Research Profile

Mark Chu

Biography

I graduated from the University of Hull (GB) in 1982 with a BA in Italian and subsequently conducted research on modern and contemporary Sicilian literature, for which I was awarded my PhD in 1992. In the intervening years I worked as an English lettore at the Universita' degli Studi di Palermo in Sicily.I joined the Department of Italian, UCC, in 1991 and have served as Head of Department since 2004.I supervise research postgraduate students on topics relating to modern and contemporary Italian literature: recently completed theses have dealt with the construction of masculinities in the works of G.A. Borgese, Vitaliano Brancati and Alberto Moravia, on questions of identity in the writings of Emilio Lussu, historical novels by Sicilian women writers, 'History, Crime and Innovation in Italian Narrative at the Turn of the Millennium', and female figures in Italian crime fiction. Current doctoral students are working on impegno in contemporary writers, including Gianni Celati, and on a Digital Humanities project on Leonardo Sciascia.

Research Interests

Late nineteenth-century and twentieth-century Sicilian narrative; history and literature of Sicily; Italian Cultural Studies; Literature and emigration; Post-Unification Italian literature and society; Detective fiction.

My main areas of research and postgraduate supervision are:

  • Sicilian literature from 1870 to the present;
  • Italian crime fiction and English crime fiction set in Italy.

Providing cohesion across these two apparently disparate areas is my concern with theoretical questions linked to representation and a cultural studies approach. These, in turn, are reconciled in my work, through a commitment to ethico-political engagement with the text and its intended and unintended meanings, with a deconstructionist method.

My research on Sicilian literature has evolved over the years. I originally began with a thematic study of the works of three writers, but subsequently, however, the focus of my research shifted to the very nature of the representation of the region by authors working predominantly in a realist mode and frequently referring to aspects of the island's history. My writings on Sciascia, for example, re-examine his work in the light of post-colonial critical theory, such as that of Said, and establishes the way in which Sciascia's authority is based on a self-referential 'textual attitude'.

Through my research on Sciascia, I moved into critical work on the detective genre and I have published, for instance, on essentialism in representations of Italian characters by some Anglophone crime writers, and on leading contemporary Italian authors in the genre, such as Andrea Camilleri, Marcello Fois, Gianrico Carofiglio and Carlo Lucarelli. Common to both threads of my research in this area is my personal focus on the power dynamic between the representing voice and the groups and individuals represented. I was a member of a crime genre research consortium which reached the Full Proposal stage of the 2009 HERA Call on 'Cultural Dynamics: Inheritance and Identity' and participated in a new project for the 2012 'Cultural Encounters' theme.
 
