Edition N°1 , 2022 - 2023

Dearreaders, 11yearsafterourfoundingeditor-in-chiefsfirstbegantheirjourneyinpursuitofcreativity, truth,andimagination,itiswithpleasurethatipresenttoyouourfirsteditionofthe 2022-2023academicyear.

LeZadig,knownforitsartfulvision,isnothingwithoutitscreatorswhomakethepublicationasrichasitis throughtheircartoons,whethermotivatedpoliticallyoraesthetically.

Thisyearwehavecommittedtoproducingbimonthlyissues,filledwithopinions,emotions,andbeliefs,manifested throughpoetryandprosealike.

Divein:teleporttosarajevo,zoomtoistanbul.learnaboutthebulgarianelections,anddigestacritiqueof “mustang,”themovie.

Ifyoudidn’tgetachancetocontributetothisissue,thereisalwaysaplaceforyouatlezadig. Untilthenextissue!

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byIsabelCronin

MindonPaper

ISABEL CRONIN COLUMNIST

Whenyouareconcussed,doctorswillinformyouof threethings.Oneisthatyoushouldbewokenupoenduringlong periodsofsleeptoensurethatyouhavenotdied.esecondis thatyoumuststayawayfrombrightlightsandelectronicscreens. ethirdisatraditional“takeiteasy”whenfacingacademicwork orsocialresponsibility.Unfortunately,thatnalwarningseemed toslipfrommymindatthehandsofatinnitus-inducedheadache. Duringmyfreshmanyearofhighschool,Itookaparticularly vicioushittotheheadaerfallingatastandstillonrollerskates, leavingmewithanastybruiseandsomeminorbraintrauma. WhileIhadvisitedthedoctorandwasexcusedfromassignments fortheforeseeablefuture,wehadjustnishedRomeoand JulietinEnglishclass,andIhadsomethingsIwantedtosay.Or rather:Ihadthingstowrite.AndsoItookmyseatinclassthat morningaeranextendeddoctor'svisittheaernoonbefore,and handwrotethreepagesofconcussednonsenseaboutthefamed Shakespeareplay.atwritingstillexists,insomefolderinsome cornerofthebuilding,permanentlyenshrinedonthelooseleaf onwhichIwroteit,andIlovethat.

IttookmesixteenyearstorealizeIcan’tvisualizeimages inmyhead.EvenodderisthatIhardlyrecallanyconcretememory beforetheageoffourteen.ItissufficienttosaythatIhavenever beengiedwithanyfantasticprocessofrecollection,andIfear thatmymedicalhistoryof(repeated)minorbraininjurieshas mademaersworse.Muchofmymentalarchiveisregreably irretrievable,likeanencyclopediawhereeveryothersentencehas beenhighlightedinblackSharpie,whichwouldn’tbesomuchof anissueifIwasnotsoafraidtoforgetafraidtolosemypast andmyselfalongwithit.AndsoI’veturnedintoaprolicwriter. Wordsmith.Serialjournaler.“Notes”appacionado.Exampaper archivistandalltheothertermsonecouldmustertodescribe thosewhocannotresistrecordinganylostthoughtwhichhappens tomeanderacrossthemindinsomevainaempttooutrunthe alreadypresentpossibilitiesofafataldegreeofforgetfulness.‘‘ Writingistheambertomemory.Withinourstoriesandessaysand papersandtextmessagesandpoetry,weencapsulateamoment withinourlives,preservingalapsingemotionorelongated historicalevents,possiblyevenaconcussedtangentaboutthe symbolismofdarknessinacenturies-oldworkoftheater.And beingthe“overly-sentimental-with-a-poor-relationship-to-thepassage-of-time”personIhavealwaysbeen,writingstoriesand essaysandpoetryfeltasnecessaryasairandasnaturalasthe instincttobreathe.PerhapsthatiswhyIcouldneverresistatimed essayonRomeoandJulietoraspontaneoussetofprose.Icould nevercontaintheinnitesumofideasandmemorieswithinthe connesofmybrain,butnowitseemsthatIcan’tholdathought inmybrainregardless.SoIwrite.Becausesolongasmywordsare limitless,soismycapacitytoremember.•

JENS VOLD COLUMNIST

ThePHONYPATRIOTISM oftheBulgarianElections

OnOctober2nd,Bulgariahelditsfourthelectioninthe last18monthsandtheresultsweresimplyterrifying.

e“chosen”leadingpoliticalpower:CitizensforEuropeanDevelopmentofBulgaria(GERB).Acorruptcenter-rightparty,therulersofthispartywerepreviously thenumberonepoliticalforcefor12yearsfrom2009to 2021.UnderGERB,BulgariabecamethepoorestcountryintheEuropeanUnion,forcingitscitizenstolivein direeconomicandsocialconditions.ItisthussurprisingthattheBulgarianshavedecidedthatGERB,ledby theinfamousformerPrimeMinisterBoykoBorisov,is “theone”forthem.IsittwistedStockholmsyndrome, nostalgiaforbadtimesorjustplainignorance?Weare yettondout.

Asuncomfortableasitmaysound,GERB’swinwas notthebiggestshockformanyBulgarians.Whatshocked themaboveallelsewastheextremefarrightultranationalist party“Vazrazhdane”(Enlightening)winningfourthplaceand securingaplaceinparliament.Vazrazhdane,ledbyKostadin Kostadinov,ormoreknownbyhisnicknameKostyaKopeikin, turnedouttobeconsiderablymorepopularthanexpected.e partypromotingfar-right,pro-Russia,anti-NATO,anti-EUand anti-LGBTideologyreceivedtenpercentofthevotesfromdomesticvoters,andover14percentfromoverseas.

Neitheroftheleistpartieswillhaveaplaceinparliament.Althoughoneofthem,“ProdalzhavamePromyanata‘’(WeContinuetheChange)receivedsecondplaceintheelections,its leadersarestronglyagainstformingacoalitionwiththeother parties.Whiletheyhadalsowonthe2021elections,theyhave notwontheheartsoftheBulgarianpeople,asthenationperceivestheleaders,bothHarvardalumni,tobe“nationaltraitors”forhavingstudiedintheUS,labelingthemas“puppets oftheUS.”

Onceagain,thepoliticalstateofBulgariaremainscomplex,as ithasbeenforthepastthirtyyears.Unfortunately,lowpolitical participationfromcitizensonlyexacerbatesthesituation.is year,thevotingturnoutwaslessthan40percent,meaningthat

onlytwooutofsixandahalfmillioncitizensexercisedtheir righttovote.estatisticsaredisheartening,anditisimprobablethattheturnoutwillbehigherwhenkeepinginmindthe frequencyatwhichelectionshavebeenheldrecently,combinedwiththeunlikelinessofformingastablegovernmentany timesoon.

WhydidthesolesourceofcorruptioninBulgariawintheelectionsonceagain,aeryearsandyearsofriotingagainsttheregime?WhydidVazrazhdanereceivesomuchsupport?Inthe summerof2020,Bulgariawitnesseditslargesteverprotests, lastingformorethan65days.RightinfrontoftheParliament, againstBoykoandhisparty,onecouldseesignssuchas“EU ComeandSee,”“isoneisfortheboyswiththecorrupted system,”“DearAngelaandUrsula.Areyoublindoralsocorrupt?”Giventheregime’s12-yearrule,chancesoftheprotests beingsuccessfulwerelow.

Yetthepeopledidnotlosehope;theycontinuedtoprotestand engageinotherformsofpoliticalactivism,likeonlinecampaigns.

SARA KOVACHEVA GUEST COLUMNIST

Asaresult,in2021,theliberalleistgovernment, ProdalzhavamePromyanata,waschosenforthersttime. “WecontinuetheChange”ledbyAsenVasilevandKiril PetkovbroughthopeforBulgaria.eirfreshgovernmentis fullofyounglike-mindedandmotivatedpeople,withacommongoalofcreatingabeerfutureforthecountry.Nevertheless,theirsuccesswascutshortbecauseaeronlyafew monthsintoPP/WCC’smandate,GERBinitiatedano-condencevoteagainstthem,theresultofwhichwasnewelectionsthatboundthecurrentsituation.

whobeatupandillegitimately“arrest”Syrianrefugeesonthe Bulgaria-Turkeyborder.epartyalsopromotestheprincipleforthereturnofthe“traditionalBulgarianfamily,”enforcingrigidgenderstereotypes,stronglycondemningsame-sex marriagesandsame-sexcoupleadoptionswhicharebothillegalinBulgaria.

