Fascism in Popular Memory: The Cultural Experience of the Turin Working Class (Studies in Modern Capitalism)

This book is based on the oral life histories of about 70 men and women workers, born between the end of the last century and 1920, which are combined with sources such as police reports, documentary films and judicial documents. The interviewees recount their visions of life, of history, and of themselves; they call to memory the fascist period, and the ambivalent relationship between the Duce and the masses. A picture of resistance emerges, through such minor episodes as jokes and graffiti, wearing a red tie or whistling an old socialist tune, and through major issues such as abortions carried out in direct opposition to state propaganda. Acquiescence is also recalled, however, in the enrolment of children in fascist youth organisations or in the use of new state-controlled social services. The final chapter reconstructs an event that acquired great symbolic meaning: the eloquent and unexpected silence of the Fiat workers before Mussolini in 1939 at the inauguration of the Miraflori factory. Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 2 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 1 Oral sources and the historical study of culture......Page 12 2 The stages of research......Page 15 3 The interviewees......Page 21 I - ORAL SOURCES AND THE ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL IDENTITIES......Page 28 2 A double representation of self......Page 30 3 `We were born Socialists'......Page 34 4 Irreverence......Page 36 5 Women's traditions......Page 39 6 The mask of the fool......Page 43 7 A choice of poverty......Page 45 8 Other life-choices......Page 48 9 The worker as `demiurge'......Page 53 10 Upward mobility......Page 57 11 The many meanings of work......Page 59 12 Forms of identification with the work process and production......Page 62 13 Knowing how to amuse oneself......Page 66 14 Concluding hypotheses......Page 70 II - ORAL SOURCES AND THE HISTORY OF GRASS-ROOTS CULTURAL FORMS......Page 76 1 The memory of Fascism......Page 78 2 Everyday political speech......Page 81 3 Resistance to the language of totalitarianism......Page 85 4 Song......Page 91 5 Laughter......Page 96 6 The popular comic tradition......Page 104 7 Clean-up (Bonifica) and Vendetta......Page 107 8 The appropriation of red......Page 112 9 Representations of Mussolini and of the Fascists......Page 117 10 Fascism and popular culture......Page 123 11 Cultural identity and Fascism as evil......Page 133 III - ORAL SOURCES AND THE HISTORY OF THE EVENTS OF EVERYDAY LIFE......Page 138 1 The values of order......Page 140 2 Differences in standards of living......Page 144 3 Mediations......Page 149 4 Public/private......Page 155 1 Recollections of the campaign to raise the birth-rate......Page 161 2 Birth-control practices......Page 168 3 Fiora's story......Page 178 4 Features of abortion in the Fascist period......Page 185 1 The tradition......Page 194 2 An account of the events......Page 200 3 Symbolic meanings......Page 206 Appendix......Page 212 Notes......Page 220 Index......Page 253 This Book Is Based On The Oral Life Histories Of About 70 Men And Women Workers, Born Between The End Of The Last Century And 1920, Which Are Combined With Sources Such As Police Reports, Documentary Films And Judicial Documents. The Interviewees Recount Their Visions Of Life, Of History, And Of Themselves; They Call To Memory The Fascist Period, And The Ambivalent Relationship Between The Duce And The Masses. A Picture Of Resistance Emerges, Through Such Minor Episodes As Jokes And Graffiti, Wearing A Red Tie Or Whistling An Old Socialist Tune, And Through Major Issues Such As Abortions Carried Out In Direct Opposition To State Propaganda. Acquiescence Is Also Recalled, However, In The Enrollment Of Children In Fascist Youth Organisations Or In The Use Of New State-controlled Social Services. The Final Chapter Reconstructs An Event Which Acquired Great Symbolic Meaning: The Eloquent And Unexpected Silence Of The Fiat Workers Before Mussolini In 1939 At The Inauguration Of The Miraflori Factory. Preface; Introduction; Part I. Oral Sources And The Analysis Of Cultural Identities: 1. Memories Of Self- Autobiography And Self-representation; Part Ii. Oral Sources And The History Of Grass-roots Cultural Forms: 2. Fascism And The Symbolic Order In Everyday Life; Part Iii. Oral Sources And The History Of The Events Of Everyday Life: 3. Forms Of Social Acceptance Of Fascism; 4. Resistance To Demographic Policy; 5. Mussolini's Visit To Mirafiori; Appendix; Notes; Index. Luisa Passerini ; Translated By Robert Lumley And Jude Bloomfield. Translation Of: Torino Operaia E Fascismo. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 209-241.

This book is based on the oral life histories of about 70 men and women workers, born between the end of the last century and 1920, which are combined with sources such as police reports, documentary films and judicial documents. The interviewees recount their visions of life, of history, and of themselves; they call to memory the fascist period, and the ambivalent relationship between the Duce and the masses. A picture of resistence emerges, through such minor episodes as jokes and graffiti, wearing a red tie or whistling an old socialist tune, and through major issues such as abortions carried out in direct opposition to state propaganda. Acquiescence is also recalled, however, in the enrollment of children in fascist youth organisations or in the use of new state-controlled social services. The final chapter reconstructs an event which acquired great symbolic meaning: the eloquent and unexpected silence of the Fiat workers before Mussolini in 1939 at the inauguration of the Miraflori factory.

This book is based on the oral life histories of about 70 men and women workers from Turin, born between the end of the 19th century and 1920. The interviewees recount their visions of life, of history, and of themselves as they call to memory the fascist period, and the ambivalent relationship between Benitto Mussolini and the masses