From the Reasons of Myth to the Myth of Reason: Europe in a Verbo-visual Investigation

This article explores the construction of Europe’s image through the interplay of myth, iconography and cartography, demonstrating how these visual and narrative devices contribute to the formation of the European collective imaginary. Starting from the paradoxes of cartographic representation, I try to analyse the evolution of Europa/e from a mythical figure to a political and geographical allegory, highlighting the role of images in defining identity and political-cultural hierarchies. Far from being opposed to myth, modern rationality thus appears to be founded upon and constantly anchored to the processes of mythologisation that underpin its claim to universality. Finally, through modern and contemporary artistic examples that contribute to a critical reconfiguration of the image of Europe, I suggest the adoption of a de-teleological perspective open to the redefinition of its cultural and geopolitical status.