Nisa tal-biża’ : il-poeżija fit-tieni nofs tas-seklu għoxrin u tradizzjoni antika li żammet

Abstract

Dan l-artiklu jagħti ħarsa lejn it-tradizzjoni antika falloċentrika, imżewġa ma’ fehmiet, daqstant ieħor tradizzjonali, tal-mara bħala sors ta’ inkwiet jekk mhux ukoll ta’ terrur. Dawn il-fehmiet tradizzjonali jidhru fix-xbihat kulturali u artistiċi daqskemm fi trattati mediċi bħalma huma monografi dwar l-anatomija u teoriji psikoloġiċi. L-artiklu jgħaddi biex juri li dawn it-tradizzjonijiet falloċentriċi baqgħu jinġarru u jidhru saħansitra f’għadd ta’ poeżiji Maltin miġburin mis-seklu għoxrin. B’dan il-mod, l-artiklu juri li l-Moderniżmu Malti, minkejja l-pożizzjoni ‘radikali’ adottata minn ċerti esponenti ewlenin tiegħu, baqa’ jħaddan tradizzjonijiet antiki, speċjalment fil-Ħarsa lejn il-mara u l-femminilità. L-artiklu jasal ukoll għall-konklużjoni li minkejja stqarrijiet ta’ Femminiżmu, l-ekonomija maskilista baqgħet waħda dominanti fid-diskors poetiku Modern li jirrigwarda l-politika tal-ġeneri.

This article examines the ancient phallocentric tradition, intertwined with equally longstanding conceptions of woman as a source of disturbance, if not outright terror. These traditional views emerge not only in cultural and artistic representations but also in medical treatises such as anatomical monographs and psychological theories. The article proceeds to demonstrate that these phallocentric traditions continued to be carried forward and can still be discerned in a number of twentieth-century Maltese poems. In this way, it shows that Maltese Modernism — despite the “radical” stance adopted by some of its key proponents — remained invested in older traditions, especially in its outlook on women and femininity. The article also concludes that, despite avowed commitments to Feminism, a masculinist economy persisted as the dominant mode within Modern poetic discourse concerning gender politics.