Article published in:
Transnational Image Building: Linking up Translation Studies, Reception Studies and Imagology
Edited by Paola Gentile, Fruzsina Kovács and Marike van der Watt
[Translation Spaces 10:1] 2021
► pp. 94–114

The Western Balkans in translated children’s literature

Location-dependent images of (self)representation

| Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong Baptist University
This study approaches translations as framing and representation sites that can serve to either contest or promote stereotypes. Critically looking at textual and visual images of the source culture, the discussion considers how the particular location of different participants in the translation production process contributes to the presentation of violence as a predominant image of Western Balkan nations. The analysis uncovers networks of source-based production participants focusing on images of ‘nesting’ Balkanisms and self-representations centring on love and humaneness. On the other hand, networks led by editors located in the target culture often emphasise the preconceived stereotypes of dominant violence in the Western Balkans or turn towards globalising the images of violence.
Keywords: imagology, children’s literature, Western Balkans, visual images, location
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The image of the Western Balkans
    • 2.1How others see us
    • 2.2Globalised hetero-images
    • 2.3Nesting self-images
    • 2.4How we want to be seen
  • 3.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 12 July 2021
https://doi.org/10.1075/ts.20011.tod
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Communication with key participants

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