Christian Caliandro Analyzes Milan Protests as Performance and the Limits of Old Interpretive Categories
In an article for Artribune, Christian Caliandro reflects on the protests and looting that occurred in Milan on 17 and 18 October 2026, asserting that conventional frameworks are inadequate for understanding these incidents. He points out a disconnect between young individuals organizing through social media for vandalism and law enforcement accustomed to 1970s-style protests. Caliandro dismisses the outdated 'charge' tactic from the twentieth century as irrelevant, linking it to a larger linguistic dilemma, including his examination of the Charlie Kirk murder. He cautions against romanticizing the piazza, noting that engagement has turned into a spectacle for an endless audience, and he challenges paternalistic narratives, arguing that the proliferation of media images does not enhance understanding and advocates for innovative approaches, including art.
Key facts
- Protests and looting occurred in Milan on 17 and 18 October 2026 over the cost of living (carovita).
- The author, Christian Caliandro, argues that traditional interpretive categories fail to capture these events.
- He contrasts minors organizing via social media to vandalize with law enforcement prepared for traditional 1970s-style marches.
- Caliandro references the Charlie Kirk murder as an example of the clash between images, digital codes, and political interpretations.
- He warns against both idealizing the protests as a coherent political movement and giving up on interpretation.
- He describes the transformation of conflict into content and participation into performance for an unlimited audience.
- He criticizes the mythologization of Genoa 2001 as a founding myth of impotence that leads to deresponsibilization.
- He notes that the proliferation of images does not necessarily produce better understanding, as documentation, entertainment, propaganda, and commentary blur.
- He calls for new tools, including art, which he says has been reduced to decoration for the rich.
Entities
Artists
- Christian Caliandro
- Federica D'Alessio
- Charlie Kirk
Institutions
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Genoa