Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19)
This article uses the theoretical framework of James C. Scott's Domination and the Art of Resistance (1990) to analyse the trial and execution of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1585–1619). It argues that Vanini's final actions were subversive acts of rebellion and libertinage against Catholic autho...
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| Format: | Article |
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Modern Humanities Research Association
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30400/ |
| _version_ | 1848793977394823168 |
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| author | Horsley, Adam |
| author_facet | Horsley, Adam |
| author_sort | Horsley, Adam |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This article uses the theoretical framework of James C. Scott's Domination and the Art of Resistance (1990) to analyse the trial and execution of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1585–1619). It argues that Vanini's final actions were subversive acts of rebellion and libertinage against Catholic authority during the typically politicized capital punishment of an atheist. By examining accounts of his public and private speech and the reliability of contemporary sources, it demonstrates how Vanini allowed his mask of conformity to drop at his execution in order to enjoy a final moment of freethinking which justifies his contemporary and modern-day reputation as a libertin author and thinker. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:08:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-30400 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:08:52Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Modern Humanities Research Association |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-304002020-05-04T20:10:16Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30400/ Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19) Horsley, Adam This article uses the theoretical framework of James C. Scott's Domination and the Art of Resistance (1990) to analyse the trial and execution of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1585–1619). It argues that Vanini's final actions were subversive acts of rebellion and libertinage against Catholic authority during the typically politicized capital punishment of an atheist. By examining accounts of his public and private speech and the reliability of contemporary sources, it demonstrates how Vanini allowed his mask of conformity to drop at his execution in order to enjoy a final moment of freethinking which justifies his contemporary and modern-day reputation as a libertin author and thinker. Modern Humanities Research Association 2015-01 Article PeerReviewed Horsley, Adam (2015) Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19). Modern Language Review, 110 (1). pp. 85-103. ISSN 0026-7937 http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5699/modelangrevi.110.1.0085#references_tab_contents doi:10.5699/modelangrevi.110.1.0085 doi:10.5699/modelangrevi.110.1.0085 |
| spellingShingle | Horsley, Adam Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19) |
| title | Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19) |
| title_full | Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19) |
| title_fullStr | Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19) |
| title_short | Remarks on subversive performance at the trial of Giulio Cesare Vanini (1618-19) |
| title_sort | remarks on subversive performance at the trial of giulio cesare vanini (1618-19) |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30400/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30400/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30400/ |