Pajtim Statovci über die kulturellen Genitalien des Albanischseins: Neue queere Literatur aus Finnland bzw. Kosovo
Pajtim Statovci and the “Cultural Genitals” of Being Albanian: New Queer Literature from Finland and Kosovo

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses three novels written by the Finnish-Kosovar author Pajtim Statovci:My Cat Yugoslavia (2014), Crossings (2016) and Bolla (2019). All three novels describe circle migration of young Kosovars and/or Albanians to and from Finland and challenge categories of nation and gender. Statovci is blending queerness and Albanianness as cultural metaphors to describe gender transgressions as utopian anti-identities leaving behind generational family conflicts. Nevertheless, the protagonists are conditioned and “earthed”by the fantastic world of Albanian mythology. This way, Statovci is able to interpret Albanianness as a perfect stage for his queer heroes and breaks down deeply rooted stereotypes of Balkan backwardness.

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