Tarantella Dance in Early Cinema: A Pillar of Neapolitan Urban Architecture

Abstract

In the early years of the twentieth century, cinema joined the multitude of images (such as paintings, photographs, and engravings) which were spreading worldwide postcard stereotypes of Naples and its surrounds. The icons of this topographical myth included the natural beauties of the region and the monuments of the city, but also the citizens themselves. In fact, from macaroni eaters to tarantella dancers and brigands, they were an essential part of the urban landscape. This paper especially focuses on the Neapolitan tarantella dance and its local variants in silent cinema, examining how they were strictly linked to the city and its environs.