AcordingtotheReutersInstituteandOxfordUniversityDig-

mainsourceofnews.ItisthusunsurprisingthattheBulgarian

roughouttheirwholecampaign,thepartywasinvitedto multiplenationaltelevisionchannels,givingthemachance tofurtherspreadtheirdiscriminatorypropagandawithlile consequences.Combinedwiththeroleofthelowvoterturnout,Teseelectionresultsprovedthatthelessresistancethere

Sothecampaignsbegan.GERBandBoykopromisedtobring Bulgaria’sinationtozero(whoknewthathehadsuchgreat powerovertheworld’seconomy?)andtolowergaspricesby twothirds.HealsopromisedtoimplementamorestablerelationshipwithourneighboringRussia,aswellasxingties withtheEUoneswhichwere neverbrokentobeginwith.ProdalzhavamePromyanata promisedbeersocialandeconomicreforms,improvement ininfrastructureand,aboveall,tonishwhattheyhadstarted duringtheirrstandpreviomandate.

WhatdidtheultranationalistpartyoffertoBulgarians,leading themtoplacefourthintheelections?eleader,“Kopeikin,” claimedthatBulgariahasbecomeamereproxycountryruled byWashingtonandBrussels.Asidefromhisanti-NATO/EU andpro-Russiarhetoric,healsostatedthat“gender”propagandaandtheIstanbulConventionwereaemptsto“enslave” Bulgarians.Surprisingly,manyagreewithhim,especiallyBulgariansabroad,whovotedforhimandhispartythirdinthe resultsfromoutsideofthecountry.PerhapsBulgarianimmigrantsabroadaretryingto“justify”theirchoicetoleavethe countrybyvotingforthepartywhichhidesunderapretextof representingBulgariathroughpurepatriotism.

Justimaginetheslogan“MakeAmericaGreatAgain,”butin thecontextofBulgaria.SupportersofKopeikinandhispartyareknownforbeatingupLGBT+people,breakinginto anddemolishingLGBTcenters,organizinganti-LGBTprotestsandburningtheLGBTag.eyalsocondone(ifnot support)hatecrimesagainstrefugeesand“refugeehunters,”

ARTINTODAY’STURKEY Between Creativity &Censorship

Walkingthroughthecrowdedstreetsin andaroundIstanbul’sfamedIstiklâlAvenue,beyondthevastseaoffoodvendors, ArabianOudstoresandtourists,youmight beabletonoticetheexistenceofnumerous artgallerieshidinginplainsight.eseart spacesaremostlyaproductoftheinuxof privatemoneyrevivingtheTurkishcon-

temporaryartmovement. Inacountrythatcurrentlyranks 103rdamong167countriesin theeEconomistIntelligence Unit’sDemocracyIndex,perhapstheexistenceofaricharts andculturesceneisn’texactlyintuitive.However,aswehaveseen throughouthistory,hardshipand struggleoencreatethought-provokingresults.Oneofthemany piecesthathasgainedsignicant tractioninrecentyearswasthe exhibitionof440pairsofshoes, accessibletoeveryoneinthecity center.e440pairsrepresentedthe440womenmurderedin 2018.ereceptionofthiswork sentastrongmessage–inorder tobeheard,youmustdirectly

confrontpeoplewiththeharsh realitiesofwheretheylive. Breakingpeople’sbeliefsystems canbedifficult,especiallyina citylikeIstanbul,whereeachsocialgrouptendstoconsciouslyor unconsciouslylimitthemselves tointeractingwiththeirownsocialbubble.Ihavetouchedupon theimpactofartonoursociety, butIwouldbelyingifIdenied thatmycity’sartsceneonlygains aentionfromindividualsfrom certainsocialbackgrounds,gettingabsolutelynorecognition fromthemajorityofitsinhabitants.MainstreamTurkishmedia rarelydiscussesart,andwhen itdoes,it’susuallyaboutpieces fromthepast.

Acoupleofmonthsago,Iwasable tomakeasmalldaytriptoEskişehir,awell-knowncitynearIstanbul thathasgainedpopularitydueto itshighstudentpopulation.Duringmytimethere,Ipaidavisitto theOdunpazarıModernArtMuseum(OMM),whichjustopened itsdoorsin2019.“Maziyebakma, mevzuderin,”roughlytranslated as“Don’tlookback,deepisthe past,”wasanexhibitionthattruly provokedtheaudiencetoreect onTurkishsocietyandhowrapiddevelopmentandurbanization hasaffecteditovertheyears.e

pieceshighlightedthegureofthe “Other,”andhowweareallguiltyof labelingpeopleaccordingtotheir appearanceorbackground.WhenI readabouthowthismodernartmuseumwasopenedwiththeblessing ofTurkishPresidentRecepTayyip Erdoğanatruemasterofpolarizingthecountrythatelectedhim Icouldn’thelpbutbesurprised. Letusnotforgetthatmostartspacesinmycountryaresponsoredby individualswithdeeppockets,and keepingthosepocketsfullalmostalwaysmeansgeingalongwiththose whollthehighestseatsofpower.

Hearingthis,onecannothelpbut askhowlongthisnewgenerationof artisticexpressionwillkeepblooming,andwhatthefutureofcreativity inTurkeyholds.■

“QuandilsontsuspenduleCongrès,onnes’estpasréveillés. QuandilsontsuspendulaConstitution,onnes’estpasréveillés nonplus.Maintenant,jesuisréveillée.”

Lespluscinéphilesd’entrenousreconnaîtrontpeut-être lespremiersmotsdutrailerdeeHandmaid'sTale,adaptée duromandeMargaretAtwood.Lasérieaborded’unemanière dramatiquementréalistelacréationdeGilead,microÉtataux États-Unis,oùdesclassessocialesstrictementhermétiquesont étérétablies,etoùl’utérusdesraresfemmesfertilesestmarchandéparles“Commandants”,deshommesriches,enraisond’un tauxdestérilitétrèsélevé.Sipourunequelconqueraison,elles serefusentàobéir,ellessubissentdeschâtimentsmoyennageux, allantdelatorturepsychologiqueàlalapidation.Lareligiona étéplacéecommeparadigmesociétal,etlessujetsdeGileadsont trèsétroitementcontrôlésetcraignentladélationenpermanence.Lasociétéabasculéaprèsuncoupd’État,ettouslesdroits desfemmesontbrusquementétéretirés.Ellessontlicenciées, leurscomptesbancairesgelés,leursdroitsciviquessupprimés: lamissionqu’onleurconeestd’obéirsagement,etdeporterdes enfants.

jugesrécemmentnommésparl’administrationrépublicaine étaientconnuspourleurhostilitéàl’IVG,faisantainsipencher l’instancejuridictionnellesuprêmeducôtéconservateur.Rappelonsquel’accèsàl’avortementestdéjàtrèsinégalauxÉtatsUnis:aujourd’hui,sixÉtatsaméricainsnedisposentqued’une seulecliniquepratiquantdesIVG.Vingt-septgrandesvillesdes États-Unisetunegrandepartiedel’Amériqueruralesontdes« déserts»:laplupartdeshabitantsviventàplusde160kilomètres d’unecliniqued’avortement.Sansmêmeévoquerlapénalisation del’IVGdanscertainsÉtatscommel’AlabamaouleMississippi,

Findelaparenthèsectionnelle,retouràlaréalité.Le 24juin2022,lapluspuissanteinstancedupluspuissantpays dumonderevenaitsurlagarantiedudroitàl’InterruptionVolontairedeGrossesse.L’arrêtRoev.Wade,datantde1973,qui protégeaitl’IVGcommedroitfédéral,devientcaduc.Lesdeux

RetourenEurope.Le25septembre2022,pourla premièrefois,l’Italieélitunefemmeàlatêtedugouvernement. L’accèsàl’avortementesttrèslaborieuxenItalie,oùprèsde70% desmédecinscompétentsenmatièred’avortementontsignéun formulaireleurdonnantunstatutd’objecteurdeconscience.A certainsendroits,cepourcentages’élèveà92%.Selondeschiffrescollectésparl’associationColleiva,72hôpitauxdelaPéninsuleaffichentuntauxd’objectionsituéentre80%et100%, tandisque22établissementscomptent100%designatairesdu formulaire.Lanouvelledirigeante,chefdeledupartid’extrême droiteFratellid’Italiaparailleurstrèsmasculin,adéclarévouloir apporteruneaidenancièreaux“centresd’aideàlavie”faceaux “multinationalesdel’avortement”,alorsmêmequelaCoureuropéennedesDroitsdel’Hommeadéjàouvertuneprocédure d’infractioncontrel’Italieen2016eten2021pournon-respect dudroitàl’avortement,enraisondeloistrèsrestrictivessur l’avortementthérapeutique.Lafuturepremièreministreitaliennes’aligneàmotsvoiléssurlapositiondesCommandantsde Gilead,décrivantdanssesdiscoursunefemmeitaliennepieuse, dévouéeàsesenfantsetàsonménage.L’Histoirenousdirasi les“multinationalesdel’avortement”,connuespourdirigerle monde,ontfaitfailliteaprèslemandatdeMeloni.

