2nd International Conference on Social Communication – Politically Un-Correct
Tuesday 17 October 2006
Milan becomes the world capital of social communication with two major initiatives: the International Conference on Social Communication and the exhibition “Forever Present: 35 Years of Pubblicità Progresso”.
This year’s theme for the International Conference on Social Communication is provocative: “Politically Un-Correct: Social Communication Beyond Sentimentalism and Provocation.”
There is nothing less politically correct than pain, suffering, and diversity (race, religion, gender, disability). In addressing these topics, our society, fearing their impact, has softened their reality with euphemisms and wordplay. People with disabilities become “differently abled,” the invalid is “hypokinetic,” budget cuts are “optimizations,” and a stock market crash is described as “a retreat in shareholder capital.”
However, sentimentalism has not paid off, revealing its harsh side: our society is, in fact, violent and aggressive. This leads to the founding concept of “politically un-correct,” which reassesses conflict, confronts reality head-on, calls things by their true names, and courageously embraces and addresses diversity, rediscovering and facing specific identities.
If the risk of “politically correct” was false sentimentalism, the danger of “politically un-correct” could be a manipulated view of reality, bad just for the sake of being effective. Therefore, should social communication be politically correct or incorrect, transgressive or guided by good feelings? In short, should it be rock or slow? These are the central themes of the debate that will unfold during the conference, divided into three sessions:
“What is Good and What is Correct”
“Social Communication in Practice”
“Stories of Extraordinary Communication”
Key speakers include important figures from politics, culture, finance, media, and entertainment:
Paolo Gentiloni, Minister of Communications
Bernard-Henri Lévy, Philosopher and Writer
Giuseppe Guzzetti, President of the Cariplo Foundation
Claudio Petruccioli, President of Rai
Lucio Dalla, Singer
Following the conference, on Wednesday, October 18, the exhibition “35 Years of Pubblicità Progresso: Forever Present” will be inaugurated. This exhibition showcases 33 national campaigns promoting social causes, created by Fondazione Pubblicità Progresso. The exhibition offers an overview of the comprehensive work carried out by Pubblicità Progresso, with the voluntary collaboration of top professionals, creatives, and art directors from their respective agencies.
The exhibition is divided into five thematic sections:
Rights of Minorities
Social Rights and Duties
Environmental Protection
Child Welfare Issues
Social Initiatives.
