Cultural events in Siena and Lecce address photography and Palestinian literature

Two upcoming cultural events in Italy will explore themes of identity, representation, and resistance through photography and literature.

In Siena, the Santa Maria della Scala will host a conference titled “Identity and photographic representation. An encounter between the gaze on the Orient and the image of Italy” on November 3, 2026. Part of the “Archivi Aperti” initiative, the event features Nicola Labanca and Edoardo Maggi. The discussion will examine how photography shaped cultural stereotypes and social representations, specifically regarding the European gaze on the Orient and the visual construction of Italian identity.

In Lecce, the Biblioteca Bernardini will host the presentation of Samantha Perrone’s essay, “Immagini di vita. Parole di resistenza sotto i bombardamenti israeliani su Gaza” (Images of Life: Words of Resistance under Israeli Bombardments on Gaza), on October 26, 2026. The book explores Palestinian literary history as a tool for memory and resistance, covering historical contexts from the British Mandate to the events following October 7, 2023. A portion of the proceeds from the book sales will be donated to Gazzella ODV.