The Aesthetics of Modernisation: Italy and the Short Twentieth-Century

Throughout the Twentieth Century, Italy has struggled with the imperative of becoming a modern Nation-State. This lecture will highlight some of these key historical and political junctions – such as World War One, the Fascist Regime, and the economic boom from the late 1950s to the late 1960s.

Join Professor Francesca Billiani for a fascinating discussion of how diverse political processes of modernisation have elicited responses in architecture, the visual arts, and literature – with examples of the unstable link between aesthetic experimentations and political transformations, and illustrations of how they interrogate our perception of history.

In addition to the in-person event, a live stream will also be hosted via Zoom.

Event details:

4.15pm – Welcome drinks

5pm to 6pm – Professor Francesca Billiani’s inaugural lecture

6pm – End of inaugural