I was Editor in Chief of the first three issues (2011-2013) of Todomodo, a peer-reviewed, international journal of Sciascia Studies, founded by the Amici di Leonardo Sciascia in 2011 and published by the prestigious academic publisher, Casa Editrice Leo S. Olschki of Florence.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2014)'Postilla a Ricciarda Ricorda, 'Leonardo Sciascia, lo spazio come metafora', 'Leonardo Sciascia, l’eredità e la distanza' e '«Il quarantotto» di Leonardo Sciascia''
Chu, Mark (2014) 'Postilla a Ricciarda Ricorda, 'Leonardo Sciascia, lo spazio come metafora', 'Leonardo Sciascia, l’eredità e la distanza' e '«Il quarantotto» di Leonardo Sciascia''. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, IV :337-341 [Details]
(2014)'Ideology and the fait-divers: beyond cronaca nera in Verga’s Vita dei campi'
Chu, Mark (2014) 'Ideology and the fait-divers: beyond cronaca nera in Verga’s Vita dei campi'. Modern Language Notes, 129S :S98-S108 [Details]
(2014)'Non voglio morire cinese: crisi e conflitto in La seconda mezzanotte di Antonio Scurati'
Chu, Mark (2014) 'Non voglio morire cinese: crisi e conflitto in La seconda mezzanotte di Antonio Scurati'. Narrativa nuova serie, 35/36 :129-141 [Details]
(2013)'Postilla a Pierpaolo Antonello, Narratives of Sacrifice: Pasolini and Moro'
Chu, Mark (2013) 'Postilla a Pierpaolo Antonello, Narratives of Sacrifice: Pasolini and Moro'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, III :269-270 [Details]
(2013)'Postilla a Giuseppina Mecchia, Moro's Body between Enlightenment and Postmodernism: Terror, Murder, and Meaning in Jean Baudrillard and Leonardo Sciascia'
Chu, Mark (2013) 'Postilla a Giuseppina Mecchia, Moro's Body between Enlightenment and Postmodernism: Terror, Murder, and Meaning in Jean Baudrillard and Leonardo Sciascia'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, III :276-276 [Details]
(2012)'Del lavoro fatto e da fare'
Chu, Mark (2012) 'Del lavoro fatto e da fare'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, II :XIII-XVII   [Details]
(2012)'Introduzione: Leonardo Sciascia Colloquia, II - 1961-2011: Mezzo secolo con Il giorno della civetta'
Chu, Mark (2012) 'Introduzione: Leonardo Sciascia Colloquia, II - 1961-2011: Mezzo secolo con Il giorno della civetta'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, II :3-8   [Details]
(2012)'Il progetto BiDiS: la visione, gli obiettivi, le sfide'
Chu, Mark (2012) 'Il progetto BiDiS: la visione, gli obiettivi, le sfide'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, II :315-318   [Details]
(2012)'Postilla a Hermenegildo Bastos, «O Conselho do Egito» de Leonardo Sciascia como romance historico'
Chu, Mark (2012) 'Postilla a Hermenegildo Bastos, «O Conselho do Egito» de Leonardo Sciascia como romance historico'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, II :405-405   [Details]
(2012)'Postilla a Marcello Benfante, La ‘cosca’ di Sciascia e la linea del carciofo'
Chu, Mark (2012) 'Postilla a Marcello Benfante, La ‘cosca’ di Sciascia e la linea del carciofo'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, II :406-406   [Details]
(2011)'Introduzione. L'etica del potere per Leonardo Sciascia'
Chu, Mark and Albiero, Renato (2011) 'Introduzione. L'etica del potere per Leonardo Sciascia'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, I :5-9   [Details]
(2011)''L’etica del potere: Sciascia e i suoi eredi giallisti''
Chu, Mark (2011) ''L’etica del potere: Sciascia e i suoi eredi giallisti''. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, I :43-54   [Details]
(2011)'Postilla a Leonardo Sciascia, Il fuoco nel mare'
Chu, Mark (2011) 'Postilla a Leonardo Sciascia, Il fuoco nel mare'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, I :299-299   [Details]
(2011)'Postilla a La Place de la religion et le sens du religieux dans la litterature italienne contemporaine (1970-2006)'
Chu, Mark (2011) 'Postilla a La Place de la religion et le sens du religieux dans la litterature italienne contemporaine (1970-2006)'. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, I :300-301   [Details]
(2011)'Postilla a Luciano Curreri, 'Per le zolfare che ovunque fiorivano. Scavi zolfiferi nell'opera sciasciana (1952-1964)''
Chu, Mark (2011) 'Postilla a Luciano Curreri, 'Per le zolfare che ovunque fiorivano. Scavi zolfiferi nell'opera sciasciana (1952-1964)''. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, I :301-301   [Details]
(2011)'Postilla a Joseph Farrell, 'Sicilies: Tomasi di Lampedusa and Leonardo Sciascia''
Chu, Mark (2011) 'Postilla a Joseph Farrell, 'Sicilies: Tomasi di Lampedusa and Leonardo Sciascia''. Todomodo. Rivista internazionale di studi sciasciani / A Journal of Sciascia Studies, I :301-302   [Details]
(2001)'Giallo sarai tu! Hegemonic Representations and Limits of Heteroglossia in Carlo Lucarelli'
Chu, Mark; (2001) 'Giallo sarai tu! Hegemonic Representations and Limits of Heteroglossia in Carlo Lucarelli'. Spunti e Ricerche, 16 (Il Giallo):45-58 [Details]
(1999)'La meridiana della Matrice: Il Consiglio d'Egitto e la cultura della Rivoluzione francese'
Chu, Mark; (1999) 'La meridiana della Matrice: Il Consiglio d'Egitto e la cultura della Rivoluzione francese'. Segno, XXV (209):79-84 [Details]
(1998)'Sciascia and Sicily: Discourse and Actuality'
Chu, Mark; (1998) 'Sciascia and Sicily: Discourse and Actuality'. Italica, 75 (1):78-92 [Details]
(1996)'Federico De Roberto e le ragioni del potere [B1495]'
Chu, Mark; (1996) 'Federico De Roberto e le ragioni del potere [B1495]'. Modern Language Notes, 111 (1):74-88 [Details]
(1992)'Le Royaume de la folie: `Power' and `Reason' in Sciascia's Last Narrative Works [B1492]'
Chu, Mark; (1992) 'Le Royaume de la folie: `Power' and `Reason' in Sciascia's Last Narrative Works [B1492]'. Italian Studies, 47 :68-79 [Details]
(1984)'I piaceri del dissenso: Brancati and the Spirit of Illuminismo'
Chu, Mark; (1984) 'I piaceri del dissenso: Brancati and the Spirit of Illuminismo'. Bulletinetin of The Society For Italian Studies, 17 (*):49-58 [Details]
(1983)'The Popular Myth of America in Southern Literature'
Chu, Mark; (1983) 'The Popular Myth of America in Southern Literature'. Journal of the Association of Teachers of Italian, 39 :3-13 [Details]

