una sempre maggiore aderenza ai cambiamenti socio-culturali, dando voce a forme identitarie diversificate e oltre gli stereotipi che, storicamente, hanno caratterizzato bambine, ragazze, donne, tanto reali quanto fittizie. A partire da una base teorica fondata sulla Pedagogia di genere e sui Film Studies, il saggio intende offrire una riflessione pedagogica sui nuovi ritratti femminili nei film di animazione contemporanei attraverso una panoramica dei nuovi ritratti presentati nel cinema per l'infanzia, dalle nuove eroine Disney al protagonismo femminile nelle opere di Hayao Miyazaki, fino ai prodotti del cinema indipendente.
The paper, starting with a historical look at the topic of infanticide and abandonment, aims to o... more The paper, starting with a historical look at the topic of infanticide and abandonment, aims to offer reflections on how the social perception of infanticide has changed alongside a transformation of the concept of childhood, family and motherhood. As the father figure has been de-emphasized, infanticide has become first and foremost a female 'deviance' from the presumed naturalness and universality of maternal love, defined by Badinter as "an extra love". Finally, the essay offers a perspective on modern 'collective' infanticides that see large groups of little boys and girls deprived of protections, care and often life due to situations of political or social conflict.
The essay examines the traits and pedagogical potential of the solarpunk artistic and narrative m... more The essay examines the traits and pedagogical potential of the solarpunk artistic and narrative movement by analyzing the specific case study of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984). The article first presents solarpunk and its association with environmental themes and successively applies the genre’s theoretical framework to the case study, as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind shares some of the movement’s approaches and aesthetics in relation to sustainability. The essay concludes with a pedagogical reflection on the potential of solarpunk to imagine and create sustainable worlds. Although this artistic movement is not explicitly aimed at a young audience, solarpunk stories (or a solarpunk reading of different narratives) could lead to a new understanding of the ongoing climate change and to a constructive call for environmental responsibility starting from a young age.
Forni D., “Solarpunk visions in youth fiction. The pedagogical utopia of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, in Education Sciences & Society, 2/2023, pp. 160-168.
Studi sulla Formazione/Open Journal of Education, Jul 18, 2023
Videogames are a fundamental tool in shaping new generations' collective imagination. In particul... more Videogames are a fundamental tool in shaping new generations' collective imagination. In particular, videogames usually present limited depictions of masculinity and femininity and, for this reason, offer canonical norms concerning gender identity. The present paper explores narrative videogames as a key medium to indirectly deconstruct gender canons. Specifically, the paper focuses on the analysis of non-conventional female identities in three videogames based on the adventures of three different protagonists that counteract gender standards.
"Immaginare e costruire mondi ecologici attraverso la letteratura
Solarpunk", in Braga C., Cagol ... more "Immaginare e costruire mondi ecologici attraverso la letteratura Solarpunk", in Braga C., Cagol M. (a cura di), Educare al cambiamento tra sostenibilità e responsabilità, Zeroseiup, Bergamo, 2022.
“Educare alla valorizzazione delle differenze di genere con la Letteratura per l’infanzia. Un pro... more “Educare alla valorizzazione delle differenze di genere con la Letteratura per l’infanzia. Un progetto annuale con il comune di Livorno”, in M. Fiorucci, E. Zizioli (a cura di), La formazione degli insegnanti: problemi, prospettive e proposte per una scuola di qualità e aperta a tutti e tutte, PensaMultimedia, Lecce-Brescia 2022, 978‐88‐6760‐944‐4, pp. 344-348.
“Dai classici della letteratura ai graphic novel. Adattare i Classici a fumetti per una nuova edu... more “Dai classici della letteratura ai graphic novel. Adattare i Classici a fumetti per una nuova educazione letteraria e visuale”, in Corbi E., Sirignano M. (a cura di), Sguardi sull’educazione, PensaMultimedia, Bergamo-Lecce 2022, 978‐88‐6760‐737‐2, pp. 247-270.
“Bambine e ragazze a scuola. Rompere gli schemi dell’istruzione femminile nei romanzi per ragazzi... more “Bambine e ragazze a scuola. Rompere gli schemi dell’istruzione femminile nei romanzi per ragazzi degli ultimi 150 anni”, in Borruso F., Gallelli R., Seveso G. (a cura di), Dai saperi negati alle avventure della conoscenza. Esclusione ed emancipazione delle donne nei percorsi educativi fra storia e attualità, Unicopli, Milano 2023, 9788840022505, pp. 151-164.
