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The Sicilian Mafia: transformation to a global evil

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Resumo:The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which social perceptions of the Mafia have shifted over time. Initially considered as a Sicilian way of being, as an attitude, the Sicilian Mafia was subsequently viewed as a universal, global, and even religious form of Evil, to be fought in a war in which texts and images were weapons and judicial institutions constituted the battlefield. I will also explore how local powers institutionalised an “anti-Mafia religion”, using as a case-study the Festival of Santa Rosalia in Palermo. In this context, I will discuss the emergence of a new, anti-Mafia iconography and the use of a specific literary genre, that of political hagiography.
Autores principais:Puccio-Den,Deborah
Assunto:Mafia Sicily politics catholicism Justice
Ano:2008
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:artigo
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
Idioma:inglês
Origem:SciELO Portugal
Descrição
Resumo:The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which social perceptions of the Mafia have shifted over time. Initially considered as a Sicilian way of being, as an attitude, the Sicilian Mafia was subsequently viewed as a universal, global, and even religious form of Evil, to be fought in a war in which texts and images were weapons and judicial institutions constituted the battlefield. I will also explore how local powers institutionalised an “anti-Mafia religion”, using as a case-study the Festival of Santa Rosalia in Palermo. In this context, I will discuss the emergence of a new, anti-Mafia iconography and the use of a specific literary genre, that of political hagiography.