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Fellini uses a recollection of his youth in his film, Amarcord in order to critique the indifferent attitudes of Italians, while fascism come to power. Many filmmakers of his generation tackled the fascist agenda in their films, but Fellini discussed fascism in a revolutionary way. He focused on the apathy of average Italians in Amarcord, and their apathy can be attributed to fascisms absurdity in Italy.
tagged absurdity amarcord apathy fascism federico fellini film filmmakers generation indifference italy
by lorenyu
...on 10-APR-08
Bosworth, R. J. B. . Mussolini's Italy : life under the dictatorship, 1915-1945 / R.J.B. Bosworth. 1st American ed. 1594200785 series New York : Penguin Books, 2006.
Call#: Van Pelt Library DG571 .B715 2006
Call#: Van Pelt Library DG571 .B715 2006
R.J.B. Bosworth’s chapter “Placing Italy in Europe” discusses the involvement of Italy’s fascist regime with its youth. Italy treasured every victory and death of an enemy and threw a parade for each. The parades were substantial events that were open for all Italians to attend. The parades were frequent and were meant to conjure up a militant, nationalistic pride in one’s country. However, most children did not see them in this way. One man who attended the parades as a young boy actually used the parades as a time to dream of sexual desires. These parades were hardly successful in their intentions. The fascist regime also attempted to influence the youth by establishing relationships between play and war. They marketed toy guns that were exact replicas of the real ones and felt that this would encourage militant desires. Schools taught children in a “fascist manner”, however children were hardly disciplined and most Italians raised their children with warmth tolerance. Most efforts were insignificant and failed to directly relate with children. In a sense, many of the fascist ideas on raising children were absurd. The amount of parading that occurred was overworked and tiresome, and this made each successive parade less and less significant.
The film Amarcord uses humor to bring out the absurdity of Italian fascism. To Italians, fascism was hardly a matter to be taken seriously. They were disinterested and unconcerned when the fascist regime gained power, because they did not think it could become much of an influence on their lives. Certainly, the fascist regime’s use of parades and toy guns as a way to inspire militant sensations was absurd.
The film Amarcord uses humor to bring out the absurdity of Italian fascism. To Italians, fascism was hardly a matter to be taken seriously. They were disinterested and unconcerned when the fascist regime gained power, because they did not think it could become much of an influence on their lives. Certainly, the fascist regime’s use of parades and toy guns as a way to inspire militant sensations was absurd.
belongs to Fellini's Amarcord and Fascism in Italy project
tagged absurdity fascism italy upbringing youth by lorenyu ...and 1 other person ...on 10-APR-08
tagged absurdity fascism italy upbringing youth by lorenyu ...and 1 other person ...on 10-APR-08
Wheatcroft, Geoffrey. “Sham and Bluster; An epic history helps explain why the Italians never took fascism entirely seriously.” The Washington Post 9 April 2006. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040601748.html>
Geoffrey Wheatcroft picks apart R.J.B. Bosworth’s book Life under the Fascist Dictatorship, 1915-1945 in his article “Sham and Buster; An epic history helps explain why the Italians never took fascism entirely seriously”. In his analysis of the book, he resolves to call Italian fascism something of a farce. In comparison to Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, totalitarian rule in Italy was laid-back. He credits this to the Italian proclivity towards not taking politics seriously. This tendency makes Italy’s history with fascism almost humorous. Bosworth’s book points out Mussolini’s failures after declaring war on France and England, Italy’s failure to recognize Libya’s vast oil fields after ruling the country for decades and how one fascist leader became one of the first fatalities in the war after his plane was brought down by an Italian anti-aircraft weapon. Hitler once said the Italians never had their hearts in fascism and “the excessive warmth of family relations there overwhelms all the rest.” Wheatcroft regards Italy as a timid, insignificant force in their run-in with fascism.
Geoffrey Wheatcroft has pulled out points from R.J.B. Bosworth’s non-fiction and embellished them with conclusions of his own. His sentiments draw parallels to Federico Fellini’s Amarcord. Fellini’s film uses humor in a way to mock and ridicule fascist ideals. The film was in fact very critical of fascism, whether intentional or not, and the humor plays with fascism’s absurdity. Wheatcroft instead ridicules Italy’s dabble with fascism. Many Italians failed to take fascism too seriously, and in a way, this had to do with the absurdity of it. Wheatcroft also discusses the nonchalant attitude of Italians towards politics. Similarly, Fellini’s film focuses much attention on the everyday, care-free attitudes of a small, isolated community of Italians.
Geoffrey Wheatcroft picks apart R.J.B. Bosworth’s book Life under the Fascist Dictatorship, 1915-1945 in his article “Sham and Buster; An epic history helps explain why the Italians never took fascism entirely seriously”. In his analysis of the book, he resolves to call Italian fascism something of a farce. In comparison to Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, totalitarian rule in Italy was laid-back. He credits this to the Italian proclivity towards not taking politics seriously. This tendency makes Italy’s history with fascism almost humorous. Bosworth’s book points out Mussolini’s failures after declaring war on France and England, Italy’s failure to recognize Libya’s vast oil fields after ruling the country for decades and how one fascist leader became one of the first fatalities in the war after his plane was brought down by an Italian anti-aircraft weapon. Hitler once said the Italians never had their hearts in fascism and “the excessive warmth of family relations there overwhelms all the rest.” Wheatcroft regards Italy as a timid, insignificant force in their run-in with fascism.
Geoffrey Wheatcroft has pulled out points from R.J.B. Bosworth’s non-fiction and embellished them with conclusions of his own. His sentiments draw parallels to Federico Fellini’s Amarcord. Fellini’s film uses humor in a way to mock and ridicule fascist ideals. The film was in fact very critical of fascism, whether intentional or not, and the humor plays with fascism’s absurdity. Wheatcroft instead ridicules Italy’s dabble with fascism. Many Italians failed to take fascism too seriously, and in a way, this had to do with the absurdity of it. Wheatcroft also discusses the nonchalant attitude of Italians towards politics. Similarly, Fellini’s film focuses much attention on the everyday, care-free attitudes of a small, isolated community of Italians.
belongs to Fellini's Amarcord and Fascism in Italy project
tagged absurdity fascism humor indifference italy mussolini by lorenyu ...on 10-APR-08
tagged absurdity fascism humor indifference italy mussolini by lorenyu ...on 10-APR-08