The national study conference “Bitonto and Puglia in the first half of the twentieth century”, organized by the History and Art Research Center, starts on Thursday 2 May. For the occasion, renowned experts from all over Italy will intervene to analyze the most disparate areas of research, including history, art, architecture, literature, music, cinema and fashion.
In the hall of mirrors of Palazzo Gentile, the first of five days, which will have the theme “Territory and politics”. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of the Apulian territory, with the important geological modifications and the profound technical-cultural transformations and innovations. Political movements will be investigated, with insights into the twenty years of fascism and the ideologies that changed everyday life, touching on the scholastic and sporting context.
To open the conference, institutional greetings, followed by the introduction of the historian Piero Bevilacqua, with a look at the twentieth century, a “long century”, contrary to what Eric Hobsbawm wrote.
Starting at 9am, the morning session, coordinated by Piero Ricci, president of the order of journalists of Puglia, partner body of the conference.
They will be followed by Mario Parise (University of Bari) on “Changes in the natural landscape on the Murge and the effects on geo-hydrological instability”; Salvatore Camposeo (University of Bari) on “The agricultural landscapes of Puglia”; Sandra Lucente (University of Bari) on “The fluid dimension and the network dimension before and after the aqueduct”; Federico Pirro (University of Bari) on “Industry in the Bari area between the end of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century”; Antonio Monte (Cnr Institute of Cultural Heritage Science) on “The factories and companies producing oil machinery: Bitonto and the Apulian, Lucanian and Abruzzo context from 1875 to 1950”.
The afternoon session starts at 3pm, coordinated by Professor Vincenzo Robles, which includes interventions by Francesco Sportelli (University of Basilicata) on “The ecclesiastical territorialization of Puglia. Historical processes of institution, decomposition and recomposition of the region”; Michele Laddaga (formerly University of Urbino) on “Political movements in the Land of Bari”; Valentino Romano, historian, on “The analysis of the southern question in the thought of Apulian intellectuals”; Vito Antonio Leuzzi and Anna Gervasio (IPSAIC Pugliese Institute for the History of Anti-Fascism and Contemporary Italy) on “The origins of fascism in the Land of Bari”; Carmela Minenna (Liceo Statale Classico e delle Scienze Humani “Cagnazzi”) on “The restless time of the people. Riots, protests and unrest in Bitonto”; Domenico Francesco Antonio Elia (University of Bari) on “The investigation of the National Institute for the Increase of Physical Education (1907-1912) in Puglia”.
The poster reports will be by Gianpaolo Altamura (University of Bari) on “The poets and writers in Bari between the two world wars” and by the journalist Michele Cotugno on “Bitonto at the dawn of mass parties”.
«The focus on the first half of the twentieth century will serve to reconstruct a period that profoundly marked our society» explains Pasquale Corsi, president of the Società di Storia Patria, one of the entities that sponsored the conference: «Initiatives like these are fundamental to recovering the roots of our identity. They are not just a look at the past, because history is not a cult of ashes. Knowledge of events favors the development of new perspectives».
The conference will continue in the Traetta theater on 3 May and 4 May (with the concert “On the notes of the twentieth century”) and then resume on 9 and 10 May at the national gallery of Puglia “G. and R. Devanna”. For further information, consult the program and register, visit the website www.centroricerchebitonto.com/convegno900/index.html.
The conference is sponsored by the Puglia Region, the Metropolitan City of Bari, the Municipality of Bitonto, the Banco di Napoli Foundation, the Puglia Regional Museums Directorate, the National Gallery of Puglia “G. and R. Devanna”, University of Bari, Polytechnic of Bari, Order of Journalists of Puglia, Order of Architects, “Niccolò Piccinni” Conservatory of Music – Bari, Society of Homeland History for Puglia, Puglia Institute for the history of ‘Anti-fascism and Contemporary Italy, Institute for the History of the Italian Risorgimento – Provincial Committee of Bari.
Tuesday 30 April 2024
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