The pieces exhibited at metropole/colony: Africa and Italy
portrays the citizens of Italy as fully devoted and involved with the fascist
government. The exhibit shows the sacrifices and the persuasive methods that
the people are exposed to during the time of the fascist regime. By sacrificing
their personal possessions and even their children to the government, the people
showed their loyalty to Mussolini.
Citizens during that time respond to threats and punishment
if they choose a different path. While adults may no longer believe and want to
be a part of the fascist government, the punishment for having other beliefs
were harsh, therefore people lived in fear of the government, in fear of
expressing other values. These methods of persuasion lead people to sacrifice even
their most valuable possessions, from a meaningful object like their gold rings
to their children.
It is of no surprise that children can be greatly influenced
and "brainwashed" to support and be a part of anything while at a
very tender age. This is where the Italian government took advantage of a
child's nurturing and taught that the fascist movement was the better future
for Italy. it taught that fascism was a better way of life and that it is a
natural way of living. It taught that for a man, violence and war was just as
natural as giving birth. Starting at the age of 8 children in Italy were
enrolled in what was called the Balilla, a pre military service which
introduced children into the fascist beliefs. This example is shown in the
painting "Agro Pontino Redento," where the artist shows the workers
sacrificing themselves, working for the benefit of the government while the
child in the Balilla uniform symbolizes the sacrifice and participation of the
children in the fascist movement. Not targeting a child's mind, but targeting
their imagination and fantasy, the government took them on "radio
voyages" through the empire with their broadcasts, and told them about the
great future ahead. These are the fascist of the future.
The depiction of children in a painting or a poster in the
fascist propaganda became effective in the sense that children were being used
as bate in order to influence others towards fascism. The children being forced to participate in the balilla and
other government organizations to become the fascist of the future, and at the
same time they become the propaganda for the fascist government.
2 comments:
The perspective you took on the exhibit and the situation presented is interesting. I find the painting you posted particularly valid for making your point. It is as if the adults are lost and worth nothing more than for labor, and as a support system for the fascists of tomorrow. The adults work to give their children and idealized better future. Also there is a sense that the child in a way is overseeing the adults work, as if he is aware that they are working for him.
I disagree with you on negative tone of the compulsory labor and the fascist education. I think it was more a matter of agitation in order to bring up Italian identity and firmly unite the country, based of imperial values of the regime. In fact, I didn’t find much of a fear among adults, after reading that only 10% of the number, expected by fascist party, unemployed Northern Italians, actually went to Africa to settle down. (http://dictionary.sensagent.com/italian+east+africa/en-en/) Either I didn’t see the evidence of forcing Italian children to join Balilla. The military patriotic propaganda is a common practice for the cadets training in many countries.
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