Reframing Journeys
Migration, Media Narratives and Cultural Dialogues in Europe's Changing Landscape
Summary
This series of essays seeks to demonstrate how, through media, art, and literature, migration to the European continent does not merely entail adaptation but actively shapes and enriches host societies. Drawing from philosophical, cultural and media studies and sociological perspectives, the authors propose a kaleidoscopic view of migratory processes, recontextualising concepts, periods, and interactions in the contemporary world. Here, migration emerges as a dynamic and creative force capable of reframing cultural and social action—both for host and origin communities—as well as redefining notions of belonging and group identity.
Simultaneously, the essays call for a re-evaluation of hospitality policies and cultural rights, essential to understanding the transformative capacity of existing structures—and the potential to reimagine them through a new lens.
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Introduction (Javier Jurado)
- On Errancy: Dante, Montaigne, Kant (Laureano López)
- Bibliography
- A Historical Overview of the Social Representation of Spanish Emigration in the Mass Media (Sonia Martín)
- The NO-DO
- The Cinema
- Migration Subculture
- Bibliography
- Narratives on the Culture of the Latin American Diaspora in Paris: Reflections on a Self-Representation Proposal in the Digital Era (Paola García and Jessica Retis)
- Diasporic Media in Global Cities
- The Magazine El Café Latino: A Media Proposal by Latin Americans in France
- El Café Latino vs New ‘Ambassadors’ of Latin America
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- ‘Siempre serás un extranjero en los dos países’: Exploring Mental Health and Identity Struggles in Moroccan Immigrant Narratives in Najat El Hachmi and Saïd El Kadaoui (Zahra El Morabit Sghire)
- Moroccan Immigrants and Mental Health
- Literature Review
- External Stressors
- The Struggle of Belonging
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- A Crossroads of Migrations in Tríptico de la infamia (2014), by Pablo Montoya (Charles-Élie Le Goff)
- Introduction
- The Hopes Raised by Migration
- A Crossroads of Migrations
- Changing Perception of Cultural Differences
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Roberto Bolaño: A Literary Nomad and his Role in the Paradigm Shift of the Latin American Creative Writer (Daniel Rojas Pachas)
- Introduction
- The Credentials of a Reader Who Imagines Europe
- Wanderer in France and Belgium: Podolski and Lefebvre
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- The Painting of Exile: The Retreat and Spanish Artists After the Civil War (Javier Jurado)
- The Cultural Republic: Avant-Garde, Politics, and War (1931–1939)
- The Long Exile: From ‘Concentration Camps’ to the New World
- Legacy and Memory: The Enduring Impact of the Spanish Exiles’ Art
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- ‘TeatroBe’: Support and Expectations (Marina Ruiz Cano)
- Mapping Migrant Theatre Initiatives in Brussels
- Zoom on TeatroBe
- Origins and Motivations
- Resources and Support
- Audience and Reception
- Corpus
- The Imprint of TeatroBe
- Bibliography
- (Re)configuration of Intimate Spaces by/for Binational Marriages in France: Are Euro-Asian Families Undesirable to the Host Society? (Yoko Iwashita)
- Introduction
- State Regulations of Mixed Marriage in France
- Family Migratory Impacts and the Legal and Social Constraints
- Method and Sample
- (Re)configuration of Intimate Spaces
- Intimate Space as a Fusion of Social and Cultural Capital (4 French–Japanese Unions)
- Intimate Space for Family Reproduction (13 French–Japanese Unions)
- Intimate Space as a Breakdown of the Traditional Family (2 French–Japanese Unions)
- Intimate Space as a Vulnerable Family Due to Involuntary Family Migration (1 French–Japanese Union)
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Reports
- They Asked If I Had a Vagina: Ethnographic Reflections on How Queer Asian Migrants in Belgium Navigate Between Self and State (Aaron Raphael Ponce)
- Introduction: An Ethnographic Vignette
- Context: The Origins of this Study
- A Brief Description of Same-Sex Marriage in Belgium and the EU
- The State as Arbiter of Movement
- Redefining Intimacies
- Use What You Have, Have Something to Use
- Should I Stay or Should I Go?
