Selections from Cultural Writings

Description

Gramsci’s writings on culture have been hugely influential for western critical thinking during the last forty years. This volume brings together a wealth of these writings, ranging from appreciations of theatre, literature and other forms of artistic production to notes that break new ground in cultural theory. Gramsci was interested in both popular and high-art culture, and the writings in this selection include his reflections on Futurism as well as the detective novel, on linguistics and journalism, on ‘national-popular’ culture and folklore. The volume’s extensive introductory material and explanatory notes offer useful background information on the wider context of Gramsci’s work.

AntonioGramsciwas an Italian Marxist theoretician and politican. He wrote on political theory, sociology and linguistics. He was a founding member and one-time leader of the Communist Party of Italy and was imprisoned by Benito Mussolini’s Fascist regime. Gramsci is best known for his theory of cultural hegemony, which describes how states use cultural institutions to maintain power in capitalist societies.

David Forgacsis co-editor of Antonio Gramsci: Selections from Cultural Writings and editor of Rethinking Italian Fascism. He is a professor in the department of Italian, University College, University of London.