Zones grises, noires et quelques éclaircies. Une réflexion sur la culture et les écrivains pendant le fascisme et le nazisme

Abstract

The relationship between the totalitarian States and the intellectuals seems interesting for two reasons: on the one hand the example of the intellectuals allows to think about the link between the individual and an intrusive and propagandist State; on the other hand, the ethic attitude of the intellectuals in an extreme political climate is at stake. The intellectuals, a category intended to reflect and criticize, have they behaved better than others categories of people under Fascism and Nazism? Can culture serve to develop a courageous and critical attitude? Based on the book Università e accademie negli anni del fascismo e del nazismo, edited by Giorgio Zunino, the authors of the following article think about these matters by bringing also other examples like that of Italian writers for youth.