Moros i cristians en la tradició figurativa i performativa siciliana

Este estudi analitza, mitjancant un enfocament historic-antropologic i comparatiu, l’oposicio simbolica entre moros i cristians en la cultura siciliana, entesa esta com una dicotomia historica, ideologica i ritual que estructura multiples expressions figuratives i performatives. La polaritat moro/crisitana, hereva del conflicte Orient-Occident, s’ha consolidat al llarg de segles mitjancant processos de mitificacio i es manifesta en practiques populars vinculades a la memoria de les incursions corsaries, l’epica cavalleresca i l’afirmacio de l’orde cristia. L’objectiu es examinar com esta oposicio es representa, reinterpreta i transmet en diferents contextos festius, teatrals i artistics de Sicilia. Els resultats mostren que l’oposicio moro/cristiana funciona com un dispositiu simbolic flexible, articulat mitjancant parells polars com be/mal, civilitzacio/barbarie i interior/exterior. En festes i rituals sicilians, la victoria cristiana es representa sovint com a resultat d’una intervencio divina, mentres que en el teatre de titelles, els personatges moros oscil・len entre figures demonitzades i models nobles susceptibles de redempcio mitjancant el baptisme. La iconografia, d’altra banda, distingix als uns i els altres principalment per indumentaria, armament i posicio escenica, mes que pel seu origen etnic. Estes representacions han servit, en multiples ocasions, per a reforcar identitats collectives i normes morals compartides.

This study analyses, through a historical-anthropological and comparative approach, the symbolic opposition between Moors and Christians in Sicilian culture, understood as a historical, ideological and ritual dichotomy that structures multiple figurative and performative expressions. The Moor/Christian polarity, inherited from the East-West conflict, has been consolidated over the centuries through processes of mythification and is manifested in popular practices linked to the memory of corsair incursions, chivalric epic and the affirmation of the Christian order. The aim is to examine how this opposition is represented, reinterpreted and transmitted in different festive, theatrical and artistic contexts in Sicily. The findings show that the Moor/Christian opposition functions as a flexible symbolic dispositif, articulated through polar pairs such as good/evil, civilisation/barbarism and inside/outside. In Sicilian festivals and rituals, Christian victory is often represented as the result of divine intervention, while in puppet theatre Moorish characters oscillate between demonised figures and noble models susceptible to redemption through baptism. Iconography, on the other hand, distinguishes between the two primarily through dress, weaponry and scenic positioning rather than through ethnic origin. These representations have, on several occasions, served to reinforce collective identities and shared moral norms.