When the Words Mean Nothing – and the Message Means Everything

You may have recently heard on social media a song from the early 1970’s, Prisencolinensinainciusol, by Adriano Celentano. The song’s lyrics are in no language – total and utter nonsense. It was a smash hit in 1973 in Italy, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. 

The song resurfaced on social media in 2010 and once again in 2020. Seems every generation finds it and marvels in the creativity and originality. 

The idea itself has a long and storied history going to back to creative arts. It uses Grammelot, a system of language, based on gibberish, popularized by Commedia dell’Arte, a theatrical form that emerged in 16th Century in Italy.

In this episode we speak with a leading professor in business ethics and stakeholder theory who says the creative arts can have powerful impacts to human dignity in organizations, and help managers to develop their moral imagination.

Guest Simone de Colle, Ph.D. in Management and Business Ethics, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia)

Associate Professor of Business Ethics & Strategy, IESEG School of Management in Paris

s.decolle@ieseg.fr 

Dario Fo example of Grammelot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A4n9Ez9O8g&list=RD8A4n9Ez9O8g&index=5 

Professor de Colle’s presentation mentioning grammar of improvisation: https://responsiblecapitalism.it/presentations