A Thousand Little Machines: A/traverso and the Movement of ’77

Book excerpt: In 1977 youth revolts spectacular in their intensity, creativity and violence would send shockwaves throughout Italian society. These rebellions, belonging to the autonomia movement, were characterised by a mass refusal of wage-labour and powered by novel experiments in communication, in particular the printed word. Hundreds of revolutionary newspapers known as ‘movement sheets’ would circulate Italy during those years, acting as little machines to produce political subjectivity. This book contains the recollections of the autonomist militant, philosopher and media theorist Franco ‘Bifo’ Berardi on autonomia and the tumultuous events of ’77, told through the pages of A/traverso, the Bolognese movement sheet he produced with others between 1975 - 1981. In texts translated into English for the first time, presented alongside extensive archival material and stunning photographs, this book explores the subversion, exuberance and joy of the movement of ’77, while raising important questions about the role of creative collectivity and experimental communication for militants today. Texts by Franco ‘Bifo’ Berardi, Ryan Duffy, Dante Philp, Nick Thoburn, Jamila Squire & Seth Wheeler. Foreword by Bobby Gillespie, Primal Scream. Translated by Ivana Bevilacqua, Matthew Lee and Lukasz Risso. Cover design & layout by Tom Greenwood. Internal design by Tom Greenwood, Jamila Squire & Seth Wheeler. Edited by Jamila Squire & Seth Wheeler. Photos by Tano D’Amico, Enrico Scuro and Uliano Lucas.