Sicilian images — intertextual references in the second season of “The White Lotus”

Abstract

The article focuses on certain aspects of the cinematic and cultural references in the second season of HBO’s TV series The White Lotus. The author draws parallels between the classic works of Italian and Hollywood cinema and various themes of the series, its visual aspects and cast of characters. By comparing different approaches to characters and their arcs narratives the author describes various attempts to challenge the cultural clichés about Americans in Europe, but also stereotypes about Sicily and images of Italians in American cinema and television.