Federico Vercellone on Tattoos and the Barbarism of Populism
Federico Vercellone, a philosophy of aesthetics professor at the Universities of Udine (since 1992) and Turin (since 2008), has published a new book on the phenomenon of tattoos. The book analyzes how societies fragmenting into groups of individuals, falling prey to the magnetic attraction of populists and influencers, can liberate themselves from this 'new barbarism'—a term foreseen by Giambattista Vico. Vercellone argues that symbolic representation based on distance and super-individual bonds has disintegrated. His work examines how time's oppressions find expression in images and the human body, but also grounds of resistance and refoundation. The article includes contributions by Roberto Gilodi and Horst Bredekamp.
Key facts
- Federico Vercellone is a professor of aesthetics at the University of Udine (since 1992) and the University of Turin (since 2008).
- His latest book focuses on the phenomenon of tattoos.
- The book examines how societies fragment into groups of individuals and fall under the influence of populists and influencers.
- Vercellone uses the term 'new barbarism' as foreseen by Giambattista Vico.
- He argues that symbolic representation based on distance and super-individual bonds has disintegrated.
- His work explores how time's oppressions are expressed in images and the human body, and how these can be sites of resistance and refoundation.
- The article includes contributions by Roberto Gilodi and Horst Bredekamp.
- The article was published on doppiozero.com on April 6, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Federico Vercellone
- Roberto Gilodi
- Horst Bredekamp
- Giambattista Vico
Institutions
- University of Udine
- University of Turin
- doppiozero
Locations
- Udine
- Turin
- Italy