The New Italians session explores contemporary Italian literature, culture, media, music, and film through the lens of migration, mobility, and evolving forms of Italian identity in a globalized world. In dialogue with PAMLA 2026’s theme, “Our Ruling Classes: Culture, Power, Conflict,” the session considers how cultural production engages structures of power shaping belonging, citizenship, linguistic authority, and cultural legitimacy in Italy and its diasporic contexts.

While some papers will address the conference theme directly by examining cultural authority, hierarchy, and conflict, the session remains open to broader approaches to New Italian studies and contemporary Italian cultural production. We welcome diverse perspectives on migration, identity formation, and transformations of Italianness beyond a single thematic framework.

Papers may be presented in Italian, English, or both. Topics of interest include migration and diaspora, negotiations of identity, contemporary Italian studies, Mediterranean cultures, and approaches to decolonizing Italian cultural narratives.