l'Internazionale Situazionista
The role of graphic design in opposing the established power
Description
The editorial project I am proposing is divided into three volumes and focuses on the fundamental role of graphic design and visual communication in political and social struggles. The connection between these tools and international political instability is that visual communication has always played a crucial role in challenging authority and giving voice to protest movements, influencing both political discourse and public opinion. The goal of the thesis is to highlight the role of graphics related to speech and protest, with the aim of rediscovering means of information and techniques that are still valid today.
The thesis project consists of three volumes, the first (Vol. 1), which will deal with the origin of the “Internazionale Situazionista” (I.S.), and the following (Vol. 2/3), which will instead focus on two specific social protest movements that were directly influenced by the I.S. Volume 1: The first volume will be devoted to an analysis of the “Internazionale Situazionista”, a movement that used graphics as a weapon against capitalism and its oppressive dynamics. This volume will serve to outline the historical and cultural context that saw the emergence of an artistic-political movement that used visual communication to profoundly affect political life. At a time in history when international political instability is reflected in conflicts and crises, it is essential to rediscover and understand these tools of resistance. Volumes 2 and 3: These two volumes will explore, respectively, the Parisian May and the Black Panthers, two social movements that were inspired by the ideas of Situationism. Both movements used visual communication to convey messages of protest and social demands, and their analysis offers a lens through which to observe how the dynamics of power and resistance took different forms in distinct contexts. These volumes will allow reflection on communication techniques that, although born in the distant past, retain extraordinary relevance even in today’s context marked by instability and global change.
The project will culminate in the creation of screen-printed posters, one for each volume, that will summarize and shed light on the messages that emerged from the previous analyses.These posters are not only a tribute to the tradition of graphic counter-information, but also stand as tools for critical reflection on contemporary society and its conflicts.
Participating in this competition with such a project means not only contributing to the debate on international political instability, but also reaffirming the importance of graphics and visual communication as means of resistance and counter-information. In a world where conflict constantly affects trade, tourism and capital, it is more necessary than ever to rediscover and value those tools that have been able to challenge established power, offering alternatives for thought and action.
