New Yorker sparks debate on Italy's fascist architecture and public memory
An article by Ruth Ben Ghiat, an NYU professor, has ignited debate by examining the presence of fascist-era structures, such as Giuseppe Terragni's Casa del Fascio and the EUR district in Rome, in Italy. She criticizes Fendi's relocation to EUR and draws parallels between Italy's passive stance and France's efforts to eliminate references to Philippe Pétain, as well as the ongoing discussions in the US regarding Confederate monuments after the 2017 Charlottesville incident. Ben Ghiat emphasizes the importance of engaging critically with history rather than erasing it, pointing out the absence of post-war reeducation in Italy compared to Germany. Additionally, she is involved with the planned Museum of Fascism in Predappio, advocating for a cultural perspective on 'dissonant heritage' throughout Europe.
Key facts
- Ruth Ben Ghiat published an article in The New Yorker about Italy's fascist architecture.
- She is a professor of Italian studies at New York University.
- Buildings mentioned include Casa del Fascio in Como, Santa Maria Novella station, EUR, and Asmara.
- Asmara became a UNESCO World Heritage site in summer 2017.
- Fendi moved its headquarters to the EUR area.
- Ben Ghiat compares Italy to France (removal of Pétain references) and the US (Confederate statues after Charlottesville).
- The Charlottesville rally in summer 2017 resulted in one death and about twenty injuries.
- Ben Ghiat does not advocate demolition but critical engagement with monuments.
- Mussolini colonized public space with symbols like busts and statues.
- Artist Rossella Biscotti created 'Le teste in oggetto' (2009) about fascist busts.
- Germany had a cultural reeducation program against Nazism; Italy did not.
- A Museum of Fascism is planned in Predappio's former Casa del Fascio.
- The museum is modeled on Munich's Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism.
- Ben Ghiat is a member of the Predappio museum's scientific committee.
- The committee supports cultural and educational initiatives over repressive measures.
- The article was published in Artribune by Santa Nastro.
Entities
Artists
- Dan Graham
- Germano Celant
- Giuseppe Terragni
- Giuseppe Michelucci
- Rossella Biscotti
- Santa Nastro
Institutions
- New Yorker
- New York University
- Fendi
- UNESCO
- Artribune
- Forlì Today
- Rai
- Centro di Documentazione sulla Storia del Nazionalsocialismo di Monaco di Baviera
Locations
- Faenza
- Italy
- Como
- Florence
- Rome
- EUR
- Bari
- Asmara
- Eritrea
- France
- United States
- Charlottesville
- Predappio
- Munich
- Germany