Ital 219 Final
Fascism -
What were the two political parties in Italy after WWI? - The Catholic Popular Party and the Socialist Party
What happened to the Socialist Party after WWI? - there was a schism
What new party emerged from the Socialist Party? - The New Communist Party
What year was the New Communist Party formed? - 1921
What year was the March on Rome? - 1922
Why was the March on Rome successful? - King Vittorio Emanuele did not stop them because he feared resistance would cause his fascist duke cousin to try to overthrow him. (Better to keep Mussolini quiet and happy)
What position did Mussolini take up after the March on Rome? - Prime Minister
What does EUR stand for? - Esposizione Universale Roma
What was EUR42 for? - It was a complex made to host the 1942 World Fair in Rome, to display the power of fascist Italy (20 yr anniversary of March on Rome), but it was never properly utilized because of the war
What is neoclassicism in Italy? - a blend of modern architectural rationalism and Roman Imperial design
Why are the Tremiti Islands significant? - the islands that homosexual men were sent to during the fascist movement (along with concentration camps)
What was the Foro Italico? - A forum designed to be a sports complex, representing the importance of physical strength in Italian men
What is Ponte Flaminio? - a bridge designed during fascist Italy to connect roads over the Tiber and celebrate the power of the fascist party (originally named after the date of the March on Rome)
What are the Palazzi Federici? - apartment buildings made for the lower class, show the fascist party’s disregard for the wellbeing of the lower class (tight squeeze, bad conditions) and need to control the lower class (glass staircases)
Which film featured the Palazzi Federici? - Una Giornata Particolare
Which university was founded under the fascist party? - La Sapienza, The University of Rome
What makes La Sapienza special? - it is the largest university in Europe, it is a public university (importance of education for men during fascism), and it is (to this day) cheap to attend
What is Cinecitta? - A film studio created under the fascists that allowed Mussolini to create high-quality propaganda films
Which period of Italian history was deemed unimportant by the fascists? - The Middle Ages
What is the key characteristic of rationalism in Italian architecture? - straight lines
Who designed the Palazzi Federici? - Mario de Renzi
What are the nicknames for the Foro Italico? - Stadio dei Marmi (Stadium of Marbles) and Foro Mussolini
What did Via dei Fori Imperiali do? - connects Piazza Venezia (Mussolini’s headquarters) to the Colosseum (went over different forums)
Why is Largo Argentina significant? - the medieval church of San Nicola ai Cesarini was destroyed to uncover it
Why is Via Della Conciliazione significant? - destroyed the Borgo neighborhood to create a clear area/view of the Vatican
What is the purpose of the Lateran Treaties? - establish the Pope as in charge of the church, and Mussolini as in charge of Italy.
Why is Via del Mare significant? - its construction caused the destruction of the Medieval Piazza Montanara
What were the main fascist values (4)? - hypernationalism, strength (among men), family values (women in the home), and emphasis on youth
What were Mussolini’s perspectives on foreign policy (4)? - Participation in the Spanish Civil War, invasion of North Africa, alliance with Hitler, entry into WWII
What year did Mussolini involve Italy in the Spanish Civil War? - 1936
What year did Italy enter WWII? - 1940
How did Mussolini get arrested? - King Vittorio Emmanuele invited him over to talk, but had an ambulance on sight to arrest him
Who freed Mussolini from his arrest? - the German Nazis
How did Mussolini escape? - disguised as a woman with his mistress
Who killed Mussolini? - The partisans
Who were the partisans during WWII? - An Italian antifascist group
What is a referendum? - a direct vote by the people
What was special about the referendum after WWII? - Italian women were able to vote for the first time
Which form of government did the Italian people choose in the referendum? - Republic (no longer a monarchy)
Neorealism -
What is the nickname of Neorealism? - the cinema against the silence
When did the neorealist movement begin? - Started in 1943, but began to flourish after WWII
Who are some notable neorealist directors (6)? - Vittorio De Sica, Roberto Rossellini, Cesare Zavattini, Luchino Visconti, Pietro Germi, and Federico Fellini
What are some characteristics of neorealism (5)? - The plot as an enemy, the message of human solidarity as a form of anti-fascist resistance, popular settings (including suburbs), the cinema showing fact, and interest for the problems of the new social world and political conflicts
What are some common themes of neorealist movies (2)? - solitude and oldness (Umberto D), social problems of Italy
What was the main criticism of neorealist film (2)? - Cinema is for relief & escape, these films are being made too soon after the war (too pessimistic)
How does neorealism function as a moral position? - cinema is not art but a message of real life (reality) and therefore is a direct commentary on the issues of real life; the camera brings to light facts that were previously covered by silence
Pier Paolo Pasolini -
What were Pier Paolo Pasolini’s main disciplines? - poetry, novels, cinema, politics, journalism
What were Pasolini’s thoughts on religion & politics? - believed that “communism is not contrary to Christian values”
What are the 3 aspects of Pasolini’s anthropological mutation theory? - homologation (such as of goods, language, & behavior) is destroying local culture, consumeristic culture is harming society, and widespread television use is also leading towards less diverse goals & ambitions (conformism)
How does the television cause struggle? - people’s needs and desires are homogenized, but not their resources. Therefore, anger and frustration festered in those who are disadvantaged.
Migration -
Who directed the documentary Fuocoammare? - Gianfranco Rosi
What are the points of the voyage? - From Libya to the island of Lampedusa
How many people have tried to take this crossing? - more than 400,000
What is the significance of the boy’s lazy eye? - The lazy eye is a metaphor for the people of the world turning a blind eye to this migration issue
Contemporary Rome -
Who directed The Great Beauty? - Paolo Sorrentino
What is The Great Beauty’s message about Roem today (2)? - Superficiality among the upper class of modern Rome, the modern lack of culture and values is in great contrast to the church