"New Gendered Representations in Contemporary Disney-Pixar Villains”, in Ayres B., Sarah E Maier ... more "New Gendered Representations in Contemporary Disney-Pixar Villains”, in Ayres B., Sarah E Maier S. (a cura di), Neo-Disneyism: Inclusivity in the Twenty-First Century of Disney's Magic Kingdom, Peter Lang, New York 2022, 9781800797994, pp. 241-262.
“Donne, streghe e streghette nella Letteratura per l'infanzia del secondo Novecento. Dalla caccia... more “Donne, streghe e streghette nella Letteratura per l'infanzia del secondo Novecento. Dalla caccia alle streghe al femminismo magico”, in Quaderni di Intercultura, anno XIII/2021, pp. 21-43.
Trisciuzzi M.T.; Forni D., “Il baule dei sogni. Vecchie e nuove forme di narrazione per l’infanzi... more Trisciuzzi M.T.; Forni D., “Il baule dei sogni. Vecchie e nuove forme di narrazione per l’infanzia”, in Graphos – Rivista internazionale di Pedagogia e Didattica della scrittura, vol. 1, n. 1, 2022, pp. 77-95.
“Emancipazione e rivolta femminile nel cinema a partire dagli anni Ottanta”, in Medical Humanitie... more “Emancipazione e rivolta femminile nel cinema a partire dagli anni Ottanta”, in Medical Humanities & Medicina Narrativa, Anno 3, n. 1, giugno 2022, a cura di Simonetta Ulivieri e Valerio Ferro Allodola, pp. 109-124 (peer review).
“Lumberjanes e Hilda, serie a fumetti scout tra ecocritica ed ecofemminismo”, in Italica Wratisla... more “Lumberjanes e Hilda, serie a fumetti scout tra ecocritica ed ecofemminismo”, in Italica Wratislaviensia, L’“eco-letteratura” per l’infanzia: studi letterari e traduttologici, vol. 13, n.1, 2022, pp. 75-96 (double peer review).
“Eco Gender Gap in Animated Films: Real and Fictional Gender-based Differences in Environmental S... more “Eco Gender Gap in Animated Films: Real and Fictional Gender-based Differences in Environmental Sensitivity”, in Formazione & Insegnamento, vol. 20, n. 1, 2022, pp. 603-611.
“Italy – LGBTQ Families and Picture Books: New Perspectives in Italian Children’s Literature”, in... more “Italy – LGBTQ Families and Picture Books: New Perspectives in Italian Children’s Literature”, in B.J Epstein., E. Chapman (a cura di), International LGBTQ+ Literature for Children and Young Adults, Anthem Press, Londra 2021, ISBN 9781785279843, pp. 129-146.
“Il cinema come mezzo di studio, valorizzazione e conoscenza attiva del patrimonio storico-educat... more “Il cinema come mezzo di studio, valorizzazione e conoscenza attiva del patrimonio storico-educativo”, in A. Ascenzi, G. Zago, C. Covato (a cura di), Il patrimonio storico-educativo come risorsa per il rinnovamento della didattica scolastica e universitaria: esperienze e prospettive, collana Thesaurus Scholae. Fonti e studi sul patrimonio storico-educativo, 2021, ISBN 9788860567628, pp. 109-122.
“Gli albi illustrati e i nuovi modelli maschili e femminili, per un immaginario oltre gli stereot... more “Gli albi illustrati e i nuovi modelli maschili e femminili, per un immaginario oltre gli stereotipi”, in S. Polenghi, F. Cereda, P. Zini (a cura di), La responsabilità della Pedagogia nelle trasformazioni dei rapporti sociali. Storia linee di ricerca e prospettive, PensaMultimedia, Lecce-Brescia 2021, ISBN 978‐88‐6760‐830‐0, pp. 377-384.
“Le ‘narrazioni dell’oppresso’ e le potenzialità del racconto interattivo”, in M. Fiorucci, S. Na... more “Le ‘narrazioni dell’oppresso’ e le potenzialità del racconto interattivo”, in M. Fiorucci, S. Nanni, M. Traversetti, A. Vaccarelli (a cura di), Pedagogia e politica in occasione dei 100 anni dalla nascita di Paulo Freire, PensaMultimedia, Lecce-Brescia 2022, 978‐88‐6760‐874‐4, pp. 161-168.
