Resisting the Tide
Cultures of Opposition Under Berlusconi (2001-06)
Published on 9. July 2009
Book
Hardback
270 pages
978-0-8264-9291-3 (ISBN)
Description
Focussing on his term as Prime Minister from 2001-06, this scholarly volume provides the first assessment of how the neo-conservative values attributed to Berlusconi were contested and resisted by a variety of groups. The continuing influence of the controversial figure of Silvio Berlusconi on contemporary Italian life, culture and politics is beyond question. Focussing on his term as Prime Minister, this volume assesses how the neo-conservative values attributed to Berlusconi were contested and resisted by social/minority movements, intellectuals (radical and moderate) and media practitioners. Edited by members of the Centre for European Languages and Cultures at the University of Birmingham, and bringing together academics in Britain, Ireland, the US and Italy, it has an international perspective. Analysis investigates how resistance to the new conservative culture has been articulated, and how this has been expressed and explained by those involved.
This interdisciplinary volume is divided into three (overlapping) areas: contemporary Italian politics (including the evolution of left and right, unions vs government; the G8 in Genoa and the anti-war movement); cultural texts (including films and documentaries, television programmes, novels and theatre; and experiences (the voices and practices of those who have opposed neo-conservative values from within the cultural industries and identity movements). Wide-ranging, innovative and challenging, this volume should appeal to all those who have an interest in Italy, in politics, in culture and cultural studies.
This interdisciplinary volume is divided into three (overlapping) areas: contemporary Italian politics (including the evolution of left and right, unions vs government; the G8 in Genoa and the anti-war movement); cultural texts (including films and documentaries, television programmes, novels and theatre; and experiences (the voices and practices of those who have opposed neo-conservative values from within the cultural industries and identity movements). Wide-ranging, innovative and challenging, this volume should appeal to all those who have an interest in Italy, in politics, in culture and cultural studies.
Reviews / Votes
"This volume provides a very valuable catalogue of the opposition to Berlusconi which has formed over the last 15 years in Italian politics, society, and the cultural and entertainment industries. Its examination is as accurate and exhaustive as it is fragmentary; exactly like the opposition itself. It is a useful contribution for helping us understand not just that there isn't only Berlusconi in Italy, but also why his political success continues to grow." --Ilvo Diamanti, Professor of Political Science at the University of Urbino "Carlo Bo" "The high and long-lasting tide of berlusconismo seems almost irresistible. Perhaps this is because Berlusconi really does represent large sectors of Italian society. As many of the contributors to this indispensable book document and argue, cultures of opposition in Italy are fragmented and prove unable to coalesce into serious political and parliamentary opposition. This excellent collection of essays focuses on all types of cultural, intellectual, and media resistance to the popular-populist tide." --Gianfranco Pasquino, Professor of Political Science at the University of Bologna and at the Johns Hopkins Bologna CenterMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
573 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8264-9291-3 (9780826492913)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Charlotte Ross studied at Cambridge and Oxford Universities before completing a PhD at Warwick. She is currently co-editing a volume of essays on modern Italian culture and society Daniele Albertazzi teaches at the University of Birmingham where he leads the 'Culture, Society and Communication' programmes. He has published several books in the areas of national identities, west european politics and the media. Clodagh Brook is lecturer in Italian cinema and 20th century literature at the University of Birmingham.
Content
1. Introduction; Part 1: Political contexts; 2. Italy during the Berlusconi years; 3. Moving back to the centre?; 4. Still too many chiefs and not enough Indians: infighting on the left; 5. Social opposition to the Italin neo-cons: the Unions, i girotondi and the no-global movement; 6. Resisting the tide: identity movements in the age of Berlusconi; Part 2: Texts; 7. The changing face of the media; 8. The cinema of resistance; 9. Case study of specific television programmes; 10. Liberi tutti? Taking pride in queer subjectivity; 11. Case study of novels: how the collective authorial label enabled voices of dissent to be heard.; 12. An exploration of the role music has played as the voice of dissent.; Part 3: Idenities and experiences; 13. Working in RAI; 14. The theatrics of Beppe Rosso; 15. Muslim associations in Italy; 16. Italian feminism; Conclusion: Italy in the new century.