Is Art a Means of Resistance in Times of Global Crisis? Far-Right, Humour and Street Art in Today's Italy

In Italy, the rise of radical narratives in public discourse has coincided with the popularisation of nationalist and exclusionary ideas which have been promoted by mainstream far-right parties with the support of neo-fascist organisations over the last decade. Matteo Salvini, the former Deputy Prime Minister (2018–2019), and Giorgia Meloni, the current Prime Minister (elected in 2022), have become the main spokespersons for an Italian far-right which showcases authoritarian and exclusionary attitudes that are spread chiefly via social media. At the same time, far-right propaganda and politics have also been met with creative opposition and civic dissent which uses humour and satire. Street artworks by artists such as Beast, TvBoy, Random Guy, Ex-Voto and many others have appeared on the walls of several Italian cities and challenged the main actors on the Italian political scene by becoming powerful tools of visual critique in the public space. While many of these works have engendered reactions such as censorship or vandalisation, they have nevertheless contributed to highlighting and amplifying the disruptive potential of civic dissent expressed through public art and humour. Analysing works by these arttists, this chapter investigates the potential of street art and creative protest to stimulate resistance through political action, and to raise social awareness by providing critical perspectives for collective debate in times of global crisis.