«To Live to the Side of My Name»: Instances of Onomastic Lateralization in Contemporary Literature

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of onomastic lateralization to denote the partial dissociation between the self and one’s proper name. Drawing on an interview with Judith Butler as a theoretical point of departure, the study will investigate the motivations and mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon, with particular attention to its manifestations in non-fiction (Naomi Klein), fiction (Sally Rooney), and poetry (Julia Serrano). Through comparative analysis, the advantages of onomastic lateralization will be illuminated—specifically, its function in fostering moral and affective autonomy from the responsibilities and injuries projected onto one’s name, whether erroneously or arbitrarily. The inquiry will subsequently concentrate on contemporary Italian poetry (including the work of Accerboni, Di Spigno, Fiori, and Scialpi), with a focus on gender dynamics and trans experience. It will be argued that the imperative to establish a critical distance from one’s name—without necessarily renouncing it—derives from the propensity of anthroponyms to accrue connotative significations.