ITALYITALYAT THE TURNAT THE TURNOF THE 20thOF THE 20th

CENTURYCENTURYA presentation byA presentation by

Istituto Magistrale Statale “E.De Amicis” – CUNEO (Italy)Istituto Magistrale Statale “E.De Amicis” – CUNEO (Italy)

COMENIUSCOMENIUSPROJECT MEETINGPROJECT MEETING

HELSINKIHELSINKI2 - 6 October 20062 - 6 October 2006

At the turn of the At the turn of the 20th century,20th century,

Italy had still an Italy had still an agricultural economy agricultural economy

suffering a high suffering a high emigration rate from emigration rate from

its impoverished its impoverished areas: it’s worth areas: it’s worth noting that in the noting that in the thirty years up to thirty years up to

1915, thirteen and a 1915, thirteen and a half million italians half million italians emigrated, settlingemigrated, settlingall over the world.all over the world.

At the same time, the country experienced a rapid At the same time, the country experienced a rapid process of industrialization, centredprocess of industrialization, centred

in the north-western regions around the so-called in the north-western regions around the so-called industrial triangle, that is Milan, Turin and Genoa.industrial triangle, that is Milan, Turin and Genoa.

For instance, we had many car-makers springing up, For instance, we had many car-makers springing up, such as FIAT, Alfa Romeo, Lancia,such as FIAT, Alfa Romeo, Lancia,

Isotta Fraschini, Bugatti ...Isotta Fraschini, Bugatti ...

This led to a new working class which swelled the This led to a new working class which swelled the ranks of the powerful Socialist Party,ranks of the powerful Socialist Party,

fighting for their interestsfighting for their interestsagainst the ruling Liberal Party,against the ruling Liberal Party,

in power since the Italian unification in 1861.in power since the Italian unification in 1861.

The Liberal Party had its social base among the The Liberal Party had its social base among the upper middle-class, but in this periodupper middle-class, but in this period

realized the need for change, to prevent a class realized the need for change, to prevent a class conflict. In fact it found in Giovanni Giolitti the manconflict. In fact it found in Giovanni Giolitti the man

capable of balancing the needscapable of balancing the needsof industrialists and the workers.of industrialists and the workers.

During his terms as Prime Minister, for the first time During his terms as Prime Minister, for the first time the State refused to intervene to crush strikes. He the State refused to intervene to crush strikes. He

also nationalized the railwaysalso nationalized the railwaysto help ordinary people travel cheaplyto help ordinary people travel cheaply

and extended gradually the right to vote,and extended gradually the right to vote,achieving universal franchise for men in 1913.achieving universal franchise for men in 1913.

Thanks to this liberal Thanks to this liberal approach, overall living approach, overall living

standards improved standards improved everywhere in Italy. Many everywhere in Italy. Many

were the innovative were the innovative measures in the field of measures in the field of

workers rights: workers rights: compulsory accident compulsory accident

insurance (1903); special insurance (1903); special law to promote industrial law to promote industrial development in southern development in southern

Italy (1904); laws intended Italy (1904); laws intended to protect women and to protect women and

children against children against exploitation (1907); exploitation (1907);

creation of a Bureau for creation of a Bureau for the implementation of the the implementation of the

labour laws (1912).labour laws (1912).

In an attempt to solve the emigration problem, In an attempt to solve the emigration problem, Giolitti joined the colonial race, occupying Lybia in Giolitti joined the colonial race, occupying Lybia in

1912, to provide new land for the unemployed.1912, to provide new land for the unemployed.

The liberal policy of GiolittiThe liberal policy of Giolittiwas however frustratedwas however frustratedby the Socialists’ refusalby the Socialists’ refusal

to enter government with him.to enter government with him.If they had accepted this move,If they had accepted this move,

the Italian State would have achieved the Italian State would have achieved greater political stability,greater political stability,

which might have prevented Italywhich might have prevented Italyfrom falling into the hands of Fascism from falling into the hands of Fascism

in the turbulent period followingin the turbulent period followingthe first World War.the first World War.

