The present book explores the political experience known as operaismo (workerism) which began in Italy in the early 1960s. Using both political-theoretical and formal approaches it considers two main publications: "Quaderni rossi", a review started by Raniero Panzieri in 1961, and "Classe operaia", a journal directed by Mario Tronti. The first publication is mainly focused on a thoroughly analytical approach whereas the second was more politically active. Nevertheless as far as stylistic/objective standards are concerned the approaches to graphic design, printing techniques and distribution reveal themselves to be different. There are five folders among the pages containing extracts from both of the above-mentioned publications. These extracts aim to outline the differences between the two publications. "Quaderni rossi" (monographic volumes similar to books) is reproduced using offset printing and results as a realistic raw reproduction of the original large lay-out prior to cut print, while "classe operaia" (handier and for wide circulation) applies to mimeograph/risograph techniques. "Quaderni rossi" emphasizes a typical 1960s Italian series rigor which generally avoids graphic virtuosity, except for the cover. The image is radically replaced here by the first chapter that begins on the cover page. "Classe operaia", printed in two colors and for wide circulation, features a particular geometric rigor that, however, has variable results that are adapted differently to each issue. The book's title Leaping forward, a refrain of Mario Tronti's prose, is interpreted on the cover through the leap the reader has to make physically in order to read it in its entirely, from back to the cover across the spine. This represents the leap from "Quaderni rossi" to "classe operaia". The cover project, similarly to the book's, outlines the effort to translate political movement into spatial and graphic movement.

Leaping forward. Mario Tronti and the history of political workerism

FILIPPINI, MICHELE
2012

Abstract

The present book explores the political experience known as operaismo (workerism) which began in Italy in the early 1960s. Using both political-theoretical and formal approaches it considers two main publications: "Quaderni rossi", a review started by Raniero Panzieri in 1961, and "Classe operaia", a journal directed by Mario Tronti. The first publication is mainly focused on a thoroughly analytical approach whereas the second was more politically active. Nevertheless as far as stylistic/objective standards are concerned the approaches to graphic design, printing techniques and distribution reveal themselves to be different. There are five folders among the pages containing extracts from both of the above-mentioned publications. These extracts aim to outline the differences between the two publications. "Quaderni rossi" (monographic volumes similar to books) is reproduced using offset printing and results as a realistic raw reproduction of the original large lay-out prior to cut print, while "classe operaia" (handier and for wide circulation) applies to mimeograph/risograph techniques. "Quaderni rossi" emphasizes a typical 1960s Italian series rigor which generally avoids graphic virtuosity, except for the cover. The image is radically replaced here by the first chapter that begins on the cover page. "Classe operaia", printed in two colors and for wide circulation, features a particular geometric rigor that, however, has variable results that are adapted differently to each issue. The book's title Leaping forward, a refrain of Mario Tronti's prose, is interpreted on the cover through the leap the reader has to make physically in order to read it in its entirely, from back to the cover across the spine. This represents the leap from "Quaderni rossi" to "classe operaia". The cover project, similarly to the book's, outlines the effort to translate political movement into spatial and graphic movement.
2012
48
9789072076687
Michele Filippini
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/251676
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