“Educare alla valorizzazione delle differenze di genere con la Letteratura per l’infanzia. Un pro... more “Educare alla valorizzazione delle differenze di genere con la Letteratura per l’infanzia. Un progetto annuale con il comune di Livorno”, in M. Fiorucci, E. Zizioli (a cura di), La formazione degli insegnanti: problemi, prospettive e proposte per una scuola di qualità e aperta a tutti e tutte, PensaMultimedia, Lecce-Brescia 2022, 978‐88‐6760‐944‐4, pp. 344-348.
Forni D., “The deconstruction of good and evil characters in narrative videogames. Merging heroes... more Forni D., “The deconstruction of good and evil characters in narrative videogames. Merging heroes and villains in The Last of Us Part II”, in International Conference on Games and Narrative, University of Waterloo, Canada, 11-16 giugno 2021, modalità telematica.
Forni D., “L’eredità editoriale di Ziliotto, Archinto e Turin. per una letteratura ancora oggi ri... more Forni D., “L’eredità editoriale di Ziliotto, Archinto e Turin. per una letteratura ancora oggi rivoluzionaria”, in Lavori in corso. Ricerche di giovani ricercatori nell’ambito storico-pedagogico, Seminario CIRSE, Università di Verona, 28 maggio 2021, modalità telematica.
Forni D., “Per un’alfabetizzazione ecologica attraverso le narrazioni filmiche. Alcuni percorsi t... more Forni D., “Per un’alfabetizzazione ecologica attraverso le narrazioni filmiche. Alcuni percorsi tematici nei classici d’animazione”, in Educazione Terra Natura. Conoscenza Complessità Sostenibilità, 5° convegno internazionale presso Libera Università di Bolzano, Campus di Bressanone, modalità telematica, 2 dicembre 2019.
Forni D., “YA narrations and transmediality: exploring narrative videogames from canonical storyt... more Forni D., “YA narrations and transmediality: exploring narrative videogames from canonical storytelling to interactive fiction”, in YA Studies Around the World, Online Conference by YA Studies Association, modalità telematica, 2-6 Novembre 2020.
Forni D., “Young adult graphic novels and female sexual identity in Long Red Hair and Blue is the... more Forni D., “Young adult graphic novels and female sexual identity in Long Red Hair and Blue is the Warmest Color”, in Conceptions of Girlhood Now and Then: "Girls' Literature" and Beyond, Linnæus University, Växjö, Svezia, modalità telematica, 6-8 ottobre 2020.
Forni D., “Literature for self-discovery. Looking into adolescence through graphic novels”, in Cr... more Forni D., “Literature for self-discovery. Looking into adolescence through graphic novels”, in CreadorAS en la Educación Literaria e Intercultural, Università di Valencia, modalità telematica, 16-18 luglio 2020.
Forni D., “Topolino e l’ambiente. Oltre mezzo secolo di educazione ecologica tra realtà e lettera... more Forni D., “Topolino e l’ambiente. Oltre mezzo secolo di educazione ecologica tra realtà e letteratura”, in Summer School SIREF, Le declinazioni della sostenibilità come proposta della pedagogia: la ricerca educativa e formativa nelle complessità post-covid 19, modalità telematica, 10-19 settembre 2020.
Conference on ‘Radical Youth Literature and Culture’Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, 29-30 ... more Conference on ‘Radical Youth Literature and Culture’Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, 29-30 March 2019
in Il continuum della violenza: generi, corpi, sessualità tra violenza strutturale, interpersonal... more in Il continuum della violenza: generi, corpi, sessualità tra violenza strutturale, interpersonale e simbolica, Convegno AIS – Studi di Genere, Palermo, 27-28 Settembre 2018.
in East Meets West around Children’s Books and Fairy Tales, 36th IBBY International Congress, Ath... more in East Meets West around Children’s Books and Fairy Tales, 36th IBBY International Congress, Athens, 30 Agosto – 1 Settembre 2018.
The study aims to explore the literary and figurative representation of LGBTQ families in childre... more The study aims to explore the literary and figurative representation of LGBTQ families in children's picturebooks. After a general overview of the major texts on this topic, the work will focus on a picturebook which has been translated into twenty-six languages and has been strongly objected to: And Tango Makes Three (2005) by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson. The book tellsthe story of two male penguins who hatch and raise an egg in New York’s Central Park Zoo.
