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The Paths of the Italian Young Poets. A Social Network Analysis of the Contemporary Poetic Field

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Challenges in Social Network Research

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Social Networks ((LNSN))

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Abstract

This paper explores the social dynamics and the interactions between young poets and the Italian poetic network. More specifically, 70 poets were questioned about their participation in poetic activities and their cultural path. Using Social Network Analysis approach, we obtained preliminary information about the roles and structure of the Italian poetic network. Moreover, the explorative multidimensional analysis of a two-mode network was conducted using Multiple Correspondence Analysis in order to focus on the nature of relational data and the presence of asymmetry between actors and events in the network. The main results show low density network with many isolated experiences, where traditional publishers are still determinant in the building of personal career path and in the distribution network’s support. Moreover, in a market that tends to “squeeze out,” platforms and online journals are strongly emerging as places of co-production and co-distribution of the young poetry in Italy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The estimation of Italian sales of books in 2014 was 20% less compared to 2009. Poetry’s sales are 0.6% of the whole literary industry. On the one hand, a history editor as Crocetti states that his sale is significantly decreased, while on the other hand Einaudi states more positive data. Inside the broader literary market, the micro-market of poetry is organized as an oligopoly where important editors (15% of the sector with over 50 publications per year) show how investing in poetry is profitable in the long run, thanks to the republishing of old authors [21]. These big authors are surrounded by small and even smaller authors (less than 10 publications per year) which are, however, very strongly specialized [22].

  2. 2.

    Forms of mass-culture that allow the public to have easy access and use along with a mid-culture represented by new entertaining and modern products.

  3. 3.

    The survey was carried out in August 2012.

  4. 4.

    The analyses of core-periphery and centralities were performed through the software Ucinet 6 [44].

  5. 5.

    CA of the affiliation network incorporates a similar relationship between actor and event as expressed in eigenvector centrality. In fact, the use of eigenvector centrality is coherent with that of factorial methods for the analysis of this kind of networks [13, 47].

  6. 6.

    The analysis was performed through the software Spad 5.5.

  7. 7.

    The graphs linking poets/live events, poets/review received, poets/on line journals, poet/traditional publisher will be showed below and will be described in detail the individual positions identified.

  8. 8.

    Thanks to the calculation of Degree Centrality (D). For the most influential we have used the Eigenvector Degree (E). For space requirements only the 10 poets with higher D and E are shown. The same for events.

  9. 9.

    Nazione Indiana is a cultural project founded in March 2003 by an Italian group of writers, critics, and artists, with the purpose of literary promotion, which takes the form of an online magazine. The site’s name was suggested by the poet Antonio Moresco to recall the particular sense of community among the native people of North America. With the aim of giving voice to texts and ideas that do not find their space in commercial publishing and information press, Nazione Indiana has published literary and critical texts, political and cultural initiatives, scientific divulgation and art exhibitions. It is considered today, in the context of narrative production too, the place on which editors of the most important publishing houses scout.

  10. 10.

    Collective structure similar to Nazione Indiana, headed by different subjects, always belonging (in a lateral way) to the world of publishing, they carry out a series of projects including a festival in Monfalcone.

  11. 11.

    The branch publishing companies, which obtain other levels in all the centrality indices, still play an important role and still represent the natural recipient of the authors’ proposals. The high entry costs and the strong selection make them less accessible than online “colleagues” and this lower accessibility also justifies the emerging and central role, but increasingly important, of online magazines. The traditional publishers who are in high positions, according to all the centrality indices, are sectoral and independent except for Mondadori, one of the largest European publishing group (owner of Marcos y Marcos in our selection).

  12. 12.

    Author of monographs and the many collective works as an editor for the literary and art magazines. He coordinates and directs the EDB magazine.

  13. 13.

