Eviatar Zerubavel. L’elefante nella stanza. Silenzio e negazione nella vita quotidiana

Abstract

In this volume, Eviatar Zerubavel investigates the so-called 'conspiracies of silence' that permeate our society. Utilizing an in-depth and multidimensional analysis, the author reveals that through mechanisms of denial and repression, events of various kinds—whether large or small—are increasingly ignored or minimized, both by individuals and at an institutional level. Whether dealing with incest, alcoholism, or genocide, the dynamics of silence and denial recur like an 'elephant in the room'—a secret so cumbersome that it is glaringly obvious, yet deliberately ignored. Zerubavel argues that this denial is self-perpetuating, producing a growing spiral of collective ignorance. By exploring cultural contexts—specifically newspapers, films, and stories—the author reveals how culture itself justifies and perpetuates our inability to confront the truth. The result is a fundamental study for understanding how reality, despite being right before our eyes, often remains invisible