Purpose and description of the project Until present, the critical examination of Anne Frank’s works in Italy has predominantly been the domain of historians, literary critics, and philosophers, none of whom had access to the original Dutch texts. Now, for the first time, a team of Italian Dutc h Studies scholars, supported by experts in history and intercultural pedagogy, seeks to explore the influence of Anne Frank’s writings on Italy’s historical and cultural Memory.
Hence, the primary objective of this study is to reassess Anne Frank’s impact in Italy, the US, and Japan. A secondary aim is to establish a strong network of scholars and stakeholders in order to consolidate the position of Dutch departments at Italian universities.
The main foundation of this research is the rediscovery of Anne Frank’s diaries and other writings. By tracing the trajectory of translations and adaptations, and leveraging digital commemoration and collaboration projects in schools, this project contribu tes to the development of a vast transcultural and transnational memorial archive. Suffice it to say that Anne Frank consistently emerges as a symbol in response to contemporary social and political events, including wars and instances of intolerance, part icularly in societies witnessing growing multiculturalism.
Over the years, the Diaries have been edited, adapted in other media, censored, translated and retranslated, manipulated, questioned and revised for schools, especially since the introduction of International Remembrance Day on January 27. At the same time , the figure of Anne Frank has been gradually detached of her German, Dutch and Jewish identity to become a
gradually detached of her German, Dutch and Jewish identity to become a symbol of universal suffering and struggle against prejudice. Countless symbol of universal suffering and struggle against prejudice. Countless cultural initiatives, transmedia products, publishing houses, study and cultural initiatives, transmedia products, publishing houses, study and research centres and museums bear the naresearch centres and museums bear the name of this young woman who wrote me of this young woman who wrote one of the most widely read and translated books in the world. A few examples one of the most widely read and translated books in the world. A few examples include the Anne Frank House and all its international partners include the Anne Frank House and all its international partners (, as well as are/partners/), as well as memorialmemorial museums worldwide that have sections devoted to Anne Frank, museums worldwide that have sections devoted to Anne Frank, such as the Holocaust Education Centre in Fukuyama and the Zoryan Institute such as the Holocaust Education Centre in Fukuyama and the Zoryan Institute in Toronto. Other interesting cases are foundations such as the Anne Frank in Toronto. Other interesting cases are foundations such as the Anne Frank Trust UK, where a group of young volunteers Trust UK, where a group of young volunteers –– the Anne Frank Ambassadors the Anne Frank Ambassadors –– organize cultural activities with children to build “a world free from prejudice, organize cultural activities with children to build “a world free from prejudice, inspired by the life and work of Anne Frank” (Anne Frank Trust UK, n.d.).inspired by the life and work of Anne Frank” (Anne Frank Trust UK, n.d.).
Specifically, this consortium will rediscover the versatility of Anne Frank’s
Specifically, this consortium will rediscover the versatility of Anne Frank’s oeuvre through four pillars and research units (RU):oeuvre through four pillars and research units (RU):
- Sociology of translation, translation trajectories, cultural mediation and Sociology of translation, translation trajectories, cultural mediation and cultural diplomacy (RU Trieste).cultural diplomacy (RU Trieste).
- Pedagogy of Remembrance (RU Bologna), remembrance education and Pedagogy of Remembrance (RU Bologna), remembrance education and pedagogy of conflict prevention.pedagogy of conflict prevention.
- Anne the writer: evolution of her writing style and rediscovery of her Anne the writer: evolution of her writing style and rediscovery of her other writings (RU Rome and Naples).other writings (RU Rome and Naples).
- Theatre Theatre representations in Italian, English and Dutch based on the Diary representations in Italian, English and Dutch based on the Diary (RU Naples).(RU Naples).