Ministry of Popular Culture
The Ministry of Popular Culture (Italian: Ministero della Cultura Popolare, commonly abbreviated to MinCulPop) was a ministry of the Italian government from 1937 to 1944. It was established by the Fascist government in 1922 as the Press Office of the Presidency of the Council, before being renamed to Press Office of the Head of Government in 1925. In 1934 it became the Secretariat for Press and Propaganda. It became a ministry in 1935 and was given its definitive designation in 1937.[1] During its existence, it controlled most of the literary and radio channels in Italy.[2] It was the Italian analogue of the German Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.
The Ministry famously outlawed the importation and translation of all American comic books, with the lone exception of Mickey Mouse, in 1938.[3]
The Ministry was officially suppressed by the Kingdom of Italy on July 3, 1944, having remained vacant ever since the overthrow of Benito Mussolini in the 25 Luglio coup a year earlier. During the Italian Social Republic, Mussolini revived the Ministry of Popular Culture and appointed Ferdinando Mezzasoma as its head.
List of Ministers
| Name (Born–Died) |
Portrait | Term of office | Political Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of Press and Propaganda | |||||
| Galeazzo Ciano (1903–1944) |
 |
23 June 1935 | 11 June 1936 | National Fascist Party | |
| Dino Alfieri (1886–1966) |
 |
11 June 1936 | 27 May 1937 | National Fascist Party | |
| Minister of Popular Culture | |||||
| Dino Alfieri (1886–1966) |
|
27 May 1937 | 31 October 1939 | National Fascist Party | |
| Alessandro Pavolini (1903–1945) |
 |
31 October 1939 | 6 February 1943 | National Fascist Party | |
| Gaetano Polverelli (1886–1960) |
 |
6 February 1943 | 25 July 1943 | National Fascist Party | |
| Ferdinando Mezzasoma (1907–1945) |
 |
23 September 1943 | 25 April 1945 | Republican Fascist Party | |