GENERATION SIXTY-EIGHT

LGS “Augusto”

THE SIXTY-EIGHT MOVEMENT

It was a cultural movement aiming at a radical transformation of society

It started in the mid-sixties in the United States as a youth protest against the Vietnam War

It reached its peak in 1968 in Western Europe with the “French May”

It seemed to turn into a revolt against the state

Youth protests died out in the early 70s

ITALY

The protest originated from the economic boom that had benefited the middle classes but not the lower classes

Unlike other countries, the movement did not die out.

It increased in intensity and continued throughout the next decade.

UNIVERSITY PROTEST IN ITALY

Students wanted to Take hold of the university as a political space Replace teachers’ lessons with debates on

topics

that interested them.

STUDENTS’ PROTEST

On 1st May 1968 the faculty of architecture in Valle Giulia was occupied by the students

The police stopped them but there was a revolt

The students made a demonstration

The consequence was a violent riot between police and students

STUDENTS’ PROTEST

Valle Giulia’s riots represented a break point for a whole generation

Students were proud of their results and

their motto was “We won’t escape anymore”

Students picket line:

“Political parties and police out of the university”

STUDENTS’ PROTEST

Pier Paolo Pasolini wrote a poem for Villa Giulia’s riot:

“A Valle Giulia, ieri, si è cosi avuto un frammento di lotta di classe: e voi, amici (benché dalla parte della ragione) eravate i ricchi, mentre i poliziotti (che erano dalla parte del torto) erano i poveri. Bella vittoria, dunque la vostra! In questi casi, ai poliziotti si danno i fiori, amici.”

"At Valle Giulia, yesterday, we had a fragment of class struggle: and you, my friends (although you were right) you were the rich ones, while the policemen (who were wrong) were the poor ones. Nice victory, yours! You should have given the cops flowers, instead.”

STUDENTS’ PROTEST

Mass Media fully covered the riots at Valle Giulia

The TV news widely reported the facts

“We want to think”

STUDENTS PROTEST In Rome also high school students fought against

discrimination and prejudices One of the symbol of 1968 students’protests wa

“Liceo Mamiani” school, which was occupied various times.

Liceo Mamiani held by the students

STUDENTS PROTEST In December 30 thousands people demonstrated and

hundreds of Mamiani’s students got arrested Students protested against the school strict rules Their protest was also shown in the way they dressed.

Protests of Mamiani’s students