Accidents and explosions in semiotic research in Italy. Introductory notes

A history of Italian semiotics has yet to be written. This issue therefore has completely different aspirations: more than a history, or even less a geography, its intended goal is that of self-analysis of, roughly speaking, the last twenty or twenty-five years. Something like this: let us stop for a moment, let us see where we have sown our seeds, and what we have reaped, what we still need to plan, and in which direction we will proceed. The essays collected here do just that: they outline the conceptual map of semiotic research in Italy, combining research themes, methods of investigation and, when they may overlap, research centres scattered throughout the country. So, Italian semiotics has experienced euphoric intellectual growth in recent years: it has reaffirmed its programmes of action and passion, has equipped itself with the appropriate tools of investigation, has passed tests and counter-tests, has achieved numerous results and is receiving, in hushed tones, the recognition it deserves.