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The (D)Evolution of Political Communication in Italy: Beppe

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The (D)Evolution of Political Communication in Italy: Beppe ACTAACTA UNIVERSITATIS UNIVERSITATIS LODZIENSIS LODZIENSIS ACTA UNIVERSITATIS LODZIENSIS FoliaFolia Litteraria Litteraria Polonica Polonica 3(58) 2(57) 2020 2020 Folia Litteraria Polonica 2(57) 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.18778/1505-9057.58.27http://dx.doi.org/10.18778/1505-9057.57.01 http://dx.doi.org/10.18778/1505-9057.57.01 ACTA UNIVERSITATIS LODZIENSIS Folia Litteraria Polonica 2(57) 2020 * Marcin Kępiński* Łukasz Marcinhttp://dx.doi.org/10.18778/1505-9057.57.01 JKępińskian Berezowski* https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4367-3224 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4367-3224https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5312-5451 ArturMarcin Gałkowski** Kępiński* The Thehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4367-3224https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2471-0886 wall wall of of silence silence surrounding surrounding literatureliterature and and remembrance: remembrance: TheVarlamVarlam (d)evolutionwallS halamov’sofShalamov’s silence of ArtificialsurroundingpoliticalArtificial Limbs, Limbs, Etc. Etc. communicationasliteratureasaa m metaphoretaphor and remembrance: of inof the Italy: the soviet soviet empire empire BeppeVarlam Grillo’sShalamov’s case Artificial Limbs, Etc. The camp solitary confinement block was old and decrepit. It looked as if a wall The camp solitary confinement block was old and decrepit. It looked as if a wall as amight m falletaphor down, the whole of block the crumble, soviet and the beams empire collapse, if you just In themight 21st fall century, down, togetherthe whole with block the crumble, rapid widespread and the beams of social collapse, media if andyou justdigital knocked against a wooden cell wall. But the solitary confinement block wasn’t go- communication,knocked against political a wooden parties cell wall. and But their the solitaryleaders confinement have started block to make wasn’t usego- of ing to fall, and the seven cell blocks went on doing their job. Of course, any word moderningThe to camp technologiesfall, andsolitary the seven confinementto support cell blocks conventionalblock went wason olddoing representation.and their decrepit. job. Of It course,looked Following anyas if word a Silvio wall Berlusconi’sspoken resignation loudly would in be 2011, heard the in Italy’s the neighbouring political scene cell. has But seen those an who immediate were impris re-- spokenmight fall loudly down, would the be whole heard block in the crumble, neighbouring 1and thecell. beamsBut those collapse, who were if you impris just- oned there were afraid of being punished.1 evaluationonedknocked there which, against were after afraida wooden theof being subsequentcell wall.punished. But governments the solitary confinement of both center-left block wasn’t and gocenter-- righting coalitions to fall, and lasting the seven until cell 2018, blocks has went brought on doing about their significantjob. Of course, changes any word to the The citizens of the 1 USSR always feared punishment – sometimes more, sometimes traditionalThespoken citizens loudly party ofwould system. the beUSSR heard One always ofin thethem feared neighbouring involved punishment the cell. appearance But– sometimes those who of werea newmore, imprissometimes political- less. They did not complain. They made1 sure not to displease the authorities. They group,less.oned They the there did‘Five were not Stars afraidcomplain. Movement’ of being They punished. (translated made sure literallynot to displease from Italian: the authorities. Movimento They kept silent. During the years of the Great Purge, people did not talk to each other in Cinquekept silent. Stelle During, hereinafter the years abbreviatedof the Great Purge,as 5SM) people led didby notBeppe talk Grillo,to each comedian other in raised voices; they spoke quietly about insignificant matters and without giving any andraisedThe TV voices; citizenspersonality they of thespoke who USSR quietly gathered always about fearedan insignificantenormous punishment confidence matters– sometimes and of without nearlymore, sometimes9giving millions any of Italiannames. votersIn public in thetransport, early parliamentary on the underground, election and of in2013 Moscow disappointed’s streets byyou the could names.less. They In publicdid not transport, complain. on theThey underground, made sure notand to 2in displease Moscow ’thes streets authorities. you could They not hear any conversations. Silence was pervasive.2 Some of the still free poets, e.g. existingnotkept hear silent. politicalany During conversations. leadership the years Silenceofwithin the Great waslast pervasive.twenty-five Purge, people Some years did of not ofthe the talk still so-called