Aujourd’hui,ledroitàl’IVGpeutaussiconnaîtreunreculhistoriqueenFrance.Le19juin2022,89représentantsdu RassemblementNationalsontenvoyésàl’AssembléeNationale. Cesontdansleurrangsquerésonnentlesplusvivescontestationsanti-IVG:“Génocidedemasse”.“Fléau”.“Culturedela mort”.“Millionsdevictimes”.ChristopheBentz,SophieRobert, CarolineParmentier,HervédeLépinau,etd’autresmembresdu groupeRNàl’AssembléeNationaleévoquentl’avortementen cestermes.Pourtant,noussommestousfrançais.Euxaussisont nésaupaysdesdroitsdel’Homme.

Larégressionnes’arrêtepaslà.Le22octobre2020,le TribunalConstitutionnelpolonaisrendl’avortementillégal.Les ONGestimentqu’environ200000avortementsillégauxsont pratiquéschaqueannéeenPologne,alorsmêmequelesrisques sanitairesd’unavortementclandestin,leplussouventréalisé dansdesconditionssanitairesterribles,sonténormes.Leparti populistepolonais,PiS,rappelleàsesmilitantslamissionque Dieuàdonnéauxfemmes.Porterdesenfants.Commentaire deMarineLePen,quicumuletreizemillionsdevoixausecondtourdel’électionprésidentielle:«C'estlalibertédupeuplepolonaisquiestfondéesurlaspécicitédelaPologne,son histoire,l'imprégnationdelareligioncatholique».Maismoi,je suisfrançaise.Ceefemme,monpaysafailliladésignercomme présidente.Pourlapremièrefois,jesuisdirectementconcernée. Pourlapremièrefois,jeréalisequenouslesommestoutes.Mon pays,c’estlepaysdesLumières,lepaysdesdroitsdel’Homme.

Lesdroitsdel’homme.Celuidefaireleslois,celuide m’accorderdesdroitsetdelessupprimer.Celuidemesexualiser, demeculpabiliser,demediscriminer.Ledroitd’accéderplusfacilementàl’embauche,ledroitd’êtremonsupérieurhiérarchique. Ledroitdemetoucher,ledroitdem’imposerunegrossesse. Etmoi,jem’octroieledroitdemebarepourquechaquefemme disposedesoncorps.•

NOALOUBRAWERMAN COLUMNIST

e27thConferenceofPartiesofthe UnitedNationsClimateChangeConference(COP27),oneofthisyear’s biggestclimatesummits,hasfaced majorcriticisminrecentweeksregardingtheiraffiliationtoCoca-Cola.On September30th,COPannouncedthat thismultinationalcorporationwould befundingtheevent.ConsideringCoca-Cola’sharmfulcontributionstoplasticpollutionandtheirdependenceon fossilfuels,manyarequestioningthe company’sintentionsanddenouncing thecampaignasanexampleofgreenwashing.

eCOP27isanopportunityforglobalstakeholderstodiscussmeanstoaddressthepressingclimatecrisis.is year’sconference,hostedinEgyptin November,issaidtohaveanemphasis onimplementation.Buildingonthe momentumofGlasgow’splanningand negotiating,theconferenceishoping tomobilizecollectiveeffortsandestablish“transformativeadaptiveagendas”.

eCOP27leadershavealsomadeit clearthattheywillberelyingonsciencenamelytheIntergovernmental PanelonClimateChange(IPCC) toguidetheirdecisions. Similartomostsizablesummits,COP

hasanumberofsponsorseachyear tosupporttheirexpenses.However, manyarequestioningtheirdecisionin choosingCoca-Colaastheircorporate sponsor.Accordingtotheirwebsite,the conference’schoiceofpartnersaimsto “accelerateclimateactionandspeed upthefullimplementationoftheParisAgreement”.Basedonthisprinciple, peoplearoundtheworldareexpressing theirdissentthroughpetitionsandsocialmediacampaignssuchas#BanFossilAds.

Coca-Colaisdenitelynotthebiggest tree-huggeraround.Forthefourthyear inarow,thecompanywasidentied asthe“world’stoppolluter”accordingtoBreakFreeFromPlasticaudits. Supportingthis,Bloombergestimates thattheyproduceonaverage120billiondisposablebolesperyear99 percentofwhicharemadeoffossil fuels.Beyondtheirnegativeenvironmentalimpact,Coca-Colahasalso beenaccusedofexploitativebehavior. InElSalvador,thecompanyhasbeen accusedofexhaustingwaterresources overa25-yearperiod,whilecertainareasinthevillageofKaladerahavebeen abandonedduetowaterdepletion fromtheirproductionplants.

ConsideringCoca-Cola’sactivities, theirsupportforCOP27canbeseen asamarketingtechniquetogiveitself amisleadingimageofecologicalresponsibility.isis,bydenition,an exampleof“greenwashing’’.Essentially, thisdiscouragespeoplefromreducing theirconsumption,hencereducing pressuresonthecompanytochange theirbehavior.Commonly,greenwashingtechniquesrelyonambiguousand future-orientedlanguage.isgoes directlyagainsttheguidingprinciple ofclimateaction.AccordingtoGreenpeace,“[Coca-Cola]haveyettoeven acknowledgethatthisisaproblemor explainhowtheywillmeettheirclimategoalswithoutendingtheirplastic addiction.”

isbegsthequestion,shouldclimate summitslikeCOP27acceptsponsorshipsfromunsustainablecorporations? Placingunsustainablemultinational corporationsonapedestalisarguablynotthebestmechanismtofoster far-reachingsustainabletransformation.It’snotjustCoca-ColathesummitisrelyingonmanyothernondurablecorporationssuchasDukeEnergy, thelargestenergyproviderintheUSA. issendsoutamessagethat“thisis

enough.”eseendorsementslegitimizeinsubstantialandhalf-hearted climateaction.eIPCChasreportedontheharmfulinuenceofgreenwashing,emphasizingthat“corporationshaveaemptedtoderailclimate mitigationbytargetedlobbying… andbrandbuildingtodeectcorporateresponsibilitytoindividuals.”

Ontheotherhand,Coca-Colahas defendeditspositionbyemphasizing theirinterestinamoreconcretetransformationprogramme.According toMichaelGoltzman,globalVPof publicpolicyandsustainability,“our supportforCOP27isinlinewithour science-basedtargettoreduceabsolutecarbonemissions25percentby 2030,andourambitionfornetzero carbonemissionsby2050.”While

thisremainsaclear-cutexampleof greenwashingambiguous,forward lookingtherearesignsofaction. ecompanyrecentlyhelpedlaunch theBusinessCoalitionforaGlobal PlasticsTreaty.Whetherornotthey realizetheirambitiousgoalsremain tobeseen.

Ultimately,thegeneralopinionisthat COP27hasmadeamistake.Climate activistorganizationsandstakeholdersaroundtheworldarecriticizing theCoca-Colapartnership.Climate changeisfastbecomingareality,especiallyfordevelopingcountrieswho arebearingthebruntofglobalunsustainableactivities.Ifthesummitis hopingtoinspireactionandmobilize itsstakeholders,isCocaColareally thebestexampletofollow?■

MARTIN UGALDE CHRONIQUEUR

l’heuredumidi,lecielbleuembrasselaville.Lesoleilcaresselesruessolitaires,lesterrasses, ornéesdebougainvilliers,s’étendentsurunemerd’argent.Lachauxbrûlantesemblesedéverserentrecesruestortueusesverslesgaletsdelaplages’arcboutantencontrebas.Aularge,lesvaguelees, peignéesparlemistral,amènentl’odeurdeselquisemélangeàlapuanteurdequelquescabanonsde pêche,parseméspar-ci,par-là,oùpourrissentseiches,sols,délaisséesdespêcheursivresdefatigueet soûlésdesembruns.Leursmurs,enplanchesdeboisrongéesparlamer,s’effritentsurlescarcasses desespadonsquisemblentaffermircebleu,siintense,del’onde,duciel.