First of all, the presentation will focus on a brief analysis of the text and its illustrations. In particular, the study will show how new kinds of parenthood are presented through words and images to a young audience, avoiding gender stereotypes. Secondly, this work will examine the Italian translation of the book (E con Tango siamo in tre, Junior Editore) and will consider which choices were made in order to maintain a stereotype-free text about LGBTQ families. Finally, the proposal will show some data on the reception of the work both in USA and in Italy: And Tango Makes Three was largely criticized and banned in both countries.
To conclude, And Tango Makes Three is an important example of a sensitive literature whose aim isto teach children diversity providing examples of same-sex families.
This paper aims to analyze the link between growing up and spaces in three picturebooks written... more This paper aims to analyze the link between growing up and spaces in three picturebooks written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak: Where the Wild Things Are (1963), In the Night Kitchen (1970) and Outside Over There (1981). Although published in different periods, Sendak defined them a trilogy on children’s growth: the books represent three different phases of childhood, from early infancy to preadolescence. All the three works present interior and exterior lived spaces as a metaphor for growing up.
In the first book, In the Night Kitchen, Sendak focuses on the opposition between home and the city visited during the night: a surreal place that introduces the protagonist into the society, but recalls childhood too (Rebecca Adams and Eric S. Rabkin, 2006; Jean Perrot, 1990). In the second book, Where the Wild Things Are, the author visually opposes two different lived spaces. The analysis of this picturebook will be based on Michelle Ann Abate’s study of the protagonist’s feelings and on Phil Fitzsimmons’ (2004) remarks on the visual strategies chosen to portray emotions and lived spaces. In the third and last book, Outside Over There, the protagonist has to deal with preadolescent feelings. In particular, my paper will star from Phil Fitzsimmons and F. Steig (1985) works on Sendak’s exploration of children’s anxieties and on the contrast between the ‘world outside’ and the ‘world inside’.
The paper will explore the process of growing up in different lived spaces: in the three picturebooks chosen the protagonist leaves his or her home, have an adventure in an unknown place and comes back at the end of the story, learning how to deal with his or her feelings (Lucy Rollin, 1999). This analysis will concentrate on the three phases presented in the books (leaving home, adventure and going back) relating them to the three phases of childhood chosen by Sendak (early infancy, preschool age, preadolescence).
The paper presented aims to explore the link between children’s literature and theatre for young ... more The paper presented aims to explore the link between children’s literature and theatre for young audiences. In particular, this works will offer an overview of the techniques chosen to turn a novel into a show for children, giving both theoretical and practical examples. Theatre for children is a complex art that differs from adults’ theatre: as a consequence, it should be considered and studied as a separate art form. In order to turn a novel into a play for children, playwrights have to consider some simple but necessary rules. As a matter of fact, an audience composed of children is usually particularly hard to please: kids get bored easily if their fantasy is not stimulated continuously. For this reason, a good adaptation should catch the audience’s attention during all the show through particular strategies. David Wood – one of the most prolific and appreciated contemporary playwrights, who managed to create successful adaptations of well known children’s books, such as those written by Roald Dahl or Philippa Pearce – presented his personal method of adaptation in his volume Theatre for Children (1999), a text where the author gives suggestions to create the perfect play for children through the use of particular elements like songs, colours, games, puppetry, magic tricks, and so on.
In this research, David Wood’s suggestions about adaptations for children will be explored and applied to a contemporary show which is still presented at London’s Drury Lane Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by director Sam Mendes. The musical, inspired by the same novel by Roald Dahl, is an example of a good adaptation that can stimulate the audience’s imagination with songs, puppets, colourful sceneries and many other surprising elements. The proposal will analyse the show through Wood’s rules for a good adaptation, outlining general guidelines for children’s literature at theatre.
To conclude, after a general introduction where theories about adaptations for children’s theatre are presented, this work will offer a practical example of a successful show based on a novel for young readers.