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2016)'“Qui veut faire l’ange fait la bête”. Il commissario cattivissimo di Marco Vichi'
Chu, Mark (2016) '“Qui veut faire l’ange fait la bête”. Il commissario cattivissimo di Marco Vichi' In: Croci, Daniele; Monegato, Emanuele; Pasolini, Anna (eds). Cattivi.Cattivissimi.Cattivi? Sulle tracce di eroi criminali nelle narrazioni di genere. UK, USA, Italia. Milano: Mimesis Edizioni.   [Details]
(2012)'Parodia e paradosso: l'apologo sul potere nei primi gialli sciasciani'
Chu, Mark (2012) 'Parodia e paradosso: l'apologo sul potere nei primi gialli sciasciani' In: Leonarda Trapassi (eds). Leonardo Sciascia. Un testimone del XX secolo. Roma-Acireale: Bonanno. [Details]
(2011)'Crime and the South'
Chu, Mark; (2011) 'Crime and the South' In: Italian Crime Fiction. Cardiff: U of Wales. [Details]
(2011)'Impegno da vendere: società e politica nella serie del commissario Montalbano di Andrea Camilleri'
Chu, Mark; (2011) 'Impegno da vendere: società e politica nella serie del commissario Montalbano di Andrea Camilleri' In: Specchi di realtà: narrativa e società. Dublin-Torino: TCD-Trauben.   [Details]
(2011)'Dei cavalieri, della morte e del diavolo: Sciascia e gli scrittori svizzeri'
Chu, Mark; (2011) 'Dei cavalieri, della morte e del diavolo: Sciascia e gli scrittori svizzeri' In: «Troppo poco pazzi». Leonardo Sciascia nella libera e laica Svizzera. Firenze: Leo S. Olschki. [Details]
(2010)'Rewriting Histories. Unearthing collusions: the socio-political dimension of crime in the conspiracy novel'
Amici, Marco; Chu, Mark; (2010) 'Rewriting Histories. Unearthing collusions: the socio-political dimension of crime in the conspiracy novel' In: Uncertain Justice: Crimes and Retribution in Contemporary Italian Crime Fiction. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. [Details]
(2009)'Vittorini, Sciascia and the Historiography of the Vespro siciliano'
Chu, Mark; (2009) 'Vittorini, Sciascia and the Historiography of the Vespro siciliano' In: Un secolo con Vittorini (Atti della giornata di studi. Trinity College, Dublino. 18-4-2008). Dublin-Torino: TCD-Trauben.   [Details]
(2006)'Sicilians reading Lawrence writing Sicily'
Chu, Mark; (2006) 'Sicilians reading Lawrence writing Sicily' In: Le Mezzogiorno des écrivains européens. Europeans Writing the Mezzogiorno. St-Étienne: Presse de l'Université de Saint-Étienne. [Details]
(2005)'Of Garibaldini and Pugnalatori: Revolution and Reaction in Sciascia's Sicily'
Chu, Mark; (2005) 'Of Garibaldini and Pugnalatori: Revolution and Reaction in Sciascia's Sicily' In: Risorgimento in Modern Italian Culture. Revisiting the Nineteenth-Century Past in History, Narrative, and Cinema. [Details]
(2002)'Emilio Lussu'
Chu, Mark; (2002) 'Emilio Lussu' In: Dictionary of Literary Biography, vol. 264: Italian Prose Writers, 1900-1945. [Details]
(2002)'Vitaliano Brancati'
Chu, Mark; (2002) 'Vitaliano Brancati' In: Dictionary of Literary Biography, vol. 264: Italian Prose Writers, 1900-1945. [Details]
(2000)''Someone Else's Southerner: Opposed Essences in the Italian Novels of Michael Dibdin, Magdalen Nabb and Tim Parks''
Chu, Mark; (2000) ''Someone Else's Southerner: Opposed Essences in the Italian Novels of Michael Dibdin, Magdalen Nabb and Tim Parks'' In: Crime Scenes: Detective Narratives in European Culture since 1945. Amsterdam: Rodopi. [Details]
(1994)'Sciascia e Dürrenmatt: il giallo e l'epistemologia'
Chu, Mark; (1994) 'Sciascia e Dürrenmatt: il giallo e l'epistemologia' In: Sciascia, Scrittore Europeo. Basle: Birkhäuser. [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(2001)Arts et Identité Régionale - D'un Sud à l'autre: des rives de la Méditerranée au golfe du Mexique
Chu, Mark; (2001) Cos'è questa Sicilia? Sicilian Intellectuals and the Question of Regional Identity . In: Paul Carmignani and Tony Jappy eds. Arts et Identité Régionale - D'un Sud à l'autre: des rives de la Méditerranée au golfe du Mexique Université de Perpignan, , 21-SEP-00 - 23-SEP-00 , pp.151-170 [Details]
(2000)International Regional Studies Colloquium on 'Arts et Identité Régionale/The Arts and Regional Identity'
Chu, Mark; (2000) 'Cos'è questa Sicilia?' Sicilian intellectuals and the question of regional identity . In: Paul Carmignani and Tony Jappy eds. International Regional Studies Colloquium on 'Arts et Identité Régionale/The Arts and Regional Identity' Université de Perpignan, , 21-SEP-00 - 23-SEP-00 , pp.151-170 [Details]
(2000)Crime Scenes: Detective Narratives in European Culture since 1945
Chu, Mark; (2000) Someone Else's Southerner: Opposed Essences in the Italian Novels of Michael Dibdin, Magdalen Nabb and Tim Parks . In: Anne Mullen and Emer O'Beirne eds. Crime Scenes: Detective Narratives in European Culture since 1945 Amsterdam, , pp.73-85 [Details]
(1994)Sciascia, scrittore europeo. Atti del Convegno internazionale di Ascona
Chu, Mark; (1994) Sciascia e Dürrenmatt: il giallo e l'epistemologia . In: M. Picone, P. De Marchi, T. Crivelli eds. Sciascia, scrittore europeo. Atti del Convegno internazionale di Ascona , pp.103-118 [Details]
(1996)Power and Italian Culture and Literature. Proceedings of the IX International A.P.I. Congress
Chu, Mark; (1996) Un grande comunicatore: le ragioni del potere in Federico De Roberto Power and Italian Culture and Literature. Proceedings of the IX International A.P.I. Congress University of the Witwatersrand, , pp.278-290 [Details]
(1994)Selling Language
Chu, Mark; Bentley, Delia; (1994) Selling Language , pp.42-49 [Details]

Published Reports

 YearPublication
(2003)'Biennial Conference of the Society for Italian Studies (UCC, 4-6 July 2004)' in Bulletin of the Society for Italian Studies.
Ross, Silvia and Chu, Mark; (2003) 'Biennial Conference of the Society for Italian Studies (UCC, 4-6 July 2004)' in Bulletin of the Society for Italian Studies. *, *. [Details]

Articles

 YearPublication
(2008)Two Conference Reports, on `Graduate Conference in Italian Studies¿ (UCC, 1 March 2008) and `Giornata di Studi in Onore di Eduardo Saccone¿ (UCC, 19 May 2008).
Chu Mark; (2008) Two Conference Reports, on `Graduate Conference in Italian Studies¿ (UCC, 1 March 2008) and `Giornata di Studi in Onore di Eduardo Saccone¿ (UCC, 19 May 2008). Articles [Details]
(2003)Conference Report, `Biennial Conference of the Society for Italian Studies¿ (UCC, 4-6 July 2003).
Chu Mark and Ross Silvia; (2003) Conference Report, `Biennial Conference of the Society for Italian Studies¿ (UCC, 4-6 July 2003). Articles [Details]

