The Ultimate Ferrante Experience: Convergence Culture, Literary Tourism, and the Quest for Authenticity

Abstract

“Ferrante Fever,” a term used to describe the contagious wave of enthusiasm for the Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante, has led to the creation of several commercial extensions (a play, a television series, and travel guides) and inspired many readers to travel to Naples. In this article, I analyze the Ferrante phenomenon in the context of what Henry Jenkins calls “Convergence Culture” and cultural tourism, exploring the transmedial qualities of the Neapolitan Novels as well as the economic and cultural impact of the travel guide Ferrante Fever: A Tour of Naples Inspired by Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels by Danielle Oteri. The guide represents a full immersion for Ferrante’s fans in the world of the Neapolitan Novels, and it also serves as a promotional tool for the city of Naples and the Campania region. Considering the link between this travel guide and Italian identity, I hypothesize that the novels’ “italianità” has made it possible to promote an “authentic Italian experience.” Overall, the Neapolitan Quartet exemplifies the economic potential of cultural products and sheds light on the use of symbolic capital for tourism. In fact, by portraying an alluring image of Naples, Ferrante has “positively positioned” the city in the minds of her readers, rebranding the city and turning her fans into literary tourists.