Author

Diego Durán e lo studio (etnografico?) del mondo náhuatl. Appunti per una ricerca in corso

Introduction

Diego durán e lo studio (etnografico?) del mondo náhuatl. Appunti per una ricerca in corso. Diego Durán e l'analisi del mondo náhuatl: uno studio sull'Alterità e il tentativo di conciliare storia cristiana e indios. Nuova luce sugli abitanti del Nuovo Mondo.

Abstract

Come diretta conseguenza della scoperta dell’America, la cultura occidentale dovette obbligatoriamente confrontarsi con quella dei popoli locali. In questo articolo si cercherà di approfondire la definizione di Alterità e di Altro dal punto di vista interno del problema. Una proposta inedita verrà offerta da Diego Durán, cronista dell’epoca che attraverso il costante sforzo esegetico nel costruire una relazione asintotica tra la storia cristiana e quella degli indios proverà a fornire una nuova chiave di lettura per restituire un’immagine meno sfocata degli abitanti del Nuovo Mondo.

Review

This paper, titled "Diego Durán e lo studio (etnografico?) del mondo náhuatl. Appunti per una ricerca in corso," presents an intriguing exploration into the early colonial encounter and the complex process of defining 'Alterity' and 'the Other.' The abstract highlights the crucial historical moment following the discovery of America, forcing Western culture into a confrontation with indigenous peoples. The author proposes an "inedited proposal" through the work of Diego Durán, framing him as a chronicler who engaged in a "constant exegetical effort to build an asymptotic relationship between Christian history and that of the Indians." This promises a fresh perspective on how historical figures grappled with cross-cultural understanding, moving beyond a simplistic oppressor-oppressed dynamic to explore the intellectual struggles inherent in such encounters. The core strength of this piece appears to lie in its re-evaluation of Durán's work as a lens for understanding the Náhuatl world. By focusing on his methodology – specifically the "asymptotic relationship" – the author aims to provide a "new key to understanding" that could offer a "less blurred image" of the inhabitants of the New World. This approach suggests a nuanced appreciation for the historical challenges of representation and interpretation, inviting readers to consider the limitations and possibilities of early colonial ethnography. The emphasis on an "internal perspective" to the problem of Alterity is particularly compelling, as it implies an analysis of how contemporaries themselves understood and articulated these cultural differences, rather than solely through modern theoretical frameworks. Given that the title explicitly states this is "Appunti per una ricerca in corso" (Notes for ongoing research), the review can offer constructive avenues for future development rather than definitive judgments. One key area for expansion would be to explicitly address the parenthetical "etnografico?" in the title. How does Durán's "exegetical effort" intersect with, challenge, or prefigure what we now understand as ethnographic study? Clarifying the criteria for such a designation within the historical context would strengthen this claim. Furthermore, while the concept of an "asymptotic relationship" is fascinating, the research would benefit from concrete examples from Durán's chronicles that illustrate this particular interpretive strategy. Elucidating how Durán's efforts concretely lead to a "less blurred image" and a "new key to understanding" for contemporary scholarship would fully actualize the promise of this innovative study.

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