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The iconic body: Mussolini unclothed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2016

Alessandra Antola Swan
Alessandra Antola Swan*
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway University of London
*
*Email: aleantolaswan@outlook.com
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Abstract

The body partially disrobed as a visual strategy for self-branding is the theme of this article. During Fascism, photography, in synergy with the communications industry ante-literam, was an essential part of the construction of the cult of the leader that transformed the figure of Mussolini into an icon. Mussolini’s partial nudity is considered here as a powerful political tool. The Duce, in anticipation of our celebrities today, did not hesitate to undress and display his torso in what Valerie Sperling calls ‘iconic public-relations stunts’ that were both exhibitionistic and voyeuristic (Sperling 2014, 21). Deconstructing the visual language of Fascist propaganda that made the man into a myth, this article illustrates the most iconic aspects of Mussolini’s visual strategy, demonstrating his innovative capacity to take advantage of a modern attitude towards self-representation, similar to that adopted by today’s heads of state.

Italian summary

Il corpo parzialmente svestito, come strategia visiva per il self-branding, è il tema di questo articolo. Durante il Ventennio, la fotografia viene utilizzata nella costruzione del culto del duce, come parte essenziale nello sforzo sinergico di un’industria della comunicazione ante litteram, che trasforma la figura di Mussolini in un'icona. La nudità di Mussolini viene qui considerata come un suggestivo e potente strumento politico. Il duce, pari alle celebrità contemporanee, non esita a esibire il corpo attraverso una rappresentazione esibizionistica e voyeuristica. Attraverso una destrutturazione del linguaggio visivo di propaganda, che rende il corpo dell’uomo un mito, l’articolo illustra gli aspetti piu’ iconici del fenomeno, dimostrando la capacità innovativa del dittatore di sfruttare un atteggiamento moderno verso l'auto-rappresentazione, simile a quello adottato dai capi di Stato occidentali contemporanei.

Keywords

Mussolinipropagandaphotographypoliticsleadershipsymbolismcorporealityunclothediconicity
Type
Research Article
Information
Modern Italy , Volume 21 , Special Issue 4: Special Issue: Iconic Images in Modern Italy: Politics, Culture and Society , November 2016 , pp. 361 - 381
Copyright
© 2016 Association for the Study of Modern Italy 

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