Il volume Raccontare il genere sceglie la forma dell'albo illustrato e si pone l'obiettivo di es... more Il volume Raccontare il genere sceglie la forma dell'albo illustrato e si pone l'obiettivo di esplorare in profondità le rappresentazioni di genere, così da mostrare quali modelli sono oggi veicolati nella letteratura letta, ascoltata e osservata durante l'infanzia. L'immaginario proposto a bambine e bambini esercita un'influenza lungo l'arco dell'intera vita: le storie, in ogni forma, veicolano valori, ideali, possibilità future, chiudono o aprono porte, ripropongono o decostruiscono stereotipi. La comprensione critica dei modelli di genere presenti nelle narrazioni è pertanto fondamentale per educare, in modo indiretto ma efficace, oltre i preconcetti, fuori dai percorsi prestabiliti. Il volume vuole sottolineare i traguardi conquistati, ma anche esporre criticamente i passi ancora da compiere verso una Letteratura inclusiva, egualitaria, ricca di personaggi sfaccettati, diversi e unici. Tramite l'analisi delle opere, il libro offre una 'cassetta degli attrezzi' per riconoscere, decifrare e superare gli stereotipi di genere che ancora oggi, seppur in modo sempre più sottile, permeano la Letteratura per l'infanzia e l'immaginario socialmente condiviso.
This article aims to offer an overview of non-traditional families in contemporary children’s lit... more This article aims to offer an overview of non-traditional families in contemporary children’s literature. The most influential works about divorce, adoption, and same-sex families will be presented, considering both Italian authors and translations from English into Italian. These contemporary themes are developed in picture books for a pre-scholar audience, but also in youngadult novels, covering an extremely wide range of readers. The aim of this essay is to observe how the Italian publishing industry is reacting to these new tendencies that are now very common in many countries of the world but cannot emerge completely in others. Nevertheless, according to recent studies, children’s picture books or novels in which different kinds of families are shown are a particularly important tool to teach diversity and tolerance and to promote modern values.
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Papers by Dalila Forni
Forni D., “Solarpunk visions in youth fiction. The pedagogical utopia of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, in Education Sciences & Society, 2/2023, pp. 160-168.
Solarpunk", in Braga C., Cagol M. (a cura di), Educare al cambiamento tra sostenibilità e responsabilità, Zeroseiup, Bergamo, 2022.
Forni D., “Solarpunk visions in youth fiction. The pedagogical utopia of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, in Education Sciences & Society, 2/2023, pp. 160-168.
Solarpunk", in Braga C., Cagol M. (a cura di), Educare al cambiamento tra sostenibilità e responsabilità, Zeroseiup, Bergamo, 2022.
First of all, the presentation will focus on a brief analysis of the text and its illustrations. In particular, the study will show how new kinds of parenthood are presented through words and images to a young audience, avoiding gender stereotypes. Secondly, this work will examine the Italian translation of the book (E con Tango siamo in tre, Junior Editore) and will consider which choices were made in order to maintain a stereotype-free text about LGBTQ families. Finally, the proposal will show some data on the reception of the work both in USA and in Italy: And Tango Makes Three was largely criticized and banned in both countries.
To conclude, And Tango Makes Three is an important example of a sensitive literature whose aim isto teach children diversity providing examples of same-sex families.
In the first book, In the Night Kitchen, Sendak focuses on the opposition between home and the city visited during the night: a surreal place that introduces the protagonist into the society, but recalls childhood too (Rebecca Adams and Eric S. Rabkin, 2006; Jean Perrot, 1990). In the second book, Where the Wild Things Are, the author visually opposes two different lived spaces. The analysis of this picturebook will be based on Michelle Ann Abate’s study of the protagonist’s feelings and on Phil Fitzsimmons’ (2004) remarks on the visual strategies chosen to portray emotions and lived spaces. In the third and last book, Outside Over There, the protagonist has to deal with preadolescent feelings. In particular, my paper will star from Phil Fitzsimmons and F. Steig (1985) works on Sendak’s exploration of children’s anxieties and on the contrast between the ‘world outside’ and the ‘world inside’.
The paper will explore the process of growing up in different lived spaces: in the three picturebooks chosen the protagonist leaves his or her home, have an adventure in an unknown place and comes back at the end of the story, learning how to deal with his or her feelings (Lucy Rollin, 1999). This analysis will concentrate on the three phases presented in the books (leaving home, adventure and going back) relating them to the three phases of childhood chosen by Sendak (early infancy, preschool age, preadolescence).
In this research, David Wood’s suggestions about adaptations for children will be explored and applied to a contemporary show which is still presented at London’s Drury Lane Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by director Sam Mendes. The musical, inspired by the same novel by Roald Dahl, is an example of a good adaptation that can stimulate the audience’s imagination with songs, puppets, colourful sceneries and many other surprising elements. The proposal will analyse the show through Wood’s rules for a good adaptation, outlining general guidelines for children’s literature at theatre.
To conclude, after a general introduction where theories about adaptations for children’s theatre are presented, this work will offer a practical example of a successful show based on a novel for young readers.