Mêmelabrisedécolorelecrépisrougeocre,jaunemême,desvillasposéessurlerivage.Lesécailles depeintureencorevainementaccrochéesauxvoletss’effeuillent,lesvoletsmartèlentlerythmedes vents.Lesœilletsdelahouleblanchissentl’océan,lesvoilesauloinsillonnentl’horizon,dansantavec verve,surrafales.

Lesdieuxsemblaientainsisereposersurl’odeurdesabsinthesetdeceemerauxsonoritésdeCamus. Maisleurseffluvessedaubaientdesruesblanches,tortueuses,paroùs’écoulaitennlafraîcheurdu soir.Leurlassitudeméprenaitl’ardeurdeshommes,épuisés,ramenantdulargesaint-pierre,dorades etrougets.

Leurschaloupesselaissaientchoirsurlesgaletsnoirs,lescrisdesbateliersrésonnaiententreles ballotsquel’ondéchargeait,prestement,leslets,soigneusementneoyés,séchaientsousladouce lumièreducouchant.Quiauraitbienpusesouvenirdusoleildeplomb,sicen’estlesdieux,trop empressésdansleursolitude,observantleva-et-vientdespêcheurssurlaplage.

Leursregardslastrahissaientleuramertumedevantcesplaisirsqu’ilsnepourrontjamaisgoûter. Tristes,alorsquel’astresemourait,ilssontremontéschancelants,surleurOlympeavecl’espoirde revenirdemain,devoird’autreshommes,affairéssurlaplage,déchargeantinlassablementl’orde l’océan,recommencerchaquesoiraveclamêmerigueur,lemêmeempressement,sansjamaisfrémir devantl’immensitédelatâche.

Perchésdepuislesrocssolitaires,leuréternitésemblaitalorsunsouffledevent.•

ItalianElections

WhataretheResultsandtheFearsthatComewithThem?

ARLENE ACQUAYE

evictoryofthefar-rightBrothersofItalypartymarksanideo-

It’sok,thegovernmentwillprobablyfallsoonanyways.’‘Perhaps weneedtobeatourworstbeforewecanheal.’

Ifyou’vehadaquickchatwithanItalianstudentinthelastcoupleofweeks,thisisprobablysomethingyou’veheardalready. eresultsoftheSeptemberpoliticalelectionswerenotunexpected,aswenallyreachedthepeak(hopefully)ofthechaos, instability,quarrels,incoherenceandmistrustthathascharacterizedItalianpoliticsforawhile.Infact,itallcomesbackto thefearsItalianshave–ofnotbeingabletopaytheirbills;that institutionslikehealthcare,education,andpublicsecuritywill failthem;eventhefearthatthetraditionalideaofItalianityis

Inascenariowhereinstitutionsareindeedweakandcorrupt, ation,people wanttobereassuredthattaxratesaregoingtobekeptlow orthattheywon’tlosejobstopeoplethatarenoteven Italian.Butintimesofuncertainty,peoplealso liketogripontotheirvalues:theyfeelthatif someonewouldbestrongenoughtosay notoabsurdthreatsto‘traditional Italianity’–likeadoption byqueercouples –thenatleast theideaofa distinctlyItalian moralitywould besafefromthe currenthavocthat hindersallother aspectsoflife.

Alittlecontext:whatdotheresultslooklike?

AttheendofSeptember,alilelessthan64percentoftheItalian electorateexercisedtheirrighttovotefortheirrepresentatives thatwillcomposethelegislativeandexecutivepowerinthenext term.WhilevotingisdenedasacivicdutybyArticle48ofthe ItalianConstitution,voterturnoutdroppedbyninepercentwith respecttothelastpoliticalelections.

Amongthesevotes,with43percent,theclearmajoritygoesto whatinItaly–andsomehow,justinItaly–isknownasthecenter-rightcoalition.26percentofthevotesgotoFratellidiItalia (FdI),followedbyLega,ledbyMaeoSalviniwithanunderwhelming8.8percent,andSilvioBerlusconi’sForzaItaliawitha surprising8.1percent.With26.1percentofvotes(justoverhalf ofthatofthecenter-right),thecenter-lecoalitiontakesupthe majorityoftheopposition.

BeginningonOctober13th,thenewgovernmentwilltakeform inaprocessthat,onaverage,lastsfortwomonths.Aerthetwo presidentsoftheChambersareelectedwithintheParliament, PresidentoftheRepublicSergioMaarellawillnominatethe newPrimeMinister,whowillthenpresenttheministersthatwill formthegovernment.Innolaterthan10days,theywillhave likelyhavefullpowersaertheyobtainthevoteoftrustfromthe ParliamentwhichMeloniisexpectedtoobtainwithoutmuch issue.

Fornow,itseemsguaranteedthatthegovernmentwillundergo acrisisandfall,hopefullysoonenough.Butwhatcanwereally expectwillhappeninthenextmonths?BasedonFratellid’Italia’sfascistorigins,itshistoryandtheactionsofpastlegislatures, thereareafewparticularlyconcerningprospects.

Immigration

Sincetheheightoftheso-calledimmigrationcrisisin2015,EUropehasfailedtoimplementeffectivegeneraldirectivestodeal withhospitalityandintegrationofmigrants,abandoningcoastal countriestothemselveswithItalybeingthelargest.Needlessto say,neitherthelenortherightinItalyhasbeenimplementing appropriatemeasurestoprotecthumanlifeanddignity.

eterm“invasion”gainedpopularityamongright-wingpoliticians,whiletheirpartiesdemandedtocloseborders.Salvini, leaderoftheright-wingpartyLega,whichwillmostlikelygoverntogetherwithFdI,wastriedforaggravatedabduction(in otherwords,kidnapping)in2019astheMinisterforInterior Affairs.Why?InJulyofthatyear,heprohibitedthedisembarkingof164migrantssavedbytheshipOpenArmsfor20days, untilanemergencydisembarkingwasorderedaeraninspectionoftheconditionsaboard.Proposalsfromtheopposition havenotnecessarilybeenbeer,however.Le-wingparties perhapsreachedtheheightoftheirincoherenceandhypocrisy whenformerPrimeMinisterMaeoRenzi,whoatthetimelead thebiggestItalianle-wingparty,said“Let’shelpthemwhere theycomefrom”in2017.isconceptisstillextremelypopular today,andisespeciallypromotedbyMeloni.Anotherongoing disasterfromthele-wingPDisthe2017Italy-LibyaMemorandum,anagreementwiththeLibyangovernmentwiththeaim oflimitingillegalimmigrationsignedbyformerPrimeMinister PaoloGentiloni.

isbeingthestateofthingsinItaly,MeloniandSalvini,togetherwiththemembersoftheirparties,spreadderogatoryfake newsonsocialmediatoinstilfearandrageamongItalianstowardsforeigners,especiallythosewhoaren’twhite.It’strue,the ItalianLefailedtoaddresstheproblemofillegalimmigration, butthemessagespromotedbythoselikeMeloni,whopraises theactionsoftheFrenchGendarmerieinVentimiglia,aresimply unacceptable,andraisegreatfearsregardingthefutureofimmigrationpolicy.

HomotransphobiaandAbleism

ItalyisoneofthefewEuropeancountrieswithoutalawtoprotectindividualsfromhomophobiaandtransphobia.eirony? Wecouldhavehadit–butwechosenotto.InOctober2021, theSenatesunktheDDLZan,aproposedlawthatwouldhave posedalegalsafeguardagainsthatecrimesonthebasisofgender andgenderidentity,sexualorientationanddisability.erejectioncamewiththeapplauseandstandingovationoftherightwingsenators.Duringthecampaign,SalviniandMeloni(among others),madeitveryclearthattheycouldn’tsupporttheDDL Zanbecausetheideaofhavingcomprehensivesexeducationin schoolisunacceptable,andthatchildrenneedamotheranda fatherinordertoliveahappylife.esearebothfundamental stepstobetakeninItaly,however,neitheroftheseissueswas discussedinthelawproposition.

