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Comics, moral panic and cultural regulation in Italy: The anti-comics movement of the 1950s.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Comics, moral panic and cultural regulation in Italy: The anti-comics movement of the 1950s.
Authors: Di Paola, Lorenzo
Source: Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies; 2026, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p53-70, 18p
Subject Terms: Moral panics, Comic books, strips, etc., Media studies, Generation gap, Italian history, Twentieth century, Censorship, Moral development
Geographic Terms: Italy
Abstract: This article examines Italy's post-war anti-comics movement as a significant example of moral panic and cultural regulation. Adopting an interdisciplinary framework grounded in moral panic theory, media ecology and generational consciousness, the analysis reconstructs how comics came to be framed as threats to youth morality and social order between 1949 and 1962. Through historical discourse analysis of newspapers, parliamentary records and audio-visual materials, the article identifies moral entrepreneurs and media amplifiers who portrayed comics as deviant media forms. Focusing on key episodes – the Borgo Panigale murder case, the political responses from Christian Democrat and Communist Parties and publishers' adoption of the Codice di Garanzia Morale – the study reveals comics as symbolic battlegrounds in Italy's modernization process. Rather than passive targets of censorship, comics emerge as active agents within a broader conflict involving generational tensions, pedagogical anxieties and shifting cultural hierarchies, highlighting how media panics reflect deeper structural transformations within society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies is the property of Intellect Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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An: 192204715
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 1121.06604003906
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  Data: Comics, moral panic and cultural regulation in Italy: The anti-comics movement of the 1950s.
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  Data: Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies; 2026, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p53-70, 18p
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+panics%22">Moral panics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comic+books%2C+strips%2C+etc%2E%22">Comic books, strips, etc.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Media+studies%22">Media studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Generation+gap%22">Generation gap</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Italian+history%22">Italian history</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Twentieth+century%22">Twentieth century</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Censorship%22">Censorship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+development%22">Moral development</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Italy%22">Italy</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This article examines Italy's post-war anti-comics movement as a significant example of moral panic and cultural regulation. Adopting an interdisciplinary framework grounded in moral panic theory, media ecology and generational consciousness, the analysis reconstructs how comics came to be framed as threats to youth morality and social order between 1949 and 1962. Through historical discourse analysis of newspapers, parliamentary records and audio-visual materials, the article identifies moral entrepreneurs and media amplifiers who portrayed comics as deviant media forms. Focusing on key episodes – the Borgo Panigale murder case, the political responses from Christian Democrat and Communist Parties and publishers' adoption of the Codice di Garanzia Morale – the study reveals comics as symbolic battlegrounds in Italy's modernization process. Rather than passive targets of censorship, comics emerge as active agents within a broader conflict involving generational tensions, pedagogical anxieties and shifting cultural hierarchies, highlighting how media panics reflect deeper structural transformations within society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: Abstract
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies is the property of Intellect Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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        Value: 10.1386/jicms_00358_1
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 53
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      – SubjectFull: Italy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Moral panics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comic books, strips, etc.
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Media studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Generation gap
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Italian history
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Twentieth century
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Censorship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Moral development
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Comics, moral panic and cultural regulation in Italy: The anti-comics movement of the 1950s.
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            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: 2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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