A few words on the Wǔxiá genre
The literary and movie genre known as “swashbuckler” (in Italian we call it “cappa e spada”), never goes out of fashion. Salient features of the genre are undoubtedly the presence of heroes who act inspired by chivalric values, coming to the aid of the weak, the historical setting, mostly medieval times, and the essential element of sword fighting and generally emphasizing the warrior characteristics of the protagonist. As I have mentioned other times in these articles, this is genre literature (and cinema). Genre literature is specially created with recurring elements that characterize it and contribute to its specific language and atmosphere. Traditionally, it is considered “popular” literature in the sense that it does not have great artistic pretensions, but aims more at entertainment. Several times I have challenged this definition, since genre literature has often produced masterpieces. The same argument applies to cinema. It is good to know that the “swashbuckler” genre also has its counterpart in the Asian sphere, particularly in Chinese lands: the wǔxiá (武侠), a genre featuring martial arts warriors in stories set in traditional China. To give an example known to all, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon of 2000 directed by Ang Lee can be considered of the wǔxiá genre. Incidentally, it seems that the genre, which was born in the 20th century, is actually firmly rooted in and harkens back to precedents in classical Chinese literature. Continua a leggere “Warriors in Ancient China”
Introduction. The second part of the 20th century, from the post-World War II period onward, has seen a gradual expansion of international mobility. As a result of the process of economic and socio-cultural integration that since the 1990s we have begun to define more precisely as globalization, the world has become increasingly smaller. The Schengen Treaty and low-cost flights, moreover, have made Europe a unique space in terms of tourism as well. Even my generation, which experienced childhood in the 1980s, can hardly remember a Europe of borders and passports. However, despite the shrinking of the world, the fascination of distant lands remains. Mass tourism has only confirmed, according to fashions and times, the attraction for those lands that intrigue, attract, seem exotic. It should always be kept in mind, however, that the category of “exoticism” is determined by point of view, and that here we start from the European worldview. 
Davide Donadio 