Who Josie Became Next: Developing Narratives of Ethnic Identity Formation in Italian Australian Literature and Film
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Who Josie Became Next: Developing Narratives of Ethnic Identity Formation in Italian Australian Literature and Film Jessica Rita Carniel Submitted in total fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy February 2006 Department of History (Gender Studies Program) and The Australian Centre Produced on archival quality paper Abstract Using an expanded and adapted conception of the Bildungsroman (or novel of development or formation), this thesis examines representations of Italian Australian identities through an analysis of selected English-language literary and film narratives produced by individuals of Italian descent in Australia since World War II. It draws upon critiques of the genre of the traditional Bildungsroman to further contribute to the conceptualisation of a related genre, the ethnic bildungsroman. In applying an interdisciplinary approach, the thesis critically analyses the processes of ethnic identity formation in these Italian Australian narratives in various socio-historical and literary contexts, with particular reference to the intersection of gender and ethnicity. It is argued that not only can the development of individual protagonists’ identities be read in each text, but the narratives selected here chart the journeys of ethnic identification made by Italian Australian protagonists and the varying trends in their modes of identification. This study focuses upon a selection of fiction, biography and autobiography that narrates these identities. These narratives both directly and indirectly address experiences of being of Italian heritage in Australia at various times throughout the twentieth century. It argues that the narrative representation and, more importantly, the narrative self-representation of ethnic identities are integral parts of migration and settlement processes, as well as significant steps in opening up dialogues amongst and between various Australian identities. By placing narrative explorations of Italian Australian identities and experiences into their broader socio-historical and cultural contexts, this study contributes to the growing field of Italian Australian cultural studies. It also situates these narratives within the broader context of interdisciplinary Australian studies. This opens up possibilities for a future dialogue between the narratives of Italian and other diasporic cultural groups present within Australia. i ii Declaration This is to certify that (i) the thesis comprises only my original work towards the PhD, (ii) due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used, (iii) the thesis is less than 100, 000 words in length, exclusive of tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Signed: _____________________________________________________________ iii iv Acknowledgments Throughout the four years of my candidature I have had the great fortune to be under the supervision of three academics from various disciplines and with varying approaches. Assistant Professor Maila Stivens provided assistance in the initial stages of the project, and returned in the final stages with a welcome pair of fresh eyes to comment on the final draft. For the majority of my candidature Professor Pat Grimshaw and Dr Sara Wills have united to aid me through the pitfalls and the victories with utmost patience, and have been a great source of guidance and support. I wish to express sincere gratitude to all of my supervisors for their advice, assistance and even their occasional admonishments. My supervisors were not alone in their advisory capacity as, in the final stages, several friends generously donated their time to reading either full drafts, or chapter drafts relevant to their respective fields of expertise. I would like to thank my dear friend Sara Bice for reading the penultimate draft in the face of distractions by a houseproud partner. Her comments were insightful and, most importantly, humorous. I would also like to thank Libby Avram and Simon Sleight for their comments and advice on Chapters 7 and 2 respectively, as well as my introduction. I know I shall one day be called upon to return the favour, and I can only help to do so with the same selfless enthusiasm as they have. Reading drafts is one very important way to assist in the completion of a thesis, but many of my friends, including those already named above, have also assisted me simply by managing to remain my friends through thick and thin. Thank you to Simon Andrews, Clarisa Chase, Hamish Coates, Aidan de Graaf, Jared de Graaf, Beth Jones, Iris Ng, Cat Nicolas, Kia Yann, Matt Way and all my other lovely friends, especially our fledgling netball team. Special thanks to the following: Will Gregor, for being a wonderful flatmate for two years and an even better friend for longer; Christy Oswald, for having a sensible mind that knows the value of very silly shoes; Hayley Galvin, for the fact that she is none other than who she is; Marcel Krestan, for always having an almost convincing compliment on your lips; Joanna Mead, for her laughter and companionship but not for making me sleep in a car on a highway in the middle of nowhere; Johnny Arnold, for making our lives seem like very well-written chick-lit even when we are just working in call centres or trawling through footnotes; and Rachel Cullen, no words can express how thankful I am for our friendship. And of course, I cannot forget my lovely partner, Ronald Ng, who kindness, generosity and patience over the past two years have been immeasurable and greatly appreciated. v I am also grateful for the financial assistance I have received throughout the course of my candidature. Not only was I fortunate enough to be the recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Award from the University of Melbourne, I was able to seize upon the invaluable opportunities to present aspects of my work both in Australia and overseas through the receipt of a TRIPS grant from the university’s Arts Faculty, and through postgraduate funding from the Department of History. I would also like to thank all those who I met and befriended at these conferences, as they made each of these occasions as enjoyable as they were intellectually stimulating and rewarding. Another such source of enjoyment was provided by the migration and identity reading group, through which several postgraduate students of the Australian Centre were united through the initiative of our shared supervisor, Dr Sara Wills. Our meetings became an essential source of support, inspiration and social contact in the final year of my candidature. I would like to thank Sara for starting the group, but also extend my gratitude to Joy Braddish, Pamie Fung, Vivian Gerrand, Anja Schwarz and Georgia Shiells for their support and intelligent discussion. Finally I wish to thank my family, both in Australia and Italy. Especial thanks go to my father, Umberto Carniel, for everything; his partner, Glenys Ward, for being a good friend to us all; my brother-in-law, Wadim, for the patience and pizza, and for ferrying me about Treviso; and my siblings, Cinzia, Matt and Marc, who are my home. On behalf of my family, I would like to dedicate this work to the memory of my mother, Mariella Carniel. vi Abstract...................................................................................................................................................i Declaration............................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................v Chapter 1 Introduction: Developing Narratives of Ethnic Identification in Italian Australian Literature and Film....................................................................................................................1 Chapter 2 Like Child to Adult, Migrant to Citizen? Reading Migrant Autobiographies as Ethnic bildungsromane.............................................................................................................................35 Chapter 3 The Migrant’s Inferno: Multiculturalism, Melting Pots and Mosaics in Italian Australian Autobiographical Fiction .......................................................................................................69 Chapter 4 Alibrandi and Friends: Italian Australian Young Adult Fiction as Ethnic bildungsromane......99 Chapter 5 Saints, Sauces and Scotty Dogs: Critically Re-imagining Italian Australian Migration for Ethnic Identification............................................................................................................ 137 Chapter 6 Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo? Questioning Memory, Ethnicity and Gender in the Works of Venero Armanno............................................................................................................. 163 Chapter 7 From Wogboys to Proxy Brides: The Journey from Melodrama to Romantic Comedy in Italian Australian film .......................................................................................................... 199 Conclusion: Who Josie Becomes Next........................................................................................ 231 Bibliography...................................................................................................................................... 241 vii viii Chapter 1 Introduction: Developing Narratives of Ethnic Identification in Italian Australian Literature and Film Even where they exist