Who were the Thugs? Gangs of Indian robbers and stranglers active in the first half of nineteenth century, animated by a blind devotion to the goddess Kali – as says the traditional literary and movie vulgate (in Italy popularized by Emilio Salgari) – or an exemplary case of colonial «orientalist» phantasy? This article traces the historiographical path between these two opposite versions, in search of the true identity of a peculiar social group, destined to become the prototype of criminal tribes. It also explores the more general questions suggested by this theme on the relations between les mots et les choses, the transformations of discourse and the creation of social identities.
Il ritorno dei Thugs. Ancora su trasformazioni discorsive e identità sociali
BENIGNO, Francesco
2011-01-01
Abstract
Who were the Thugs? Gangs of Indian robbers and stranglers active in the first half of nineteenth century, animated by a blind devotion to the goddess Kali – as says the traditional literary and movie vulgate (in Italy popularized by Emilio Salgari) – or an exemplary case of colonial «orientalist» phantasy? This article traces the historiographical path between these two opposite versions, in search of the true identity of a peculiar social group, destined to become the prototype of criminal tribes. It also explores the more general questions suggested by this theme on the relations between les mots et les choses, the transformations of discourse and the creation of social identities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
