This essay examines Luigi Lombardi Satriani’s reading of Gramsci and his role in the renewal of Italian folklore studies between the 1960s and 1970s. It reconstructs the shift from positivist folkloristics to a Gramscian understanding of folklore as a relational field shaped by the tension between hegemonic and subaltern cultures. Particular attention is given to Lombardi Satriani’s concepts of folklore as contestation, cultural circulation, and subaltern expression, as well as to his dialogue with de Martino and his critique of folk revival and mass culture. The article highlights both the theoretical richness and the unresolved tensions of this tradition, arguing for its renewed relevance in contemporary anthropology.
Il tesoro sepolto. Lombardi Satriani lettore di Gramsci
Fabio Dei
2026-01-01
Abstract
This essay examines Luigi Lombardi Satriani’s reading of Gramsci and his role in the renewal of Italian folklore studies between the 1960s and 1970s. It reconstructs the shift from positivist folkloristics to a Gramscian understanding of folklore as a relational field shaped by the tension between hegemonic and subaltern cultures. Particular attention is given to Lombardi Satriani’s concepts of folklore as contestation, cultural circulation, and subaltern expression, as well as to his dialogue with de Martino and his critique of folk revival and mass culture. The article highlights both the theoretical richness and the unresolved tensions of this tradition, arguing for its renewed relevance in contemporary anthropology.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
