The future of coal mining history. Migration, cultural memory and the transnational Dutch studies

Abstract

In this contribution I present the transdisciplinary project Minatori di memorie (Minors of Memory), based at the University of Bologna, organized by the Dutch Department, in collaboration with anthropologist Sonia Salsi, a child of emigrants to Lindeman in Belgian Limburg herself. This platform has been devoted since 2016 to the study of the (post-)memory of coal mining and of (Italian) migration in the transnational coal district in Belgium and The Netherlands. Multilingualism, translation studies, world literature and cultural memory studies are the main angles by which the material and immaterial traces of this important chapter of European history can be analyzed and actualized in a relevant way. Different artists and artistic forms are shortly discussed: a short story by Kenan Serbest, Don Luca’ rap music, Roberta Sorgato’ literary non-fiction, a citybook by Mauro Pawlowski, a movie by Stijn Coninx and a documentary movie by Remo Perrotti. What these artists, with different backgrounds, have in common is that they have not experienced the world of coal mining and/or migration directly, but mainly as post-memory, through the mediation of books, photographs, movies and the social media. Their work offers scholars and students from the field of the Dutch Studies the opportunity to move beyond the traditional domain of the discipline and to participate in stimulating interdisciplinary networks. As a matter of fact, multi- and interdisciplinary crossovers appear vital in order to make small study programmes like Dutch Studies attractive and sustainable, and to open new research paths.