W-Hysteria — Mapping the Baimonti wisteria issue through online videos by Politecnico di Milano

W-Hysteria is a research catalogue documenting the public debate surrounding the planned removal of an 80-year-old wisteria in Piazza Baiamonti, Milan, due to the construction of the National Resistance Museum. This controversy has gained significant attention, engaging both local residents and nationally recognized figures, and has rapidly spread across various social platforms.

The discussion has been analyzed through 130 videos on the topic from various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Google Video, TikTok, and YouTube. The primary positions expressed in each video have been identified and grouped into macro-themes. The catalogue categorizes the results into three sections: the analysis of identified videos, the involvement of key individuals, and the statements expressed.

The catalogue presents both the full dataset and a series of research questions that guided the investigation. These questions explore the nature of digital debate, the role of social platforms in shaping discourse, and the visibility of different perspectives. At the end of each chapter, visual summaries have been developed to provide insights into these themes.

Alongside the catalogue, the project includes the development of The Glitchine Diorama, a video installation that remixes data and constructs a diorama to explore the multiple perspectives surrounding this controversy.