Ferruccio Rossi-Landi. Per una semiotica dell’ideologia

Ideology is undoubtedly one of the main themes of Ferruccio Rossi-Landi’s (1921-1985) research. Starting from different interpretative approaches, Rossi-Landi developed a semiotic analysis of this Marxian concept. In this paper I will illustrate the fundamental characteristics of Rossi-Landi’s theory. First of all, I will consider one of his most pioneering hypothesis: Rossi-Landi proposes an innovative interpretation of the relationships between structure and superstructure, considering sign-systems as the mediating element in the relations between the two levels. Then, I will explain why Rossi-Landi consider ideology as a social design. More specifically, I will analyse why – from a Gramscian perspective – the struggle for hegemony can be understood as a conflict between opposing institutions and social designs. Furthermore, I will investigate Rossi-Landi’s theory of alienation. Starting from this analysis, I will focus on one of the most suggestive theses of Rossi-Landi’s semiotics: ideology can be considered a discursive rationalisation of “false consciousness”. I will conclude by proposing a comparison with other lines of research.