- Final Reflections: Considerations for Future Research
- Bibliography
- Crossing Boundaries: A Study on Ethnic Identity and Integration Among the Binational (Estonian–Foreign) Population Based on Census Data (Gabriel Alberto Ceballos Rodríguez)
- Introduction
- Mixed Populations and the Estonian Population Census
- How was the Binational Population Identified and Analysed?
- The New Composition of the Binational Population in Estonia Since 1991
- Ethnic Identity Among Binational Clusters
- Binational Clusters and Institutional Integration
- Social Integration
- Discussion
- Bibliography
- Revisiting the Marriage-Migration Nexus in the Global South: Asymmetries of Chinese–Congolese Couples Under State Regulations (Cai Chen)
- Introduction
- Marriage Migration and State Regulations in the Global South
- Socio-Legal Context in China
- Socio-Legal Context in Congo
- Methods and Sample
- Migration-Led Marriage vs Marriage-Led Migration
- Asymmetric Power in the Face of State Control
- Discussion and Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Digital Governance of Migration on the Brazil–Venezuela Border (Denise Cogo and Julia Camargo)
- Introduction
- Theoretical Framework
- Research Methodology
- Results and Discussion
- Control and Surveillance of Venezuelan Refugees as they Arrive and Settle in Brazil
- Access to Services and Training Projects on Brazilian Territory
- Digitalisation of Migration Governance and Political Instrumentalisation of Venezuelan Migration in the 2022 Brazilian Presidential Election Campaign
- Conclusion
- Funding Information
- Bibliography
- Clues to Understanding the Civic Dimension of the Latin American Diaspora in Spain (Raquel Tarullo)
- Brief Introduction
- Theoretical Notes
- Methodology
- Results
- Transoceanic WhatsApp: Micro-Local and Everyday Information
- Local Telegram: Collaborative Network in Hand
- Transoceanic Hard News
- Preliminary Reflections
- Bibliography
- The Arts as an Act of Resistance: Actions to Nomadise from TransMigrARTS, MUSA, and Alegría Latina (Juliana Marín Taborda and Sandra Camacho López)
- TransMigrARTS ‘Transforming Migration by Arts’
- TransMigrARTS Magazine
- Applied Research-Creation
- Actions to Nomadise in the Migration Process
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Rethinking Hospitality Through Artistic Practice (Leidy Jalk Barrios)
- The Origin of the Reflection
- Artistic Hospitality
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- The Migratory Experience as a Choreographic Trigger (Alejandro Russo and Scheherazade Zambrano)
- Bibliography
- Videos
- Epilogue (Marta Garayoa, Kristin Keller and Dagmar Vandebosch)
- Bibliography
Figures
Figure 1: Evolution of Binational (Non-Russian Speaking) Individuals (population with at least one foreign-born parent 1981–2021)
Figure 2: Distribution of Binational Clusters Across Tallinn Areas (0 to 15 and 16 to 30-year-olds)
Figure 3: Binational Clusters by Main Occupation Categories (21 to 30 and 31 to 40-year-olds)
Figure 4: Higher and Vocational Education (Based on Secondary Education) Among Binational Clusters (five-year age-groups 21 to 40-year-olds)
Figure 5: At Rondon 1 Shelter in Boa Vista, March 2002: A UNHCR field officer collects biometric data from children and adults who have recently arrived from Venezuela
Figure 6: In December 2021, at the 13 de Setembro refugee shelter, a banner with the chatbot ‘Gigante’ invites young people to participate in the UNICEF digital project, ‘U-Report Uniendo Voces’
Figure 7: Image of Operação Acolhida [Operation Welcome] produced by the Communications Secretariat of Bolsonaro’s government in 2021
Figures 8 and 9: Breathing-Walking [RespirAndo] Workshop at Aarhus, Denmark
Figure 10: Cover of the Magazine Number 5
Figure 11: MUSA Team
Figure 12: Rocío ‘Alegría Latina’
Figure 13: Leidy Jalk, Towards School, graphite and charcoal, 21 cm × 29.7 cm, 2018
Figure 14: Leidy Jalk, drawing, coloured pencils, graphite and glued thread, 29.7 cm × 21 cm, 2022
Figure 15: Leidy Jalk, drawing, pen and watercolour, 10 cm × 29.7 cm, 2018
Figure 16: Chérif, drawing, pen and watercolour, 10 cm × 29.7 cm, 2018
Figure 17: Alpha, graphite pencil, 15 cm × 20 cm, 2019
Figure 18: Chérif, pen, 15 cm × 29 cm, 2019
Figure 19: Chérif, drawing and embroidery on cloth, 2018
Figure 20: Alpha creations, carving, drawing, and painting on wood and coconut, 2018
Figure 21: Leidy Jalk, drawing, coloured pencils, graphite, and glued thread, 29.7 × 21 cm, 2022