BodilyAutonomy:AbortionRights

InItalywhowantsorneedstogetanabortiontechnicallycando it–butisaccesstoabortionreallyguaranteed?Notreally.

“IwillnotabrogateLaw194,IwillnotmodifyLaw194.Iwant toimplementLaw194,thismeansthatIwanttoaddaright;if therearewomenthatfeelliketheyhavetoabort(..)theyshould havetherightobeabletochooseadifferentpathtothatofabortion”.

GiorgiaMeloniisn’tlying,sheclearlyhasnointentiontomodifyLaw194,becauseitalreadyallowsfortheintroductionof limitationstotherighttoabort.isissueisalreadyevident intheregionofMarche,governedbyMeloni’sparty,where70 percentofcompetentdoctorswon’tperformtheprocedure.But there’smore:inLiguria,FdIabstainedfromvotingwhenabill waspresentedtoguaranteeaccessibilityofabortionfacilities thisSeptember.ehypocrisyofsomeonewhodeclaresherself “pro-life”,yetrmlysustainstheimpositionofanavalblockade toimpedetheentrancemigrantsandimmigrantsinItalyand doesn’tsupportgayadoptionnortheprotectionofLGBTQ+ rights,isastounding.

Alastquestionthenarisesnaturally:Fratellid’Italiawonthe electionsdemocraticallyandconstitutionally,buthowwasthis possible?eanswerisquitestraightforward:herpartyoffear andclosenesswitnessedtheperfectconditionstoourish. Lepartiesareconstantlydividedandbreakingup,andpeople aregeingtiredoftheirrepeatedpoliticalfailures.Withtheabsenceofastrongcoherentpoliticalle,GiorgiaMelonicreated anidentityasastrongwoman,butalsoasarealperson,amother, achristian.Byinstrumentalisingmotherhoodandcatholicism, shebecameacertaintytoItalianconservatives,whofeelthat theirvaluesoftrueItalianityarefadingawaytotheprogressives. Shealsobecamethedecisiveandcharismaticleaderthattheuncertainandthedisappointedwerelookingfor.edisastrous economicconditionstriggeredbythepandemicandthewarin Ukrainewerethenalnailsinthecoffin,andundoubtedlyhostedtheperfectenvironmentforherpopulistpropaganda.

isbeingthecurrentsituation,thereislileleonecansay exceptthefollowing–goodluck,Italy,andbraceyourself.We’ll justhavetohopeitwillbeasquickandpainlessaspossible.•

[Meloni’s]partyoffear andclosenesswitnessed theperfectconditionstoßourish.

“ “

RALLY IN SUPPORT OF GIORGIAMERLONI

JENS VOLD COLUMNIST

SciencesPoest-ellesexiste?

INES HANIFI CHRONIQUEUSE

Encedimanchetroisoctobre,compressés,fatigués,courbaturés parlacoursed’octobrerose,seréunissentlesmembresdeLafabriquepolitique–quenoussaluons-,etunequarantainedeparticipants,danslesalondelaZamaHouse.L’heureestaudébat.«La Franceest-ellesexiste?»,voilàlaquestionposée.Etvoicitoutes lesréponses,quevousauriezpumanquer,quiauraientpuvous choquer.Voiciégalementlamienne–etmerciauZadigdenepas oppressermesmotsparunequelconquecensure.Voici.

Toutd’abord,unrappelquis’impose:icilaFranceestconsidérée àlafoisentantqu’institutionetentantquepeuple,tandisquele sexisme,lui,estconsidérételquedansleLarousse:une«aitude discriminatoirefondéesurlesexe».

Nouscommençonsparlapartie“oui”dudébat.Oui,laFrance, lesFrançais,lesinstitutions,lemondedutravail,sontsexistes.A traversunintenseplaidoyer,noussontcitéeslessphèresausein desquelleslephénomèneestparticulièrementagrant.Dupaysage politiqueenpassantparlestransports,lesport,lalanguefrançaise, nombreuxsonteneffetcesespaces,cesdomainesquitraduisentle poids,lourdetinsistant,dupatriarcatsurnotresociété.Lepoids dusexisme,fondamentalement,quiengendreinégalitéssalarialesetautrestaxesroses,pournementionnerqu’ellesenguisede conséquenceslugubresdecee–lugubre–discrimination.

Dansuncontexte,j’yreviens,oùlamoitiédespersonnesréunies danslasalleontparticipéquelquesheuresplustôtàlacourseorganiséeenlafaveurd’octobrerose,jem’étonnedenepasvoirtoutes lesmainsapplaudirlapartisanedu«oui»,lorsquel’onsaitqu’une minuteplustôt,ceedernièrenousrappellequelesmaladiesliées auxfemmesnesontquetrèspeuabordéescommesujetsderecherche.Oui,ils’agitd’unraccourci,etnon,lecancerduseinnetouche pasexclusivementlesfemmes(enfait,ellessontconcernéesdans environ99%descas,en2018,selonl’Institutnationalducancer).

NéanmoinsleproposdeJuliee,ce«oui»devrait,quantàlui, faireapplaudir100%desgensprésentsàcemoment-là.

Ensuitenouscontinuonsaveclecôté«non».Non,laFranceneseraitpassexiste,puisquelesfemmesauraientaujourd’huilesmêmes droitsqueleshommes–l’emploiduconditionnelseradanscee partie,pourmapart,inévitable-:droitàl’éducation,puisqu’elles accéderaientensuiteauxmêmespostesàresponsabilités,droitau respectdesoncorps,grâceàlalégalisationdel’avortement,entre autres(mentionnericiSimoneVeilouGisèleHalimiplutôtque FlaubertetMolièren’auraitpasétéstupide).

Non,laFrancen’estpassexiste,danslamesureoù,danssonhistoire,gurentdegrandspersonnagesféminins.Mais,orateur,citerOlympedeGougesetClotilde,la«femmede»Clovis,c’est commecomparerLewandowskietMaldini:deuxépoques,deux personnalités,deuxdiscours;deuxépoques,deuxpostes,deux équipes.Parailleurs,citerl’undeleursécrits,dumoinsévoquer leursrevendications,n’auraitpasétéstupidenonplus.Parailleurs, j’espèrequetunevoispasd’inconvénientàcequejeposeiciune analogieentrefootballetféminisme,àmoinsquetun’estimesque lefootsoitviril–commetuestimesque«lepouvoirestviril».

Le pouvoir est viril, for real ?

Viril:«quitémoignedel’énergie,delafermetéquelatradition prêteausexemasculin»(d’aprèsleLarousse).Diriez-vousque KimJong-unestviril?«Énergie»,est-ceréellementlepremier qualicatifquivientàl’espritlorsquel’onpenseauprésidentaméricain?QuantàJacindaAdern,premièreministrenéo-zélandaise, ouencoreSahle-WorkZewde,présidentedel’Ethiopie,lesqualieriez-vousde«viriles»?

Pourtant,touslesquatreincarnentlepouvoir.Nequalionsdonc paslepouvoird’unadjectifnonseulementsubjectifmaisinadapté, obsolète,hors-sujet.Etpoursuivons.Enréalité,c’estcedébatqui formulel’intitulédecetarticle.QuepenseSciencesPo,incarnée, dumoinsenpartie,partoutescespersonnesprésentesàcemomentdonné,dusexisme?Au-delàdesonimpactenFrance,desa corrélationavecnosinstitutions,culture,langue,etc,quepense notreécoledeladiscriminationentantquetelle?

Certain.e.sdiront,enqualitéd’enseignant.e,queladiscrimination delafemmeest«humaine».Pourd’autres,ceefoisenqualité d’étudiant.e,iln’estpaspertinentdeparlerde«la»femmesans parlerdesclassessociales.Développonsceethèseettentonsde l’appliquer–égocentriquement–àmonproprecas.Ils’agissait icid’expliquerenquoilatrajectoiredetelleoutellecaissièrene pouvaitessentiellementpasêtrelamêmequecelledetelleoutelle ChristineLagarde.Doncdenepas«essentialiser»lescatégories defemmes,endénitive.Or,commentêtresûrquecediscours profondémentessentialistelui-mêmen’estpassimplement,complètementimpertinent?Entantquesciencepiste,ergofuture ChristineLagarde,jeseraisraviedementionnerdansmonparcoursprofessionneld’avoirmoi-mêmepratiquéceeprofession –ennuyantemaisformatrice–decaissière.Ontuequelqu’unen lerangeantdansunecase.Certes,enraisonnantaucasparcas,on peutcontrerquantitéd’idées,maisilétaittoutdemêmeimportantdesoulignericiqu’ilesteffectivementpossibledeparlerdela femmesansparlerdeclassesociale,cequitendraitenoutreàdéplacerladiscrimination,doncdéplacerlecombat.

