Alessio Piras

PhD Candidate
Spanish and Portuguese

The Borderland City: The Migrant Subject in Barcelona’s Movies and Literature

Alessio’s dissertation investigates the portrayal of non-Catalan individuals in contemporary literature and films set in Barcelona and its surrounding areas. As a prominent global metropolis, Barcelona serves as a case study for examining how cities respond to migration, nationalism, and environmental crises. Alessio critically assesses the current Catalan national project by employing a methodological framework that incorporates race studies, environmental humanities, and border studies, along with an analysis of cultural manifestations. He argues that the national Catalan project reflects a conservative and neoliberal societal model. Ultimately, he intends to conclude that modern Catalonia functions as a neoliberal space characterized by exclusion, racism, and significant inequalities.