B1678 - Politics and Visual Culture in Contemporary History (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to offer a historical analysis of the political use of images from the late 19th century to the present, taking the global context as a reference but with particular attention, from a comparative perspective, to the Italian case. At the end of the course, students will: - master the methodologies proper to the discipline of historiography applied to the evolution of visual culture in the contemporary age; - know in depth the evolution of the media production of images aimed at political communication; - know how to analyze the purpose and impact that the development of visual culture has had on the political life of contemporary societies; - be able to apply acquired historical knowledge to the analysis of the processes of construction of the political imaginary of the present time; - be able to understand the implications that political communication exercised through the use of images has generated on a social, cultural and media level in the history of democratic systems and dictatorial regimes.

Course contents

The political use of images in 20th century history underwent a very significant development in the period between the two world wars, just as the concept of 'visual culture' began to take shape. After some introductory methodological lectures on the relationship between visual arts and political history, the course will focus on this period of the 20th century, with particular attention to the Italian context and Fascist propaganda, which made use of a complex apparatus of iconographic production (posters, postcards, illustrations, photographs, films, works of art, exhibitions, architectural projects, etc.). Starting from the analysis of the visual communication implemented by the Fascist regime, during the course a comparative approach will be adopted by also examining other aesthetic policies of the 1920s and 1930s, both in the field of totalitarianisms (the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany) and in that of western democracies.

Readings/Bibliography

1) Mandatory text

Emilio Gentile, Il culto del littorio. La sacralizzazione della politica nell’Italia fascista, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1993 (or later editions)

2) A text of your choice from the following

Luca Acquarelli, Il fascismo e l’immagine dell’impero. Retoriche e culture visuali, Donzelli, Roma 2022

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Italian Fascim’s Empire Cinema, Indiana University Press, Bloomington 2015

Matteo Bertelé, Arte sovietica alla Biennale di Venezia (1924-1962), Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2020

Emily Braun, Mario Sironi. Arte e politica in Italia sotto il fascismo, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 2003

Gian Piero Brunetta, Il cinema italiano di regime. Da “La canzone dell’amore” a “Ossessione”, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2009

Claudio Carabba, Il fascismo a fumetti, Bompiani, Milano 2024

Maddalena Carli, Vedere il fascismo. Arte e politica nelle esposizioni del regime (1928-1942), Carocci, Roma 2020

Francesco Cassata, «La Difesa della razza». Politica, ideologia e immagine del razzismo fascista, Einaudi, Torino 2008

Luciano Cheles, Iconografia della destra. La propaganda figurativa da Almirante a Meloni, Viella, Roma 2023

Simonetta Falasca Zamponi, Lo spettacolo del fascismo, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli 2003

Bianca Gaudenzi, Fascismi in vetrina. Pubblicità e modelli di consumo nel Ventennio e nel Terzo Reich, Viella, Roma 2023

Emilio Gentile, Fascismo di pietra, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2007

Sharon Macdonald, Difficult Heritage. Negotiating the Nazi Past in Nuremberg and Beyond, Routledge, London-New York 2009

Gianmarco Mancosu, Vedere l’impero. L’Istituto Luce e il colonialismo fascista, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2022

Paolo Nicoloso, Mussolini architetto. Propaganda e paesaggio urbano nell’Italia fascista, Einaudi, Torino 2011

Eugenia Paulicelli, La moda nell’Italia fascista. Non solo nero, Dario Cimorelli, Milano 2025 (ed. or. 2004)

Elena Pirazzoli, A partire da ciò che resta. Forme memoriali dal 1945 alle macerie del Muro di Berlino, Diabasis, Parma 2010

Gian Piero Piretto, Gli occhi di Stalin. La cultura visuale sovietica nell’era staliniana, Raffaello Cortina, Milano 2010

Gian Piero Piretto (a cura di), Memorie di pietra. I monumenti delle dittature, Raffaello Cortina, Milano 2014

Sandro Scarrocchia, Albert Speer e Marcello Piacentini. L’architettura del totalitarismo negli anni Trenta, Skira, Milano 1999 (o nuova ed. 2013)

Frederic Spotts, Hitler e il potere dell’estetica, Johan & Levi, Milano 2012

Teaching methods

The course consists of 15 lectures, with the use of Powerpoint and audiovisual materials. Some of the lectures will have a seminar character with the active participation of the students and the presentation of content agreed upon with the lecturer.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

 

Assessment methods

For both attending and non-attending students, the examination will consist of an oral test.

Participation in the seminar activities included in the course will also be taken into account for the assessment of the attending students.

An accurate and thorough knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with good analytical and critical skills and a mastery of the specific language will be assessed with marks of excellence (30-30L).

A solid knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with clear analytical and critical skills and a command of the specific language will be assessed with very good marks (27-29).

A mostly mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, an ability to analyse not always well articulated and/or a correct but not always appropriate language will lead to fair marks (23-26).

Weak analytical skills and approximate or inappropriate language, albeit in a context of minimal knowledge of the examination material, will lead to sufficient marks (18-22).

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

In-depth texts, audiovisual materials and Powerpoint presentations (slides will be uploaded onto the Virtuale platform before each lesson).

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Pasetti