Une « attitude discriminatoire fondée sur le sexe ».

Nouscommençonsparlapartie“oui”dudébat.Oui,laFrance, lesFrançais,lesinstitutions,lemondedutravail,sontsexistes.A traversunintenseplaidoyer,noussontcitéeslessphèresausein desquelleslephénomèneestparticulièrementagrant.Dupaysage politiqueenpassantparlestransports,lesport,lalanguefrançaise, nombreuxsonteneffetcesespaces,cesdomainesquitraduisentle poids,lourdetinsistant,dupatriarcatsurnotresociété.Lepoids dusexisme,fondamentalement,quiengendreinégalitéssalarialesetautrestaxesroses,pournementionnerqu’ellesenguisede conséquenceslugubresdecee–lugubre–discrimination.

Dansuncontexte,j’yreviens,oùlamoitiédespersonnesréunies danslasalleontparticipéquelquesheuresplustôtàlacourseorganiséeenlafaveurd’octobrerose,jem’étonnedenepasvoirtoutes lesmainsapplaudirlapartisanedu«oui»,lorsquel’onsaitqu’une minuteplustôt,ceedernièrenousrappellequelesmaladiesliées auxfemmesnesontquetrèspeuabordéescommesujetsderecherche.Oui,ils’agitd’unraccourci,etnon,lecancerduseinnetouche pasexclusivementlesfemmes(enfait,ellessontconcernéesdans environ99%descas,en2018,selonl’Institutnationalducancer).

NéanmoinsleproposdeJuliee,ce«oui»devrait,quantàlui,

faireapplaudir100%desgensprésentsàcemoment-là.

Ensuitenouscontinuonsaveclecôté«non».Non,laFranceneseraitpassexiste,puisquelesfemmesauraientaujourd’huilesmêmes droitsqueleshommes–l’emploiduconditionnelseradanscee partie,pourmapart,inévitable-:droitàl’éducation,puisqu’elles accéderaientensuiteauxmêmespostesàresponsabilités,droitau respectdesoncorps,grâceàlalégalisationdel’avortement,entre autres(mentionnericiSimoneVeilouGisèleHalimiplutôtque FlaubertetMolièren’auraitpasétéstupide).

Non,laFrancen’estpassexiste,danslamesureoù,danssonhistoire,gurentdegrandspersonnagesféminins.Mais,orateur,citerOlympedeGougesetClotilde,la«femmede»Clovis,c’est commecomparerLewandowskietMaldini:deuxépoques,deux personnalités,deuxdiscours;deuxépoques,deuxpostes,deux équipes.Parailleurs,citerl’undeleursécrits,dumoinsévoquer leursrevendications,n’auraitpasétéstupidenonplus.Parailleurs, j’espèrequetunevoispasd’inconvénientàcequejeposeiciune analogieentrefootballetféminisme,àmoinsquetun’estimesque lefootsoitviril–commetuestimesque«lepouvoirestviril». pasd’allerdéposerunemaincourantelorsquemonmecm’arape parlecou,leserreetenvoiesonpoingsurmoi.Enréalité,lalue contrelesexismedoitpasserpartouteslessphères.

Acellequinousrappellequelepatriarcatpose«quandmême» lesbasesdelasociété.Jerecommandel’excellentessaidePierre Bourdieu,Ladominationmasculine(Seuil,1998),celuideVirginieDespentes,KingKongeory(GrassetetFasquelle,2006) ainsiquePrésentes,deLaurenBastide(Allary,2020).Sansoublierl’ouvragedeMonaCholletRéinventerl’amour.Commentle patriarcatsabotelesrelationssexuelles(LaDécouverte,2021)-si d’oresetdéjàlus,àrelire.Ilsembleraitquequelquesinformations capitalesaientétéomises.

Àceluiquiestimequeleféminismeestdevenuidéologiqueetque c’est«effrayant».Jeconseillelesmêmeslectures-bienqu’elles risquentdet’effrayerparleurstitres.

Enn,àceuxquis’inquiètentdelavolontéféministededéconstruire.L’histoire,lelangage,lafamille…J’informeenpremierlieu qu’iln’existepasunevolontéféministe,commeiln’existepas,du moinsplus,unféminisme.J’informeenoutrequ’ilnes’agitpas, danslamajoritédescas,d’unevolontédedéconstruire,maisde revendiquerunmeilleurmoyendeconstruire.Puisquecesnotions d’histoire,delangue,sonteffectivementenperpétuelleconstruction.Bisouàtousmesréactionnaires.•

Diriez-vous que Kim Jong-un est viril ? « Énergie », est-ce réellement le premier qualificatif qui vient à l’esprit lorsque l’on pense au président américain ? Quant à Jacinda Adern, première ministre néo-zélandaise, ou encore Sahle-Work Zewde, présidente de l’Ethiopie, les qualifieriez-vous de « viriles » ?

QIUYIHE

GUESTCOLUMNIST

2monthsagoinChongqing,while rummagingthroughpocketstond twocoins,shewhofoundherselfin greatembarrassmentturnedbackto lookatthequeuebehindher.Withoutasinglewordorexpression,anold manstaringatherwalkedupwiththe aidofhiscrutches,liinghisphone withthosetremblinghands.“Beep. PaidwithQRcode.”Shecapturedthe sceneamiddle-agedwomaninthe queuewassniggering.

Afriendsaiditwasasifshecamefrom thelastcenturyobviouslyhalfjoke andhalfmockerybutshelovesit. Withallthisbackground,everything inMentonseemssodelightful:e radiointhekitchenofVillaJasmin hasbeenincessantlychaeringall daywithnewsreportsandFrench chansons,whichshedoesn’treally understand,butisstillhappytostand byforafewminuteswhilstwaitingfor themicrowave,leaningovertowatch theantennaewobbleslightlycaused bysoundwaves,justaswhatshedid atCatCafés.erustyirongaterequiresamanualcode.Forher,who’s usedtotheelectronicaccesscard, it’shardtoremembertobringher physicalroomkey.erearenosuch thingslikeCircuit(thecoinlaundry mobileapplicationthatstudentsuse inLondon),andyoumustpayincash forlaundryvouchers(paperones,by theway).eadministrativemadame mightnothaveenoughchangefora hundred-eurocash,sosheboughtan extraone.erainalwaysmakesthe creakingwoodenwindowssmelllike

theforest,andifshedoesn’tfeellike goingout,shejustlistenstoCDsin bed,playingsideAandthenswitchingtosideB,andthenclosingher eyestosleepassoonassherunsout ofthingstolistento.

eseimageslookperfect,don’t they?Nevertheless,shefeelsthatall ofthemwerenothingmorethanimages.It’sasifshe’dbeenextractedout ofthepicture,standinginfrontofit insteadoflivinginit,andthisfeelingcouldn’tbemorefamiliartoher. Bydaythesearingsunraysnearly scorchhergreenbalustrade,bynight shereadsbooksfacingtowardsthe moonswallowedupbydarkclouds. Sheusedtoreachoutandtouchthe edgeofthewindowwithherngers, imaginingthelifeofthatwoodwhen itwasoncealargetree,andsuddenly recallingabaobabsheknewhow coulditbeabaobab!Itwouldhave tobeatreehundredsoftimesmore rigidthanabaobab!edriedandalreadycrackedpaint(onthewindow) almostcuttheskinonherhandduringseveralminuteswhenshewaslost inherownthoughts,nallygiving herthesolidfeelingofbeing“here.”

Infact,thesenseoftouchwasleas theonlytoolthatwasabletoproduce thatfeeling(omiingtheword“that” hereperhapsbeerexpressesher).

Sartre’swritingwasreallyworthstudying,shethinks,thewayhewrote aboutnothingnessasifitwaslled withvolume,whichmadesomuch sensethatonehadnoreasontoresist buttoembraceitinstead.

