The Art of Smearing: How Is Feminist Decolonizing Artivism Received by Italian Newspapers? The Case of Montanelli’s Statue

On March 8, 2019, during a demonstration organised on occasion of the International Women's Day in Milan, members feminist collective Non Una Di Meno (not one woman less) Milano threw washable pink paint statue that commemorates Italian journalist Indro Montanelli (1909–2001). The aim exposing at visual level acclaimed writer’s controversial past was crucial to group’s symbolic action. In fact, despite being reference figure for many intellectuals, participated Abyssinian war 1935 and, as member fascist army, he engaged relationship with 12-year-old local girl who acted his wife and sexual object. collective’s action, which can be labelled decolonizing performance, has already been read form artivism manipulated Italian’s artistic heritage objective criticising existing narrative Italy’s colonial past. this sense, an analysis resonance journalistic coverage assigned event proves understanding impact such action had public opinion progress towards country's mental decolonization. This article presents findings qualitative conducted corpus 10 online newspaper articles published aftermath artivist performance Montanelli’s statue. study employs Foucauldian critical discourse order identify rhetorical strategies used by journalists criticise or legitimate Among these strategies, particular attention is paid those discursive techniques adopted portray act vandalism or, contrary, art. show how art versus non-art/vandalism confirm (or overcome) limits imposed still dominant narratives nation’s history well disposability “othered” women’s bodies.