    Lidia Rivello (LR): Degree (D) = 0.105 and Eigenvector (E) = 0.319 (the second for both indices within the network), is author and host of radio and TV programs (Radiotre, Radiodue, La7, Sky). She collaborates with newspapers, magazines and blogs, curates and organizes events and festivals of poetry and art in Italy and abroad since 1994, collaborating with the magazine “Italian Poetry.” She has numerous monographs and is present in numerous Italian and foreign magazines and anthologies. She has worked as a consultant for the cultural programs of the Mibact (Ministry of cultural heritage and tourism) and collaborates with “La Compagnia della Fortezza” in Volterra. She is currently President of the Poetitaly Cultural Associacion. Azzurra d’Agostino (AdA): D = 0.101 (3°) and E = 0.249 (4°) is a playwright and event organizer, presents in collections of poetry and has published books for children. Matteo Zattoni (MZ): D = 0.111 (1°) and E = 0.199 (10°), PhD in Sociology of Law, is a researcher at CIRSFID in Bologna, he collaborates with Atelier Magazine. Alessandro Raveggi (AR: D = 0.084 (4°) and E = 0.336 (1°), novels, short stories, essays and playwright’s author, he directs the magazine FLR and is curator for LiberAria Editrice. Francesca Matteoni (FM2): D = 0.061 (6°) and E = 0.258 (3°), has carried out university research, present in collections and has published at the main publishers of the sector.

  14. 14.

    Parco Poesia (PaPo): D = 0.091 (16°), E = 0.149 (10°); Roma Poesia Festival (RoPo): D = 0.61 (27°), E = 0.138 (12°); Festival di Armunia (ArMu): D = 0.061 (27°), E = 0.092 (21°); Pordenone Legge (PoLeg): D = 0.061 (27°), E = 0.082 (24°), Premio Delfini (Delf): D = 0.061 (27°), E = 0.77 (26°).

  15. 15.

    La Stampa (Sta): D = 0.045 (36°), E = 0.091 (35°); il Manifesto (Man): D = 0.076 (20°), E = 0.117 (16°); Almanacco dello Specchi di Mondadori (Alm): D = 0.045 (36°), 0.063 (35°), Lo Specchio della Stampa (Spec): D = 0.061 (27°), E = 0.074 (24°), and Repubblica (Rep): D = 0.045 (36°), E = 0.091 (23°).

  16. 16.

    Gilda Policastro (GP), italianist and literary critic, is editor for “Allegory Magazine” and has collaborated for various newspapers’ cultural pages, from the “Manifesto” to the “Corriere della Sera,” as well as lit-blogs and literary information sites, such as “Le parole e le cose” and “Bookdetector.” D = 0.054 (11°), E = 0.234 (6°).

  17. 17.

    In particular, LP e PD published 8 books, AR, AI, GMA 6, AP2, AS, AR2, CDL, CB2, FM, FG, LP, MS, MD, MS2 5, ADA, EB, FI, FM2, GP, IB, IT, JR, LR, MF, MZ, SM, SL 4.

  18. 18.

    Lieto Colle: 16 poets, D’if: 14, Crocetti: 13, Mondadori: 12, Marcos y Marcos: 11, Fara and Campanotto: 8, Zona: 7, Transeuropa: 6.

  19. 19.

    Twenty-two poets wrote on Nazione Indiana (NaInd), 16 on Atelier (Atel), 9 on Nuovi Argomenti (NuArg), 8 on Poesia (Poes), 7 su Poesia 2.0 (Poe2).

  20. 20.

    Among these: AR with 11, MF and PD with 9, AdA with 8, MZ and MC2 with 7, DN and TL with 6.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna, Italy

    Sabrina Pedrini

  2. University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Cristiano Felaco

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  1. Sabrina Pedrini
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Correspondence to Sabrina Pedrini .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Giancarlo Ragozini

  2. Department of Political and Social Studies, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA), Italy

    Maria Prosperina Vitale

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Pedrini, S., Felaco, C. (2020). The Paths of the Italian Young Poets. A Social Network Analysis of the Contemporary Poetic Field. In: Ragozini, G., Vitale, M. (eds) Challenges in Social Network Research. Lecture Notes in Social Networks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31463-7_11

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