Maybeitwasn’tthecitythatshedidn’t like,buttheroom.Itfelteerieatrst glance,andnowsheknowswhy–white, everythingiswhite,theoortilesandthe ceiling,thebookshelvesandthewalls andthelight,andthelilebedsetinthe corner.Notanelegant,purewhite,but apale,miserableoneamentalhospital!Anasylum!Withanunprecedented shockatthissupposition,sherushesout tobuyabeachblanketwhichlaterusedas atablecloth,spreadstheMickeyMouse towelonthebedsidetable,andchanges thepillowsandduvettothecustomary grey.Well,thatappearsmuchbeer.

Everytimeshewashesherhair,shemarvelsathowfastitgrows.osedeadcells, theygrowsofastwithoutanyonenoticing,sofastthatitdisturbsher.etears hangingatthetipsofherhairchasedone aeranother,mimickingtheweathershe hatesthemost,trappingthelilebugon thegroundbyaccident.Ittwitchesand twitches,fakingaliveamber.Shesighs quietly.Herhairgrowslongwithtime. No,that’snotthecase,sheshouldn’tuse “with.”Let’sputitthisway.Timeischasingthehair.Butno,timecan’tevencatch upwithherhair.Alright,timeprobably hassandbagstiedtoitslegs,timeisjust soslow.

LEFILMMUSTANG,VÉRITABLE HYMNETURCÀLALIBERTÉ

MAHE BINCAZ CHRONIQUEUSE

Êtrereprésentécorrectementaucinéma, produiredeslmsquiaurontunréelimpact,marquerlesespritspourfairechangerlesnormes,voilàdesenjeuxcruciaux pourleMoyen-OrientduXXIèmesiècle. Contrerl’ignoranceetl’obscurantisme, c’estcequetented’effectuerMustang, lmfranco-turcdeDenizGamzeErgüven sortien2015.

Cinqsœursorphelinessontélevéespar leurgrand-mèredansunvillagereculédeTurquie.Unsoirenrentrantde l’école,ellesjouentetsebaignentavecdes garçons.Juchéessurleursépaules,elles essaientdesefairetomberàl’eau.Mais ellessontaperçues:cejeubonenfantsera jugéobscèneetmarqueraledébutd’un cauchemarpatriarcalpourceesororité.

Ceeœuvredépeintuneréalitémarquanteetd’autantpluschoquantequ’elle estactuelle.Onsaisitl’horreurvécuepar beaucoupdefemmes,certainspaysdu Moyen-Orientconnaissantunerecrudescenceduconservatisme.Onappréhende trèsviteladifficilecohabitationdela laïcitéetdupatriarcatdansuneTurquie tirailléeentresonstatutd’Étatlaïcetune traditionmisogyneprofondémentétablie.Lepaysconnaîtunrepliislamo-conservateurdontlesfemmessontlesprincipalescibles.

Aussi,Mustangoffre-t-iluneplacetrèsimportanteauregard:lesévénements,observésdupointdevuedeslles,semblent lesdépasser.Lesprisesdevue,parleurs plansbas,nousrévèlentlasoumission

complèteàlaquelleellessontréduites. Leurconditiondefemmelesrendinférieuresdupointdevuedelasociétéet ceregardposésurellesjoueunrôlemajeur.Lesvillageoislestoisent,ellessubissentunesurveillancepermanente:leur féminitéestl’objetd’unefatalitéetd’une répressionaussidiffusequ’implacable.

Brutetsincère,celmdénonceletraitementréservéauxjeunesllesturqueslorsqu’ellesdeviennentpubères.Ellessont sexualisées,sibienqueleshommesfont deleurvirginitéuneobsession,contrôlent ledrapnuptialetvisentàentreteniràtout prixlemythedelachasteté.Lessœursse retrouventdansl’impossibilitéd’explorerleursexualité,leurpersonnalitéoude déciderpourelles-mêmes.Ellesévoluent dansunmilieuentièrementcontrôlépar deshommes,neleurlaissantaucunespaced’égalitéoudeliberté.

Encontradiction,unmustangestunchevalsauvage,gambadantàsaguise:ilest lesymboledel’affranchissementdésiré parlessœurs.Lespratiquesarchaïques qu’ellessubissentsontunobstacleincontournableàleurémancipation.Enfermées deforceparleuroncle,quivioleradeux d’entreelles,lesviolencesdontellessont victimessontautantmentalesquephysiques.

Celmméritedeparcourirletempscaril marqueunetemporalitédansl’histoiredes femmes.Victimesd’usagesanachroniques, maissimultanémentrebellesetavides d’évasion,cesjeuneslless’apparentent àunchevalsauvageenfermé,prisonnier dansunespace-tempsoùlasociétén’évoluepas.

Mustangseplongedanslesabîmesdes campagnesturques,loindesvilleset desdébatssurl’égalitéentrehommeset femmes.CeeœuvreabordelaproblématiquedelasituationfeminineauMoyen-Orientetdresseuntableaualarmantde notreépoqueetdesesrégressions.

Celmconstitueuneprisedeconscience quitraverseralesépoquesanquel’on n’oubliejamaisetquel’onimmortalisele regarddesfemmessurleurvieàunepériodedonnée.Iltransmetuneimagevivante delaconditiondesfemmesànotreépoque,sanspourautantrenonceràunfutur meilleur.Bienquedramatique,celmest avanttoutunhymneàlaliberté.Lesjeunes llesdissidentescherchentàcontournerla radicalisationdeleurenvironnementlorsqu’elless’enfuientversIstanbul,laville,où laconditionféminineestplusévoluéeque danslescampagnes.L’espoirtrouveainsisa placeauseindeceeœuvre.

Engagécontrel’obscurantisme,Mustang, unlmàlafoissocial,profondémentpolitiqueetesthétique,pointel’oppression millénairedusexeféminin.Ilprovoquela réexionsurlaplacedelafemmeausein dessociétéstraditionnelles,toutenimpliquantimplicitementlaresponsabilitédes Étatsdansladéfensedesvaleursémancipatricesetdansl’égalitédesgenres.•

Whenamortarshellisthrownoncementgrounditleavesmultiplecracksinit.eonesclosertothepointoftheimpactare smallerandpackedtightlyneareachother;theonesfartheraway arebiggerandmorespreadout.InSarajevo,whenamortarshell killedmorethanthreepeoplethecrackswerenotlledandxed attheendofthewar,instead,theywerepaintedred,sothatthe colorandtheshapecouldremindtheobserverofroses.ese arethe“RosesofSarajevo.”

AspartofaroadtripthatweweretakingonthecoastofCroatia, IconvincedmyfamilytospendacoupledaysinSarajevo.Our rstdayinthecity,wetookaguidedtourcalled“eRosesof Sarajevo”.

Wedrovethroughthecityasourguideintroducedustowhat thecitywaslikeduringthesiege.HeshowedusMešaSelimović Boulevard,thencalledSniperAlley,andHotelHoliday,which hostedthepress.Hebroughtustothemountainsfromwhere thesnipersshotatthecityandtothetunnelofhope,whichconnectedthebesiegedcitytotheliberatedBosnianterritoryduring thewar.Itwasneededtogetsuppliesand,insomecases,toescape.eoriginaltunnelisaround1.6meterstalland1meter wide.Whenitwasrstbuilt,waterreachedthekneesofthose whodaredtowalkit.9metersoftheactualtunnelsurvived,the restwasclosed,lled.

onbloodandhoney:bloodforthewars,honeyforthenature. Whilewalkingthroughthenew,articialtunnel,Ifeltuncomfortable.Someoneelse’stragedywasbeingmademorepalatable tome.enewtunneldisplayedpicturesofthemenwhobuilt theoriginalone,soitservedsomefunctionreminiscentofthe past,butstill,asanexternalobserver,Icouldn’tstopfeelingasif someonehadsetupasceneforme.

IdecidedtovisitSarajevoaerreading“TwiceBorn”lastyear. WrienbytheItalianauthorMargarethMazzantini,thebookis setbetweenMilanandSarajevo.Twotimelinesunfold:onebetween1984and1995,andonearound2007.Gemma,theprotagonist,isanItalianwomanwhondsherselflinkedtothecity forvariousreasons:rstwhilewritingherPhDthesisonBalkan literature,thenthroughfriendship,loveandasimplefeelingof belonging.