Translations

 YearPublication
(2011)Eva.
Chu, Mark; Vallorani, Nicoletta (2011) Eva. Milano: Translations   [DOI] [Details]
(2006)Views of the Strait of Messina.
Consolo, Vincenzo; Chu, Mark (translator); (2006) Views of the Strait of Messina. Translations [Details]
(2006)The Rebirth of the Val di Noto.
Consolo, Vincenzo; Chu, Mark (translator); (2006) The Rebirth of the Val di Noto. Translations [Details]
(2006)The Eruption of Mount Etna.
Consolo, Vincenzo; Chu, Mark (translator); (2006) The Eruption of Mount Etna. Translations [Details]
(2006)Tuna Fishing.
Consolo, Vincenzo; Chu, Mark (translator); (2006) Tuna Fishing. Translations [Details]

Professional Activities

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2003President's Award for Excellence in Teaching UCC

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
Society for Italian Studies Elected Member of Executive Committee08-JAN-00 / 12-JAN-07
Bangor University, GB External Examiner in Italian01-OCT-06 / 30-SEP-10
University of Melbourne, Australia External Examiner for PhD on Federico De Roberto01-JAN-03 / 31-DEC-04
Society for Italian Studies Co-opted Member of the Executive Committee13-JAN-07 / 09-JAN-09
Waterford IT External Examiner in Italian01-JAN-01 / 31-DEC-03

