Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: AWay of Inclusion or Exclusion? Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: A Way of Inclusion or Exclusion?
<p>Historians usually consider medieval confraternities as lay religious communities involved in devotional and charitable practices which carried out a socializing function as well. Confraternities, when seen through this lens, fundamentally appear to be inclusive communities which he...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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Università di Napoli Federico II
2012-10-01
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| Series: | Reti Medievali Rivista |
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| Online Access: | http://www.rmojs.unina.it/index.php/rm/article/view/359 |
| _version_ | 1797231122773442560 |
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| author | Marina Gazzini |
| author_facet | Marina Gazzini |
| author_sort | Marina Gazzini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Historians usually consider medieval confraternities as lay religious communities involved in devotional and charitable practices which carried out a socializing function as well. Confraternities, when seen through this lens, fundamentally appear to be inclusive communities which helped strengthen the identities of good believers and good citizens by focusing on the solidarity created among the members of the association itself. This ecumenical vision depends essentially on a positive prejudice which is automatically ascribed to the concept of solidarity, and which often leads one to forget that, though solidarity in some cases may have rationales for inclusion, in many others it can be a source of exclusion. Yet, these opposite characteristics only seem to conflict, because to exclude someone means including someone else at the same time. The aim of this short paper is to discuss these aspects, especially with respect to northern late medieval Italy, along the lines of the question posed in these preliminary remarks: were medieval confraternities inclusive communities or exclusive institutions?</p><br><p>Gli studi sulle confraternite medievali, oltre che agli aspetti devozionali e caritativi, sono soliti guardare alle finalità solidaristiche e inclusive di tali associazioni. E, a proposito di queste ultime, la solidarietà che si instaurava all’interno del gruppo confraternale, e fra questo e quella parte della popolazione destinataria di solidarietà e assistenza, spirituale come materiale, viene vista come funzionale al rafforzamento del ruolo e dell’identità di buon cittadino (o buon suddito) e di buon fedele. Un pregiudizio positivo grava però sul concetto di solidarietà: se vi sono solidarietà che includono, ne esistono tuttavia altre che escludono. Una confraternita infatti prevedeva spazi chiusi di azione, fisici e metaforici, tali da escludere chi se ne trovava al di fuori. Sulla base di esemplificazioni relative all’Italia del nord a fine medioevo, nel presente saggio ci si interrogherà se le confraternite aiutassero il rafforzamento delle solidarietà, o piuttosto non favorissero la perpetuazione delle barriere sociali ed economiche, fra i membri di una medesima comunità.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:39:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-40996787bcd0417ea031523a9fa94403 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1593-2214 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:39:22Z |
| publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
| publisher | Università di Napoli Federico II |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reti Medievali Rivista |
| spelling | doaj.art-40996787bcd0417ea031523a9fa944032024-04-02T00:32:40ZdeuUniversità di Napoli Federico IIReti Medievali Rivista1593-22142012-10-01132Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: AWay of Inclusion or Exclusion? Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: A Way of Inclusion or Exclusion?Marina Gazzini<p>Historians usually consider medieval confraternities as lay religious communities involved in devotional and charitable practices which carried out a socializing function as well. Confraternities, when seen through this lens, fundamentally appear to be inclusive communities which helped strengthen the identities of good believers and good citizens by focusing on the solidarity created among the members of the association itself. This ecumenical vision depends essentially on a positive prejudice which is automatically ascribed to the concept of solidarity, and which often leads one to forget that, though solidarity in some cases may have rationales for inclusion, in many others it can be a source of exclusion. Yet, these opposite characteristics only seem to conflict, because to exclude someone means including someone else at the same time. The aim of this short paper is to discuss these aspects, especially with respect to northern late medieval Italy, along the lines of the question posed in these preliminary remarks: were medieval confraternities inclusive communities or exclusive institutions?</p><br><p>Gli studi sulle confraternite medievali, oltre che agli aspetti devozionali e caritativi, sono soliti guardare alle finalità solidaristiche e inclusive di tali associazioni. E, a proposito di queste ultime, la solidarietà che si instaurava all’interno del gruppo confraternale, e fra questo e quella parte della popolazione destinataria di solidarietà e assistenza, spirituale come materiale, viene vista come funzionale al rafforzamento del ruolo e dell’identità di buon cittadino (o buon suddito) e di buon fedele. Un pregiudizio positivo grava però sul concetto di solidarietà: se vi sono solidarietà che includono, ne esistono tuttavia altre che escludono. Una confraternita infatti prevedeva spazi chiusi di azione, fisici e metaforici, tali da escludere chi se ne trovava al di fuori. Sulla base di esemplificazioni relative all’Italia del nord a fine medioevo, nel presente saggio ci si interrogherà se le confraternite aiutassero il rafforzamento delle solidarietà, o piuttosto non favorissero la perpetuazione delle barriere sociali ed economiche, fra i membri di una medesima comunità.</p>http://www.rmojs.unina.it/index.php/rm/article/view/359Confraternitesolidarietàesclusione |
| spellingShingle | Marina Gazzini Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: AWay of Inclusion or Exclusion? Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: A Way of Inclusion or Exclusion? Reti Medievali Rivista Confraternite solidarietà esclusione |
| title | Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: AWay of Inclusion or Exclusion? Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: A Way of Inclusion or Exclusion? |
| title_full | Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: AWay of Inclusion or Exclusion? Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: A Way of Inclusion or Exclusion? |
| title_fullStr | Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: AWay of Inclusion or Exclusion? Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: A Way of Inclusion or Exclusion? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: AWay of Inclusion or Exclusion? Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: A Way of Inclusion or Exclusion? |
| title_short | Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: AWay of Inclusion or Exclusion? Solidarity and Brotherhood in Medieval Italian Confraternities: A Way of Inclusion or Exclusion? |
| title_sort | solidarity and brotherhood in medieval italian confraternities away of inclusion or exclusion solidarity and brotherhood in medieval italian confraternities a way of inclusion or exclusion |
| topic | Confraternite solidarietà esclusione |
| url | http://www.rmojs.unina.it/index.php/rm/article/view/359 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marinagazzini solidarityandbrotherhoodinmedievalitalianconfraternitiesawayofinclusionorexclusionsolidarityandbrotherhoodinmedievalitalianconfraternitiesawayofinclusionorexclusion |