Culturally, this was a florid period for Italy,Culturally, this was a florid period for Italy,as shown by the Nobel prizes awardedas shown by the Nobel prizes awarded

to the poet Giosuè Carduccito the poet Giosuè Carducci

and to the great physicist Guglielmo Marconi,and to the great physicist Guglielmo Marconi,

the inventor of the wireless radio.the inventor of the wireless radio.

Architecturally, the Architecturally, the Liberty Liberty (or (or Art nouveauArt nouveau) style) styleof this age has left a recognisable markof this age has left a recognisable mark

in the major cities of northern and central Italy.in the major cities of northern and central Italy.

As in Europe as a whole, Italian intellectuals feltAs in Europe as a whole, Italian intellectuals feltthe changes in the fundamental valuesthe changes in the fundamental values

of our civilization - changes affecting the moral of our civilization - changes affecting the moral code, sexual taboos, gender relationship, etc.code, sexual taboos, gender relationship, etc.

In Italy many artists embodied this new attitude. In Italy many artists embodied this new attitude. The most characteristic writer wasThe most characteristic writer was

Gabriele D‘AnnunzioGabriele D‘Annunzio

a true aesthete, whose novels and poemsa true aesthete, whose novels and poemsfeatured heroes and heroines breaking outfeatured heroes and heroines breaking out

of traditional moulds, scandalizing but also deeply of traditional moulds, scandalizing but also deeply influencing the general public.influencing the general public.

D'Annunzio wanted to reachD'Annunzio wanted to reacha mass audience,a mass audience,

making the art less elitist, making the art less elitist, which was a great innovation. which was a great innovation.

He was the first intellectualHe was the first intellectualto exploit the mass-mediato exploit the mass-media

of that period, not only of that period, not only publishing a lot of best-selling publishing a lot of best-selling novels, but also writing many novels, but also writing many

scripts for the newbornscripts for the newbornfilm industry,film industry,

which was based in Turinwhich was based in Turin(as can be seen(as can be seen

at the recently openedat the recently openedTurin Museum of Cinema).Turin Museum of Cinema).

But we cannot forgetBut we cannot forgetthat music was then the that music was then the

most popular formmost popular formof entertainment,of entertainment,

and in this field Italy hadand in this field Italy hadin this periodin this period

many great composers.many great composers.

Among them, the most Among them, the most famous is perhaps famous is perhaps Giacomo Puccini,Giacomo Puccini,whose music iswhose music is

at the same time at the same time sophisticated and popular.sophisticated and popular.

As examples of his operas, we can cite his two As examples of his operas, we can cite his two masterpieces masterpieces La BohèmeLa Bohème and and Madame ButterflyMadame Butterfly..

This last especially is centred on the figureThis last especially is centred on the figureof a Japanese girl seduced and abandonedof a Japanese girl seduced and abandoned

by an American sailor.by an American sailor.This man epitomizes cultural imperialism, as a This man epitomizes cultural imperialism, as a

dangerous tendency to impose dangerous tendency to impose westernwestern civilization civilization to the detriment of other civilizations and people.to the detriment of other civilizations and people.

This was unfortunately the same attitudeThis was unfortunately the same attitudewhich would soon push Europewhich would soon push Europe

into the tragic adventure of the first World Warinto the tragic adventure of the first World War

the dramatic conclusion of this golden age,the dramatic conclusion of this golden age,known everywhere as La Belle Époque.known everywhere as La Belle Époque.

A presentation byA presentation by

Istituto Magistrale Statale “E.De Amicis” – CUNEO (Italy)Istituto Magistrale Statale “E.De Amicis” – CUNEO (Italy)

music :music :

Pietro Mascagni: Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana” (1890)Pietro Mascagni: Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana” (1890)Giacomo Puccini: Intermezzo from “Madame Butterfly” (1903)Giacomo Puccini: Intermezzo from “Madame Butterfly” (1903)