Iwalkedthe9meters,thenIwalkedthe25metersofanewtunnel,anarticialadditionaddedrightnexttotheoldone.Builtfor tourists,thenewtunnelwasprobablymorethan2meterswide andtall.Iwalkedthroughthe9meters,thenIwalkedthroughthe 25metersofanewtunnel,nexttotheoldone.enewtunnel isprobablymorethan2meterswideandtall,builtfortourists. etourguideexplainedtousthattourismintheBalkansrelies

Soshendsherselfdrawntothecityvarioustimes,duringthe siegeaswellaseenyearslater,whenshebringsbackherson. AsanItalian,Gemmaisfundamentallyavisitor,shealwayshas theoptiontoleave.Herpointofviewisintrinsicallyexternal. Itwasthisdescriptionofanoutsider’sexperiencethatplayeda hugeroleinmyperceptionofthecity.ForGemma,Sarajevosimultaneouslyrepresentstheessenceofsufferingandofsurvival, butitalsostopsbeinganythingelse.Whenshegoesbackyears later,everythingstillremindsherofthewar.

SARA DELL’ACQUA

IhadwantedtovisitSarajevospecicallytolearnmoreabout Bosnian,andmorewidelyBalkan,history.YetasIroamedthe citywithourguide,thiscuriositywasgraduallyreplacedwitha gloomingsenseofhorrorahorrorfrozemyinterest.AerwardsIcouldn’tbeartodiscussanyofwhatwesawwithmyparents,Icouldn’tbeartothinkaboutitandIhadthegutfeelingof wantingtoleave.emoreIlearnedaboutthecity,theknowledgethatIgainedseemedtonarrowmyperspectives.Itmade mefeelmoreandmoresimilartoGemma,toherincapacityof conceivingthecityasanythingelsebutthewar,toherhorror,to thealmostvoyeurismofherdescriptionsattimes.

athissmilingfaceforminutes,howcouldhebedead?

erestofthemuseumfeaturedaseriesofphotosofrefugee camps,massgraves,andfuneralsfromTarikSamarah,narrating theaermathofthegenocide.ItalsodisplayedtwodocumentariesandacollectionofsatiricalprintsfromtheSarajevotrio,a groupofartists.Finally,therewerevideos.eremusthavebeen atleastthirty,eachcontainingthetestimonyofasurvivor.Imanagedtowatchjusthalfofone,whereawomaninthevideotalked abouthowshelosthersonsandherhusband.Shesaidgoodbye, knowingshewasnotgoingtoseethemagain.Hereyeswerehiddenbythewrinklesaroundthem.Shewaslookingdown,hiddenbehindherveil.Shewasn’tangry,sheshedafewtears,andI couldn’tbeartolistenanymore.

Noonespokeonthewayback.Mylilebrotherhadn’twanted tocome,soIresentfullytoldhimthatevenifhewastoouncomfortablewithexperiencingitnow,heshouldatleastconsider readingabookaboutSrebrenica.

DuringtheRosestour,Iunderstoodalotnotjustaboutthe siegeitself,butalsoaboutthecurrentfragmentationofthecountry.Bosnia-HerzegovinaisafederationmadeofBosnia-HerzegovinaandRepublikaSrpska,andthedivisionbetweenthetwo almostfollowsthelinesofhowSarajevowasdividedduringthe siege.emountainsaroundSarajevoarepartofRepublika Srpska,whilethecityispartofBosniaHerzegovina.Bosniahas threepresidents,oneforeachethnicgroupBosnians,Croats andSerbsandallofthemhavevetopower,complicatingdecision-makingandreinforcingthesocialdivision.Schoolsand theircurriculamirrorthegovernmentalfragmentation,differing alongethniclines.

Rightaerthetour,wewentto“Gallery11/07/95.”emuseumhostsacollectionofpicturesthatnarratethestoryofthe Srebrenicagenocide,inwhich8000Bosnianmenandboys werekilledbytheSerbianforces.Srebrenica,acitywestofSarajevo,nowalmostattheborderwithSerbia,wasanUnitedNations-protectedzoneatthetime.

ewallsoftherstroomofthemuseumwerecoveredincloseuppicturesofthemenandboysthatwerekilled.ephotos showedthemdressedup,intheirhomes,partying.eywere alive.OneoftheboyslookedexactlylikesomeoneIknewinmy childhood.epunchingsenseofhorrorsankinagain.Istared

Minuteslater,Iwouldfeelashamedofnotlisteningtoallofwhat thewomansaidinthevideo.Ihaddislikedthearticiallyconstructedtunnelforareason:becauseitgavetheimpressionthat touristsmaeredmorethanmemory.IthoughtIconsidered memoryasamoralobligation,thatIbelievedweoweremembrance,andhorror.YetnowIwastheonepuingmemoryrst, preferringmycomfort.

Onthemorningofthatsameday,wewenttothe“WarChildhoodMuseum.”eexhibitionfeaturedobjectsdonatedby survivingadultswhowerechildrenduringthewar.Eachobject camewithitsownhistoryandexplanation.esekidshadsurvived,butnotalltheirfriendsandfamilieshadbeensolucky. Oneoftheobjectsportrayedwasabackpack,belongingtothe cousinofitsnarrator,whohadleduringthewarbutarrived onebombtooearlyfallingpreytothenalbombthathitthe besiegedcity.

Althoughmanyofthestorieswerejustlikethisonesadand biersomehowthemuseumtalkedmoreaboutsurvivalthan death.ecandies,swings,clothes,games,diaries,leers,drawingsrepresentedthedeadthroughthosewhosurvived.Eachobjectscreamedforlifeandhumanity.eyaskedtobelookedat, tobekeptsafe.

Manyofthekidspreytothesiegewerebornin1972,likemy dad.ObjectsfromsurvivorsoftheCrimeanwarrepresented kidsbornin2004,likeme.etimingfeltpersonalweboth thoughtaboutluck.

IfIhadleBosnia-Herzegovinalledwithonlyhorror,Iwould havejustwantedtostopthinkingaboutit.Instead,byengaging inpresent-daylandmarkslikethelibrary,Iwasabletothink aboutthesituation,toturnthehorrorintoangerandtheanger intonewinterest.

Tounderstandacountry,knowingitshistoryisessential.Recent historyconfrontsuswithdifferentfeelingsandquestions.Iwas notaliveduringthewar,Iwasbornalmosttenyearsaeritended,butstillIfeltaresponsibilityinmyroleasanobservernow. Inthecaseofrecenthistory,memoryhasadoublerole:remembering,butalsocreatingthebasesforreconstructingtheideaofa country.Wartourismbringsexternalobserversintothisprocess. Aeradayspentdiscoveringthehorrorsofthewar,Bosnia-HerzegovinalookedsoprofoundlywoundedtomethatIalmostforgotthatthecountrywasstillalive.

ereisabigrisk,whenvisitingaplacelikeSarajevo,withsucha painfulhistory,toforgetthattheplacestillexists,peoplestilllive there,thingsneedtogoon.Indeed,thenightaerthetour,Ihad feltlikethemoderncityhaddisappeared.ItfeltalmostimpossibletoseeSarajevowithoutalmosteverythingrevolvingaround thewarandthesiege.

Especiallyastourists,asexternalobservers,weoweinterestto thehistoryoftheplaceswevisit.Asweoweinteresttothepast, weoweittothepresent.enationallibraryofSarajevobecame aspaceforthepresentinmyvisit.ItwasbuiltbackaerabombingduringthewarandnowithoststheMuseumoftheInternationalCriminalTribunalforformerYugoslavia.Itfeltgood toseethattherehavebeenconsequencesfortheperpetrators.

elibrarywaskeptalive,repurposed,andshinedassuch:itwas proofofasurvivingBosnia-Herzegovina.

ehopethatthelibrarysigniesisnotgoingtobeafuelfor metoreconstructBosnia-Herzegovina,tohealitswounds.It’s notmyroletodoso,asanexternalobserver,thosearenotmy woundstoheal.Myroleistobethestoryteller,forpresentand futurereference.

ewaywehearastory,thewaywetellitagain,boththese thingschangeoursandothers’perspectivesonanissue.inkingofBosnia-Herzegovinaasaseriesoftragedieswouldhave beenunfair,butnowI’mabletoseeitassomeone’shometobe reconstructed.

AsmyfamilydrovetothecoastofCroatia,westoppedatthe Kraviceriptides,sowecouldnallyseethehoney,thenature. Peopleweresmiling,bathing,swimming.Itwasasifthewater hadwashedawayalltheredthatpaintedSarajevoinmymind,to letmeseewhatwasunderneath.•