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Aviation in the life and writings of Gabriele d'Annuzio: From "aviation" poetry to technological propaganda

Issue 1 from 01.03.2008

From «aviation» poetry to technological propaganda. The leading Italian poet and writer of the early 20th century, Gabriele d'Annunzio, became fascinated with air flight from its early days and carried the passion through his entire life, devoting his last novel to aviation. During WWI, d'Annunzio volunteered for service in military aviation, participated in daring raids, and built a successful military-political career. The article specifically explores his role in the proliferation of popular mythology about aviation in literature, media, and political propaganda. D'Annunzio created those myths not merely to popularize aviation, but also to establish a nationalistic cult of air combat and the raids he personally took part in. The structure and mechanisms by which ideological myths function is also analyzed.

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