New Perspectives on the Black Atlantic

This collection of essays attempts to expand the notion of the «Black Atlantic» beyond its original racial, geographical, linguistic and cultural borders while acknowledging its remarkable ability to disturb established historical truths and to go beyond traditional dichotomies, thereby providing an essential tool for cross-cultural understanding. It is divided into four sections, each of them dealing with a different approach to the question of the «Black Atlantic». «Definitions» touches on the various limitations of Gilroy's original concept. «Readings» focuses on how the «Black Atlantic» can be productively used in readings of certain literary texts. «Practices» shifts towards the practical applications of the concept in order to explore the impact it has had on academic disciplines and examine to what extent it may have altered their epistemology and working procedures. Finally, «Dialogues» engages with the «Black Atlantic» from the perspectives of two creative writers whose work includes transatlantic themes and characters.