Gossip is a phenomenon that is both inevitable and deeply revealing. Often regarded as marginal, it has in fact proven, through its cultural codification, emblematic in Rossini’s famous “Venticello”, and up to modern practices of character assassination, to be a powerful tool for the construction and destruction of reputation, both at the individual and organizational levels.

This webinar aims to provide a historical and cultural perspective on gossip, exploring its underlying dynamics and seeking to understand its persistence over time. The session offers a critical reflection that invites participants to observe more consciously the dynamics shaping contemporary organizational contexts, highlighting the role of gossip as a strategic lever in the construction of relationships and reputations.

In particular, the webinar will address the following topics:

• gossip as a social phenomenon: definitions, functions, and mechanisms of dissemination and consolidation
• from Rossini’s “Venticello” to character assassination: continuities and transformations in practices of delegitimization.