Introduction

The present volume examines discursive pathways, searching for representations of the “other” within various contexts. The nineteen articles included in this volume were selected from a special call for contributions, because of how each consider phenomenon that results in the perception of divergences and similarities inherent in this contact between cultures, focusing on Lusitanian, Western and Eastern literary texts, ethnography, media studies and philosophy of culture, and addressing transcultural contexts, texts and authors with an interdisciplinary, geographical and/or chronological approach. In this regard, the most important value of the present volume is that it differs from previous works in the field in three significant ways. Firstly, the intercultural aspect. The volume deals with the “otherness” theme from an intercultural point of view, concerning different cultures (Lusitanian, Polish, Ukrainian, Moroccan, North American, Latin-American, Vietnamese and Chinese). Secondly, the interdisciplinary aspect. The volume examines the theme of “otherness” through chapters that focus on different fields (Literature, Philosophy, Arts, Media). Thirdly, the chronological aspect. The essays presented in the volume range from the Middle Ages to our contemporary age.