Utopias, Metabolized: Queering Communism and Zionism in Clara Sereni’s Testimonial Narratives

Abstract

This article proposes an analysis of the narrative ecologies of Sereni’s autobiographical novels, Casalinghitudine and Il gioco dei regni. It includes a discussion of the utopian discourses present in her family and childhood, of her relationships with the maternal figures in her life, and of her take on the cultural concept of mothering--with its connotations related to origin, desire, and genealogy. In the context of assessing the bio-politics of Sereni’s testimonial writing, the article teases out, perhaps against the grain of the author’s intention, the queer aspects of Sereni’s autobiographical accounts, and it places these aspects in the context of today’s global ecological concerns--especially those related to fertility and water. The utopian discourses brought to bear on the analysis include those focused on modern science, revolutionary socialism, communism, and Zionism.