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(2013)Iconic Images in Modern Italy: Politics, Culture and Society, ASMI Conference,
Chu, Mark (2013) Domesticating the pericolo giallo: the case of Rabarbaro Zucca. [Chair Sessions at Symposia], Iconic Images in Modern Italy: Politics, Culture and Society, ASMI Conference, University of London, Senate House , 22-NOV-13 - 23-NOV-13. [Details]
(2013)Crime in Translation,
Chu, Mark (2013) ‘Der Tod in Venedig: Donna Leon, Translation and Transmediality. [Oral Presentation], Crime in Translation, University of Portsmouth , 09-NOV-13 - 09-NOV-13. [Details]
(2013)'Vincenzo Consolo nel crocevia mediterraneo: saperi permeabili, lingue comunicanti,
Chu, Mark (2013) Sciascia e Consolo. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], 'Vincenzo Consolo nel crocevia mediterraneo: saperi permeabili, lingue comunicanti, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Dublin , 19-OCT-13 - 20-OCT-13. [Details]
(2013)Retold, Resold, Transformed? Crime Fiction in the Modern Era,
Chu, Mark (2013) Der Tod in Venedig: Donna Leon, Translation and Transmediality. [Oral Presentation], Retold, Resold, Transformed? Crime Fiction in the Modern Era, University of Leeds , 17-SEP-13 - 18-SEP-13. [Details]
(2013)La littérature italienne à lʼépoque de la globalisation/La letteratura italiana al tempo della globalizzazione,
Chu, Mark (2013) “Non voglio morire cinese”: crisi e conflitto ne La seconda mezzanotte di Antonio Scurati. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], La littérature italienne à lʼépoque de la globalisation/La letteratura italiana al tempo della globalizzazione, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre , 16-MAY-13 - 18-MAY-13. [Details]
(2013)Roma noir, 2013: Letteratura della crisi letteratura del conflitto,
Chu, Mark (2013) Conflitto e crisi in Eva di Nicoletta Vallorani. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Roma noir, 2013: Letteratura della crisi letteratura del conflitto, Universita' di Roma, La Sapienza , 18-FEB-13 - 18-FEB-13. [Details]
(2012)Come al cancello della preghiera. Sentimento e coscienza religiosi in Leonardo Sciascia,
Chu, Mark (2012) Leonardo Sciascia Colloquia, 3. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Come al cancello della preghiera. Sentimento e coscienza religiosi in Leonardo Sciascia, CERISDI, Castello Utveggio, Palermo , 16-NOV-12 - 17-NOV-12. [Details]
(2012)The European Crime Genre in Translation: Toward a Politics of Transnational Dialogue,
Chu, Mark (2012) Entangling and Disentangling: Narrating Society in Zygmunt Miłoszewski’s Uwikłanie. [Invited Oral Presentation], The European Crime Genre in Translation: Toward a Politics of Transnational Dialogue, Manchester Metropolitan University , 27-APR-12 - 27-APR-12. [Details]
(2012)AAIS XXXII Annual Conference,
Chu, Mark (2012) 'Pericolo giallo: Fear of China in Contemporary Italian Culture'. [Oral Presentation], AAIS XXXII Annual Conference, College of Charleston, SC , 03-MAY-12 - 05-MAY-12. [Details]
(2012)AAIS XXXII Annual Conference,
Chu, Mark (2012) Roundtable: Todomodo: Sciascia’s Legacy in the 21st Century. [Oral Presentation], AAIS XXXII Annual Conference, College of Charleston, SC , 03-MAY-12 - 05-MAY-12. [Details]
(2012)Italian Studies in Ireland Research Colloquium,
Chu, Mark (2012) Some Preliminary Thoughts on the Representation of the Pericolo giallo. [Oral Presentation], Italian Studies in Ireland Research Colloquium, UCC , 03-FEB-12 - 03-FEB-12. [Details]
(2011)Tradition, Transformations and Transpositions: Constructing and Representing Cultural Identities in Europe through the Crime Genre,
Chu, Mark (2011) Transnational Crime and the Idea of Europe: the Case of Veit Heinichen’s Trieste. [Invited Oral Presentation], Tradition, Transformations and Transpositions: Constructing and Representing Cultural Identities in Europe through the Crime Genre, Manchester Metropolitan University , 11-JUL-11 - 11-JUL-11. [Details]
(2011)Leonardo Sciascia Colloquia, II: Mezzo secolo con “Il giorno della civetta”, 1961-2011,
Chu, Mark (2011) Coordinazione della sessione su «Il romanzo, la società italiana e le istituzioni». [Other], Leonardo Sciascia Colloquia, II: Mezzo secolo con “Il giorno della civetta”, 1961-2011, CERISDI, Castello Utveggio, Palermo, Italy , 18-NOV-11 - 19-NOV-11. [Details]
(2011)Language, Migration, Diaspora. RIA Modern Languages Symposium,
Chu, Mark (2011) 'Ghi è tu ghe palla? Parody and the Migrant Voice in Contemporary Italian Crime Fiction'. [Oral Presentation], Language, Migration, Diaspora. RIA Modern Languages Symposium, DIT , 02-DEC-11 - 03-DEC-11. [Details]
(2011)AAIS XXXI Annual Conference,
Chu, Mark (2011) 'Restava il folclore […]. Restava la violenza: Responses to Sciascia’s Il giorno della civetta and the Problem of Representing the Exotic'. [Oral Presentation], AAIS XXXI Annual Conference, University of Pittsburgh, USA , 07-APR-11 - 09-APR-11. [Details]
(2011)CACSSS Workshop on Identities,
Chu, Mark (2011) Transnational Crime and the Idea of Europe: the Case of Veit Heinichen’s Trieste. [Oral Presentation], CACSSS Workshop on Identities, UCC , 13-SEP-11 - 13-SEP-11. [Details]
(2011)SIS Biennial Conference,
Chu, Mark (2011) ‘Transnational Crime and the Idea of Europe: the Case of Veit Heinichen’s Trieste’. [Oral Presentation], SIS Biennial Conference, University of St Andrews, GB , 06-JUL-11 - 09-JUL-11. [Details]
(2011)Crime Fiction Seminar,
Chu, Mark (2011) “Italian Alterities in the New European Crime Genre”. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Crime Fiction Seminar, Lund University , 14-OCT-11 - 14-OCT-11. [Details]
(2010)L'etica del potere per Leonardo Sciascia,
Chu, Mark (2010) 'L’etica del potere: Sciascia e i suoi eredi giallisti'. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], L'etica del potere per Leonardo Sciascia, CERISDI, Castello Utveggio, Palermo, Italy , 19-NOV-10 - 20-NOV-10. [Details]
(2009)Con(tra)vention: Crime and the Boundaries of Genre,
Chu, Mark (2009) Social Critique in the Montalbano Novels of Andrea Camilleri. [Oral Presentation], Con(tra)vention: Crime and the Boundaries of Genre, UCC , 26-JUN-09 - 27-JUN-09. [Details]
(2009)Con(tra)vention: Crime and the Boundaries of Genre,
Chu Mark; (2009) Con(tra)vention: Crime and the Boundaries of Genre. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Con(tra)vention: Crime and the Boundaries of Genre, UCC , 26-JUN-09 - 27-JUN-09. [Details]
(2009)Leonardo Sciascia,
Chu Mark; (2009) Leonardo Sciascia. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Leonardo Sciascia, UCC , 24-OCT-09 - 25-OCT-09. [Details]
