Vintage TVs and under-represented memories

A participatory practice to portray the impact of the Italian right-wing political violence (1969-1980) on collective memory

Abstract

This paper presents a practice-based research project that explores the collective memory of Italian right‑wing political violence (1969–1980) through participatory audiovisual methods. Centering on underrepresented narratives, it engages 20 Italian women who experienced the period without direct involvement in the violence, using semi-structured interviews to collect personal memories. These narratives are reinterpreted through a short film (Fuori Programma) and an interactive installation (Siamo in Linea), employing aesthetic strategies such as framing participants through vintage television sets to foreground their voices as political subjects. The project highlights the fragmented, selective, and often erased nature of collective memory, shaped by media attention and competing historical narratives. It also addresses the challenges of authorship, representation, and the “truth effect” in participatory practices. Ultimately, the work demonstrates how artistic practice can investigate memory transmission, offering new perspectives on historical understanding and the role of marginalized voices in documenting traumatic pasts.