 | The Political Portrait: Leadership, Image and Power Subjects: Arts; Area Studies; Humanities; Politics & International Relations; Gender Studies; Cultural Studies; Politics & the Media; Art & Visual Culture; History; Government; Political Philosophy; Contemporary Art; History of Art; Visual Culture; European History; Contemporary History 1945-; Political History; Political Leaders; Democracy; Fascism & Nazism; The leader's portrait, produced in a variety of media (statues, coins, billboards, posters, stamps), is a key instrument of propaganda in totalitarian regimes, but increasingly also dominates political communication in democratic countries as a result of the personalization and spectacularization of campaigning. Written by an international group of contributors, this volume focuses on the last one hundred years, covering a wide range of countries around the globe, and dealing with dictatorial regimes and democratic systems alike. As well as discussing the effigies that are produced by the powers that be for propaganda purposes, it looks at the uses of portraiture by antagonistic groups or movements as forms of resistance, derision, denunciation and demonization. This volume will be of interest to researchers in visual studies, art history, media studies, cultural studies, politics and contemporary history. Luciano Cheles is a member of the Laboratoire Universitaire Histoire Cultures Italie Europe of the University of Grenoble Alpes and taught Italian Studies at the University of Poitiers, France. Alessandro Giacone is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Bologna. |