(2008)American Association of Teachers of Italian/American Association for Italian Studies Convention,,
Chu Mark; (2008) Impegno da vendere: la politica del commissario Montalbano. [Oral Presentation], American Association of Teachers of Italian/American Association for Italian Studies Convention,, Taormina, Italy , 22-MAY-08 - 25-MAY-08. [Details]
(2008)Giornata di studi: `Elio Vittorini: A Hundred Years after His Birth,
Chu Mark; (2008) Vittorini, Sciascia and the Vespro siciliano. [Oral Presentation], Giornata di studi: `Elio Vittorini: A Hundred Years after His Birth, Trinity College Dublin , 18-APR-08 - 18-APR-08. [Details]
(2005)Le Mezzogiorno des écrivains européens/Europeans Writing the Mezzogiorno,
Chu, Mark; (2005) Sicilians reading Lawrence writing Sicily. [Invited Oral Presentation], Le Mezzogiorno des écrivains européens/Europeans Writing the Mezzogiorno, Centre d'Etudes sur les Littératures Etrangères et Comparées, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne , 14-OCT-05 - 15-OCT-05. [Details]
(2005)Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference,
Chu, Mark; (2005) Constructing Immigrant Identity: A Media Case Study. [Oral Presentation], Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference, University of Salford , 07-JUL-05 - 10-JUL-05. [Details]
(2005)Invited participant in Roundtable on 'Teaching the Ottocento: Perspectives, Approaches, and Praxis', Modern Language Association Convention, Washington DC, USA,
Chu Mark; (2005) Teaching the Ottocento to Beginners and Post-beginners. [Oral Presentation], Invited participant in Roundtable on 'Teaching the Ottocento: Perspectives, Approaches, and Praxis', Modern Language Association Convention, Washington DC, USA, Washington, DC USA , 27-DEC-05 - 30-DEC-05. [Details]
(2005)Modern Language Association Convention,
Chu, Mark; (2005) Roundtable on 'Teaching the Ottocento: Perspectives, Approaches, and Praxis'. [Invited Oral Presentation], Modern Language Association Convention, Washington D.C , 27-DEC-05 - 30-DEC-05. [Details]
(2004)Critical and Cultural Trajectories,
Chu, Mark; (2004) The Savage 'I' in Sciascia's Sicily. [Invited Oral Presentation], Critical and Cultural Trajectories, University of Essex , 30-JUN-04 - 02-JUL-04. [Details]
(2004)Modern Language Association Convention,
Chu, Mark; (2004) Representations of Immigrants in Contemporary Italian Literature and Media: A Critical Analysis. [Oral Presentation], Modern Language Association Convention, Philadelphia , 27-DEC-04 - 30-DEC-04. [Details]
(2004)Murder and Mayhem in the Mare Nostrum: Contemporary Configurations of Mediterranean Detective Genres,
Chu, Mark; (2004) The Savage 'I' in the Sicily of Leonardo Sciascia. [Oral Presentation], Murder and Mayhem in the Mare Nostrum: Contemporary Configurations of Mediterranean Detective Genres, Monash University Prato Centre , 05-JUL-04 - 07-JUL-04. [Details]
(2003)The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, UCC,
Ross, Silvia; Chu, Mark and Rascaroli, Laura; (2003) 'The Development and Delivery of a Team Taught Course and the Portfolio Experience'. [Oral Presentation], The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, UCC, UCC , 23-MAY-03 - 24-MAY-03. [Details]
(2003)Biennial Conference of the Society for Italian Studies,
Ross, Silvia and Chu, Mark; (2003) Conference Co-organizer. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Biennial Conference of the Society for Italian Studies, University College Cork , 04-JUL-03 - 06-JUL-03. [Details]
(2003)Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference,
Chu, Mark; (2003) 'Il passato che si fa presente': Sciascia's Re-reading of the Risorgimento. [Oral Presentation], Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference, UCC , 04-JUL-03 - 06-JUL-03. [Details]
(2003)SIS Biennial Conference,
Chu Mark; (2003) SIS Biennial Conference. [Conference Organising Committee Member], SIS Biennial Conference, UCC , 04-JUL-03 - 06-JUL-03. [Details]
(2002)Hemispheres http://www.ucc.ie/french/HemisProg.html,
Ryan, Angela; Chu, Mark; (2002) Hemispheres: Annual Conference of the School of Languages and Literature. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Hemispheres http://www.ucc.ie/french/HemisProg.html, UCC , 03-MAY-02 - 05-MAY-02. [Details]
(2002)Cultural Identities: Noir Fiction in France and Italy,
Chu, Mark; (2002) Orientalism - Italian Style: Representations of the Other in Some Recent Italian Crime Fiction. [Oral Presentation], Cultural Identities: Noir Fiction in France and Italy, Institute of Romance Studies, London , 12-APR-02 - 13-APR-02. [Details]
(2001)Modern Italian History Seminar,
Chu, Mark; (2001) Delitto passionale: Representations of Italian Identity in Crime Fiction. [Invited Oral Presentation], Modern Italian History Seminar, Institute of Historical Research, London , 21-NOV-01 - 21-NOV-01. [Details]
(2001)Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference,
Chu, Mark; (2001) Bellodi among the cannibals: Montaigne, Certeau, Sciascia. [Oral Presentation], Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference, University of Exeter , 30-MAR-01 - 02-APR-01. [Details]
(2001)Écrire au feminin,
Chu, Mark; (2001) Maria Messina e la sconfitta della superdonna. [Oral Presentation], Écrire au feminin, CERCLI, Université de Rennes 2-Haute Bretagne , 12-MAY-01 - 12-MAY-01. [Details]
(2001)*,
Chu, Mark; (2001) Orientalism - Italian Style: Representations of the Other in Some Recent Italian Crime Fiction. [Invited Oral Presentation], *, University of Connecticut , 22-OCT-01 - 22-OCT-01. [Details]
(2000)XI Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature, Film and the Visual Arts:,
Chu Mark; (2000) XI Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature, Film and the Visual Arts:. [Conference Organising Committee Member], XI Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature, Film and the Visual Arts:, UCC , 03-MAY-00 - 05-MAY-00. [Details]
(2000)American Association of Italian Studies Convention,
Chu, Mark; (2000) 'A Woman's Place...': the Fall of the Superdonna in Maria Messina's L'amore negato. [Oral Presentation], American Association of Italian Studies Convention, New York , 13-APR-00 - 16-APR-00. [Details]
(2000)*,
Chu, Mark; (2000) The Mafia at the Movies. [Invited Oral Presentation], *, NUI Galway , 05-APR-00 - 05-APR-00. [Details]
(1999)Italian Cultural Studies,
Chu, Mark; (1999) Sebastiano Aglianò and the qualità italiche of Sicily: the construction of regional/national identity. [Oral Presentation], Italian Cultural Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire , 29-OCT-99 - 31-OCT-99. [Details]
(1999)Cross-Currents in Litertature, Film and the Visual Arts: Apocalypse,
