Cinema and Fascism: Italian Film and Society, 1922–1943University of California Press, 2008 M02 1 - 248 pages This study considers Italian filmmaking during the Fascist era and offers an original and revealing approach to the interwar years. Steven Ricci directly confronts a long-standing dilemma faced by cultural historians: while made during a period of totalitarian government, these films are neither propagandistic nor openly "Fascist." Instead, the Italian Fascist regime attempted to build ideological consensus by erasing markers of class and regional difference and by circulating terms for an imaginary national identity. Cinema and Fascism investigates the complex relationship between the totalitarian regime and Italian cinema. It looks at the films themselves, the industry, and the role of cinema in daily life, and offers new insights into this important but neglected period in cinema history. |
Contents
1 | |
1 Amnesia and Historical Memory | 19 |
2 The Political Economy of Italian Cinema 19221943 | 52 |
3 Leisure Time Historiography and Spectatorship | 77 |
Fascination and ReNegotiation | 125 |
5 The Fascist Codex | 156 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
activities agency American appear attempted audiences authority begin body Camerini’s capital character cinema italiano companies construction contemporary context continued critical cultural decade describes differences direct discussion distribution early economic effect entire establishment example experience fact fascist Fascist Italy fictional film industry film’s first force foreign Frame Giovanni given hand Hollywood identity ideological important industry initially institutional Italian cinema Italian film Italy Italy’s limited literally located LUCE major mass means Milano Mussolini narrative newsreels organization original participation particular period political popular position practices presented Press production question reading refer regime regime’s regional relationship representation represented role Roma Roman Rome seen significant social speak specific star state’s status structure suggested texts textual tion traditional train University