Dr. Francesco Arese Visconti Publishes New Book on Italian Migration and Photographic Portraiture
February 24, 2025
Dr. Francesco Arese Visconti, Deputy Academic Director and Head of the Media Studies Program at Webster University Geneva, has published his latest research with Palgrave Macmillan.
Titled "The Invisible Diaspora: Rethinking Photographic Portraiture of 21st Century Italian Migrants in the Arc Lémanique Area," the book offers an insightful exploration of Italian migration through the medium of photographic portraiture.
Focusing on the Arc Lémanique — a region encompassing Lausanne and Geneva in Switzerland — Arese Visconti examines how Italian migrants have been depicted over the decades. Drawing on archival material from Swiss-French illustrated magazines, including L’Illustré and L’Hebdo, as well as various online publications, he traces the evolution of these representations from the 1960s to 2019.
In addition to reviewing archival imagery, Arese Visconti’s work breaks new ground by producing 24 original photographic portraits of contemporary Italian migrants in the region. These portraits challenge established narratives, such as the concept of "brain drain," and offer a more nuanced and dynamic perspective on the Italian diaspora in today’s globalized world.
“The book aims to uncover the unique and complex nature of this new wave of Italian migration,” Arese Visconti said. “It’s about giving visibility to stories that are often overlooked and reframing them through a lens of creativity, identity and cultural dialogue.”
Interdisciplinary in scope, the research integrates theories and methodologies from culture, photography and the creative arts. Arese Visconti’s personal experience as an Italian migrant in Switzerland adds depth and authenticity to this exploration of migration and identity in the 21st century.
This publication represents a significant contribution to the fields of migration studies and visual communication, offering readers an innovative and intimate perspective on the evolving Italian diaspora.