Chu, Mark; (1999) Horses Sickly and Pale: Reflections on a Topos in Apocalyptic Art. [Oral Presentation], Cross-Currents in Litertature, Film and the Visual Arts: Apocalypse, UCC , 23-APR-99 - 25-APR-99. [Details]
(1999)American Association of Italian Studies Convention,
Chu, Mark; (1999) 'Passion' and 'Deviancy': Constructions of the South in Contemporary Crime Fiction. [Oral Presentation], American Association of Italian Studies Convention, Eugene, Oregon , 15-APR-99 - 17-APR-99. [Details]
(1999)*,
Chu, Mark; (1999) 'Passion' and 'Deviancy': Constructions of the South in Contemporary Crime Fiction. [Invited Oral Presentation], *, University of Victoria, British Columbia , 13-APR-99 - 13-APR-99. [Details]
(1999)Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference,
Chu, Mark; (1999) Death and the Pale Horse: Apocalyptic Visions from the Trionfo della morte to Guttuso and Sciascia. [Oral Presentation], Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference, University of Bristol , 09-APR-99 - 11-APR-99. [Details]
(1998)American Association for Italian Studies Annual Conference,
Chu Mark; (1998) American Association for Italian Studies Annual Conference. [Conference Organising Committee Member], American Association for Italian Studies Annual Conference, Loyola University Chicago, USA , 02-APR-98 - 05-APR-98. [Details]
(1998)American Association for Italian Studies, 18th Annual Convention,
Chu, Mark; (1998) Literary Representations of Sicily (Session organizer). [Other], American Association for Italian Studies, 18th Annual Convention, Loyola University, Chicago , 02-APR-98 - 05-APR-98. [Details]
(1998)American Association for Italian Studies, 18th Annual Convention,
Chu, Mark; (1998) 'Sciascia and Sicily: Discourse and Actuality'. [Oral Presentation], American Association for Italian Studies, 18th Annual Convention, Loyola University, Chicago , 02-APR-98 - 05-APR-98. [Details]
(1997)Royal Irish Academy Symposium on 'Intertextuality: Continuities & Discontinuities',
Chu, Mark; (1997) 'But he is a Sicilian. And here lies the difficulty: the Textual Construction of a Sicilian Psyche'. [Oral Presentation], Royal Irish Academy Symposium on 'Intertextuality: Continuities & Discontinuities', Trinity College Dublin , 07-NOV-97 - 08-NOV-97. [Details]
(1997)Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: 'Metafiction',
Chu, Mark; (1997) 'A Fiction Stranger Than Truth: Leonardo Sciascia and the Representation of Sicily'. [Oral Presentation], Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: 'Metafiction', University College Cork , 25-APR-97 - 26-APR-97. [Details]
(1997)Conference on 'The European Detective Since 1945',
Chu, Mark; (1997) 'Someone Else's Southerner: Opposed Essences in the Italian Novels of Michael Dibdin, Magdalen Nabb and Tim Parks'. [Oral Presentation], Conference on 'The European Detective Since 1945', University of Exeter , 15-SEP-97 - 17-SEP-97. [Details]
(1997)Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference,
Chu, Mark; (1997) 'Sciascia and Sicily: Discourse and Actuality'. [Oral Presentation], Society for Italian Studies Biennial Conference, University of Glasgow , 17-APR-97 - 19-APR-97. [Details]
(1995)Symposium on 'Tutte le realtà e le fantasie possono prendere forma solo attraverso la scrittura'. Italo Calvino ten years after,
Chu, Mark; (1995) 'La spiegazione di tutte le cose del mondo: Problems of Knowledge in Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno and Kim'. [Invited Oral Presentation], Symposium on 'Tutte le realtà e le fantasie possono prendere forma solo attraverso la scrittura'. Italo Calvino ten years after, Trinity College Dublin , 18-NOV-95 - 18-NOV-95. [Details]
(1995)Power and Italian Culture and Literature. 9th International A.P.I. Congress,
Chu, Mark; (1995) Un Grande Comunicatore: Le Ragioni Del Potere in Federico De Roberto [B1496]. Power and Italian Culture and Literature. 9th International A.P.I. Congress, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg , 13-SEP-95 - 17-SEP-95. [Details]
(1995)Royal Irish Academy Research Symposium on 'War and Literature',
Chu, Mark; (1995) 'War on Reason: Brancati and the Fascist Martial Myth'. [Oral Presentation], Royal Irish Academy Research Symposium on 'War and Literature', University College Cork , 10-NOV-95 - 11-NOV-95. [Details]
(1994)Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: 'Lives or Lies? - The Arts of Biography and Autobiography',
Chu, Mark; (1994) *. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: 'Lives or Lies? - The Arts of Biography and Autobiography', UCC , 18-FEB-94 - 19-FEB-94. [Details]
(1993)Convegno Internazionale su 'Sciascia, scrittore europeo',
Chu, Mark; (1993) 'Sciascia e Dürrenmatt: il giallo e l'epistemologia'. [N/A], Convegno Internazionale su 'Sciascia, scrittore europeo', Ascona, Switzerland , 29-MAR-93 - 02-APR-93. [Details]
(1993)Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: Detective Genres,
Chu, Mark; (1993) *. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: Detective Genres, University College Cork , 19-FEB-93 - 20-FEB-93. [Details]
(1993)Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: Detective Genres,
Chu, Mark; (1993) 'Scientific Investigations: Leonardo Sciascia and Friedrich Dürrenmatt'. [Oral Presentation], Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: Detective Genres, University College Cork , 19-FEB-93 - 20-FEB-93. [Details]
(1992)Royal Irish Academy Research Symposium on 'Quest and Discovery: the New World in Literature',
Chu, Mark; (1992) 'Popular Myths of America in Irish and Italian Literature'. [Oral Presentation], Royal Irish Academy Research Symposium on 'Quest and Discovery: the New World in Literature', University College Galway , 16-OCT-92 - 17-OCT-92. [Details]
(1992)Workshop on Teaching Languages to Adults,
Chu, Mark; (1992) *. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Workshop on Teaching Languages to Adults, UCC , 01-MAY-92 - 01-MAY-92. [Details]
(1991)Conference on Sicilian Culture,
Chu, Mark; (1991) 'Sciascia, Dürrenmatt and the Impotence of Reason'. [Oral Presentation], Conference on Sicilian Culture, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow , 01-NOV-91 - 02-NOV-91. [Details]
(1984)Society for Italian Studies one-day conference on Leonardo Sciascia and Sicilian Literature since 1935,
Chu, Mark; (1984) I piaceri del dissenso: a Precedent for Sciascia's illuminismo in the Writings of Brancati. [Oral Presentation], Society for Italian Studies one-day conference on Leonardo Sciascia and Sicilian Literature since 1935, University of Birmingham , 25-MAY-84 - 25-MAY-84. [Details]