to free each poets, other‘Second e.g. in Republic’.Anna Akhmatova, That record burnt was brokentheir poems in the sopolls that of they 2018 cannot when fallGrillo’s into partythe hands not only of in - Annaraised Akhmatova,voices; they spokeburnt quietlytheir poems about soinsignificant that they cannot matters fall and into without the hands giving of inany- 3 vestigators, while imprisoned writers, e.g. Shalamov, were sentenced to be forgotten.3 improvedvestigators,names. In publicand while rose transport,imprisoned up to 10.5on writers, themillions underground, e.g. ofShalamov, votes, and but were in also Moscow sentenced entered’s streets to the be forgotten. governingyou could cabinetnot hear with any Luigiconversations. Di Maio asSilence deputy was prime pervasive. minister.2 Some of the still free poets, e.g. * Professor of the University of Lodz, Ph.D. hab.; University of Lodz, Faculty of Philosophy and * Professor of the University of Lodz, Ph.D. hab.; University of Lodz, Faculty of Philosophy and Anna Akhmatova,History, Institute burnt of Ethnologytheir poems and so Cultural that they Anthropology; cannot fall ul. Lindleyainto the 3/5, hands 90-131 of Łódź;in- -mar History, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology; ul. Lindleya 3/5, 90-131 Łódź; 3-mar *vestigators, Ph.D.,[email protected] Assistant while imprisonedProfessor of Universitywriters, e.g. of Lodz,Shalamov, Faculty were of Philology, sentenced Department to be forgotten. of Italian [email protected] 1Studies; W. Szałamow, e-mail: [email protected] “Protezy”, [in:] Opowiadania kołymskie, vol. II, trans. J. Baczyński, Wydawnictwo AT- 1 W. Szałamow, “Protezy”, [in:] Opowiadania kołymskie, vol. II, trans. J. Baczyński, Wydawnictwo AT- *** Ph.D.,ProfessorEXT, hab., Gdańsk of Associate the 1991,University pp. Professor 249–251. of Lodz, of[English UniversityPh.D. version: hab.; ofUniversity V.Lodz, Shalamov, Faculty of Lodz, Komyla of Philology,Faculty Tales, NYRBof DepartmentPhilosophy Classics, and2018.] of EXT, Gdańsk 1991, pp. 249–251. [English version: V. Shalamov, Komyla Tales, NYRB Classics, 2018.] 2ItalianH istory,Vide: Studies; Institute O. Figes, e-mail: S ofzepty. Ethnology [email protected] Życie w andstalinowskiej Cultural Rosji Anthropology;, trans. Wł. ul. Jeżewski, Lindleya Wydawnictwo 3/5, 90-131 Łódź; Magnum, -mar 2 Vide: O. Figes, Szepty. Życie w stalinowskiej Rosji, trans. Wł. Jeżewski, Wydawnictwo Magnum, 1 See: [email protected] Ł.J. Berezowski, 2008, “A pp. S emiotic215–266. Analysis of Italy's Political Discourse. Silvio Berlusconi's Case”, Warszawa 2008, pp. 215–266. 1 3[in]:W . Szałamow, VCurrentide: D. Perspectives Szkoła,“Protezy”, “Zakładniczka [in:] in OSemiotics.powiadania historii”, Text,kołymskie Genres,[in:], vol.Zmiany, and II, trans. Representation metamorfozy, J. Baczyński,, eds. rewolucje Wydawnictwo M. Kopytowska,, M. Czapiga, AT- 3 Vide: D. Szkoła, “Zakładniczka historii”, [in:] Zmiany, metamorfozy, rewolucje, M. Czapiga, A.EXT, Gałkowski,K. GdańskKonarska 1991, Peter (eds.), pp. Lang 249–251. Wydawnictwo GmbH, [English Berlin version:Uniwersytetu 2018, pp.V. Shalamov, 157–174. Wrocławskiego, Komyla Tales Wrocław, NYRB Classics, 2018, pp. 2018.] 25–35. 2 K.Vide:Konarska O. Figes, (eds.), Szepty. Wydawnictwo Życie w stalinowskiej Uniwersytetu Rosji, trans.Wrocławskiego, Wł. Jeżewski, Wrocław Wydawnictwo 2018, pp. Magnum, 25–35. Warszawa 2008, pp. 215–266. 3 Vide: D. Szkoła, “Zakładniczka historii”, [in:] Zmiany, metamorfozy, rewolucje, M. Czapiga, K. Konarska (eds.), Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego, Wrocław 2018, pp. 25–35. 518 Łukasz Jan Berezowski, Artur Gałkowski In the present article we aim to analyze, in both political and linguistic terms, the phenomenon of a virtual party initially without a structured organization that subsequently conquered Italian citizens notwithstanding generational and ideological differences among them. In particular, the object of the research shall be dedicated to the figure of its charismatic leader explored in the perspective of both verbal and non-verbal communication. Historical background Founded earlier in 2009, the 5SM came to the top league of the Italian political scene only in May of 2012. It is the first time when such an unexpected victory in both local and regional elections has been experienced. The success was doubled later that year when Grillo’s political project was ranked the first in the regional voting in Sicily, and even the most disbelieving commentators started to think (or, actually, to worry) that the 5SM might play an important role in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. A year prior to that, very few political observers noticed the existence of the initiative and considered it as both evanescent and significantly irrelevant. It was headed by Beppe Grillo, a comedian and actor with an uncommon professional career. After several years of popular appearances
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