Suchergebnisse

The essay is aimed to discuss the way in which the fascist government used the "Roman myth." The Italian fascism, mainly during the 30's, lacking in a clear-cut ideological framework, began to use imagery, myths & rites taken from the Roman heritage to prop up confidence & to shape a collective identity. This is noticeable in the cultural & demographic policies pursued by the regime as well as in those related to farming & public works. In regard to the latter, Rome in particular underwent massive public works to be turned in a stage-set for Mussolini & the fascist establishment, thus forsaking monarchic symbolism that had been the rather predominant architectural mark of the capital until then. As Emilio Gentile pointed out "the regime intended to bear a "new Italian," moulded after the body of the Duce, seen as a modern Roman legionnaire." Such an interpretation stirred a good deal of dissent among historians. Some of them (Vidotto, Zunino) assessed that such policies were utterly ineffective, others (Giardina) argued over their cultural flimsiness. Adapted from the source document.