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
Society for Italian Studies Executive Committee Committee Member2000 / 2003
Society for Italian Studies Executive Committee Committee Member (with responsibility for website from July 2005)2003 / 2007
Society for Italian Studies Executive Committee Co-opted member with responsibility for Website2007 / 2009
Royal Irish Academy Committee for Modern Language, Literary and Cultural UCC Institutional Nominee/

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
UCC Senior Lecturer and Head of Department01-JAN-03 /
UCC College Lecturer in Italian01-OCT-93 / 31-MAR-03
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy English Lettore01-NOV-85 / 01-SEP-91

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
1982University of Hull Bachelor of ArtsSpecial Honours - Italian
1992University of Hull Ph.D.Italian

Languages

 LanguageReadingWritingSpeaking
English FluentFluentFluent
Italian FluentFluentFluent
French FunctionalBasicBasic

Consultancy

 ClientDescription
State Examinations Commission
National University of Ireland Nominee for Italian
Various Grant Awarding Bodies and Publishers in Ireland and Abroad
Anonymous expert reviewer of grant applications and book manuscripts.

Outreach Activities

 Description

"Leonardo Sciascia", "Writers of Sicily" Public Lecture Series, University College Dublin, 25 February 2013

Public Lecture: 'Italian Crime Fiction'

A special event organized for the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival.
 
Dr Mark Chu, Department of Italian, UCC, gives an overview of crime fiction in Italy and suggests some reading. Dr Chu has written widely on authors including Leonardo Sciascia (The Day of the Owl) and Andrea Camilleri (the Inspector Montalbano series) as well as on English-language crime fiction set in Italy (Michael Dibdin, Magdalen Nabb, Donna Leon, Tim Parks). 
 

Journal Activities

 JournalRoleTo / From
Todomodo. Rivista Internazionale Di Studi Sciasciani / A Journal Of Sciascia Studies Editor01-JAN-11 - 31-DEC-13
Modern Language Notes Guest Editor01-JAN-10 - 30-JUN-10
Arena Romanistica Member of Editorial Board01-MAR-09 -
A Futura Memoria. Il Giornale Telematico Degli Amici Di Leonardo Sciascia Member of Editorial Board01-JAN-07 -
Italian Studies Referee01-JAN-06 - 31-DEC-07
Modern Language Review Referee01-JAN-06 - 31-DEC-07
Spunti E Ricerche Referee01-JAN-05 - 31-DEC-11
Romance Studies Referee01-JAN-03 - 31-DEC-04
Bulletinetin Of The Society For Italian Studies Editor01-JAN-00 - 31-DEC-00
Bulletinetin Of The Society For Italian Studies Editor01-JAN-00 - 31-DEC-00

Other Activities

 Description

Student performance of play by Nobel prizewinner.

Student performance of play by Italian Nobel prizewinner.

Student performance of eighteenth-century Italian comedy.

Student performance.

Student performance.

Visits Abroad

Florence, Italy Sabbatical. Research February-July 2003

Palermo, Italy Research on contemporary Sicilian literature April-December 1996


Research Talks
Invited presenter of Leonardo Sciascia, Opere, I, a cura di Paolo Squillacioti, Villa Malfitano, Palermo, November 2012
Presentation of Roberto Bertoni, Fili, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Dublin, October 2008
‘Per una lettura postcoloniale della letteratura siciliana', invited lecture to doctoral students, University of Palermo, September 2008
‘Representations of the South in Detective Fiction' Invited lecture, Società Dante Alighieri, Belfast October 2006
Two lectures to students of Letteratura italiana and Sociologia della letteratura Università degli Studi di Napoli ‘Federico II', Italy April 2003
‘Delitto passionale: Representations of Italian Identity in Crime Fiction' Invited lecture in Modern Italian History Seminar, Institute of Historical Research, London, GB 21 November 2001
‘Orientalism - Italian Style: Representations of the Other in Some Recent Italian Crime Fiction' Invited lecture, Deaprtment of Italian, University of Connecticut, USA 22 October 2001
‘The Mafia at the Movies' Invited lecture, Department of Italian, National University of Ireland, Galway 5 April 2000
‘"Passion" and "Deviancy": Constructions of the South in Contemporary Crime Fiction' Invited lecture, Dept of Italian and Hispanic Studies, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 13 April 1999
‘Sicily: Beyond the Mafia' Invited lecture, Italian Society, February 1997
Two lectures to students of Letteratura italiana Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy March 1996
‘Can women be reasonable? Some considerations on Sicilian literature' MA in Women's Studies Seminar, Department of Sociology, UCC April 1994
‘The Sicilian Mafia' Invited lecture, Italian Society, UCC January 1994
‘The Sicilian Mafia' Department of Sociology Seminar, UCC November 1993
‘"Potere" e "ragione" nella narrativa siciliana' Invited lecture, Simposio di tematologia, Universität Zürich, Romanisches Seminar, Switzerland 15 July 1993
‘Political implications of the murder of Giovanni Falcone' Public Lecture, UCC 2 June 1992
‘La Sicilia: un'isola da scoprire' Società Dante Alighieri, Cork 27 April 1992

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

Modules Taught

 Term (ID))TitleLinkSubject
2020Minor Dissertation IT2401Minor Dissertation
2020Minor Dissertation IT3401Minor Dissertation
2020Italian Language (Beginner Level) IT1120Italian Language (Beginner Level)

Contact details

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Department of Italian

Iodáilis

First Floor Block A West, O' Rahilly Building, University College Cork, Ireland

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