Figure 22: Leidy Jalk, drawing, coloured pencils, graphite, 29.7 × 21 cm, 2022
Figure 23: Leidy Jalk, roads carrying drawing materials, coloured pencils, graphite, and marker, 29.7 × 21 cm, 2022
Figure 24: Leidy Jalk, drawing, ballpoint pen, 2022
Tables
Table 1: TeatroBe Productions 2006–2024
Table 2: Census Variables and Age-Groups Used for the Analyses of Binational (Estonian–Foreign) Clusters
Table 3: Binational Clusters by Mother Tongue (ten-year age-groups: 0 to 30-year-olds)
Table 4: Binationals Distribution by Place of Residence (0 to 15 and 16 to 30-year-olds)
Table 5: List of Digital Services and Applications Observed in this Study
Table 6: Interviewee Profiles
Table 7: Distribution of Latin Migrants in Spain
Introduction
Université de Lille – Geriico
Migration has always been a defining force in the evolution of societies, challenging notions of belonging and identity, and fostering creativity in ways that transcend borders. In contemporary Europe, however, the dominant narratives often present migration through lenses of security and crisis management. This volume seeks to move beyond these reductive framings by emphasising the cultural, social, and political contributions of Ibero-American migrants to Europe. Through literature, media, and artistic expression, migrants do not merely adapt to their new environments but actively shape and enrich them.
A philosophical grounding for this endeavour is provided by Laureano López’s reflections on the universal right to migrate and the concept of errancy. Drawing from figures such as Dante, Montaigne, and Kant, López positions migration as an essential aspect of the human condition, an act of wandering that is both physical and existential. Errancy, in López’s analysis, extends beyond the physical act of migration to symbolise the broader human pursuit of questioning and redefining oneself. This right to wander is not simply a reaction to external pressures but a creative practice that reshapes the cultural and social environments migrants encounter. López’s work offers a profound lens for viewing migration as a dynamic interplay of vulnerability, resistance, and transformation, framing it as both a challenge and a universal human pursuit.
The discussions and contributions collected here build on two guiding principles. First, migration is understood as a dynamic and creative force that has the potential to reframe cultural and social practices. Second, the concepts of hospitality and cultural rights offer crucial tools for understanding how migration operates not only as a challenge to existing structures but as an opportunity to reimagine them. Hospitality emphasises the ethical and social dimensions of welcoming others, while cultural rights advocate for the recognition and empowerment of diverse identities. These principles together underscore the agency and resilience of migrant communities in shaping both their own identities and the societies they join.
The opening contributions delve into the representations of migration, exploring how narratives crafted by media and cultural platforms influence public perceptions and policies while also serving as sites of resistance and creativity. Sonia Martín’s analysis of Francoist Spain cultural production reveals how state-controlled media shaped the image of Spanish emigration, portraying migrants as idealised patriotic workers contributing to the nation’s reputation abroad. Through tools such as NO-DO newsreels, the regime presented a sanitised and nostalgic version of migration, emphasising loyalty to the homeland while silencing the struggles and complexities of migrant lives. This instrumental use of media sought to reinforce national unity and control public perceptions of emigration, reducing migrants to symbols of a larger ideological agenda, while silencing the diverse and complex realities of migrant lives.
However, Martín also uncovers the ways in which migrants resisted these imposed narratives. In Spanish–Belgian communities, for example, cultural subcultures flourished, with music, amateur theatre, and other creative practices becoming tools for self-expression and resistance. These grassroots cultural initiatives not only allowed migrants to articulate their experiences and identities but also challenged the monolithic narratives of the state. They highlight how hospitality and cultural rights intersect, as migrants claim their place in the public sphere and assert their voices in the face of exclusionary state policies.
This dynamic interplay between representation and agency is further explored in the work of Paola García and Jessica Retis, who focus on the role of diasporic media in fostering self-representation among Latin American migrants in Paris. Their study of El Café Latino, a bilingual magazine, demonstrates how media can serve as a bridge between cultures, creating spaces for dialogue and solidarity. Unlike the propagandistic media of Francoist Spain, El Café Latino empowers migrants by providing a platform where they can craft their narratives and connect with both their heritage and their new environment. The magazine’s emphasis on themes such as Latin American arts, gastronomy, and indigenous histories exemplifies how cultural rights are exercised in practice. Through these narratives, migrants engage with their audience in ways that transcend linguistic and cultural barriers, fostering a sense of belonging particular to the migrant community.
The exploration of representation naturally leads into the realm of literature, where the complexities of identity, displacement, and resilience are further unpacked. Zahra El Morabit Sghire’s analysis of Moroccan immigrant narratives through the works of Najat El Hachmi and Saïd El Kadaoui delves into the emotional and psychological dimensions of migration. Both authors explore the struggles of navigating between cultures, highlighting the sense of perpetual foreignness that migrants often face. El Hachmi’s characters, for instance, grapple with the feeling of being ‘always foreigners in both countries’, a sentiment that underscores the limitations of hospitality when it is contingent on assimilation. Similarly, El Kadaoui’s narratives reveal the mental health challenges migrants endure as they attempt to reconcile competing cultural expectations. These stories reflect the profound impact of migration on individual identity, while also illustrating how storytelling itself becomes a mechanism for healing and self-assertion. Cultural rights, in this context, are not merely theoretical constructs but lived realities, as migrants use literature to articulate their experiences and challenge exclusionary discourses.
Charles-Élie Le Goff’s contribution builds on this exploration by situating migration within a historical and artistic framework. His analysis of Pablo Montoya’s Tríptico de la infamia examines the migrations of European artists, tracing this history back to the sixteenth century and highlighting the intersections of cultural exchange and colonial violence. Montoya’s historical fiction portrays migration as a site of both creation and destruction, where the act of crossing boundaries – geographical, cultural, and moral – leads to profound transformations in identity and artistic practice. Le Goff’s reading emphasises how Montoya critiques the colonial roots of migration, framing it as a space of negotiation where the processes of welcoming and the agency of cultural rights are constantly redefined. The artists in Montoya’s narrative, much like contemporary migrants, navigate the tensions between loss and reinvention, using their experiences of displacement as a catalyst for new forms of expression.
Daniel Rojas Pachas’ study on Roberto Bolaño offers another dimension to the exploration of migration and literature, focusing on the figure of the diasporic Latin American writer. Bolaño, a Chilean migrant to Europe, exemplifies a paradigm shift in how Latin American authors engage with the international literary canon. Rojas Pachas underscores Bolaño’s challenge to the traditional tethering of a writer’s identity to their nation, offering instead a vision of the borderless, nomadic author. Through a critical Latin American lens, he examines Bolaño’s desacralisation of European cultural monumentality and his interrogation of the mechanisms that define literary canons and immortality.
These literary explorations – spanning Montoya’s historical narratives and Bolaño’s diasporic autofictions – conclude a section that highlights the transformative power of storytelling in migration contexts. Whether through reimagining historical migrations or challenging literary canons, these contributions demonstrate how literature serves as both a reflection and a reconfiguration of the migrant experience.
Details
- Pages
- X, 296
- Publication Year
- 2026
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9783034359207
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9783034359214
- ISBN (Softcover)
- 9783034359191
- DOI
- 10.3726/b23695
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2026 (April)
- Keywords
- Reframing Journeys Dagmar Vandebosch Javier Jurado Migration and Creation Media Narratives Migrations and Exiles Creativity and Inclusion
- Published
- Bruxelles, Berlin, Chennai, Lausanne, New York, Oxford, 2026. x, 296 pp., 20 fig. col., 4 fig. b/w, 7 tables.
- Product Safety
- Peter Lang Group AG
