Christian Caliandro on Simulation as an Italian Condition

In an article for Artribune, Christian Caliandro argues that simulation is a secular, atavistic condition for Italians, rooted in the 17th century, the Baroque, the Counter-Reformation, commedia dell'arte, and melodrama. He cites Raffaele La Capria's 'Il sentimento della letteratura' (Mondadori, 2011) on the mask as an intermediary that allows non-responsibility. Caliandro critiques the injection of rhetoric into the collective imaginary, describing it as a filter that prevents effective living and experience. He references Pier Paolo Pasolini's 'Petrolio' (Einaudi, 1992) to illustrate the figure of Troya, a man whose smile has become a stereotype and who avoids publicity. The article also lists various 'cespiti' (assets) including Nirvana's 'In Utero', a barber's sign in Pozzallo, the Calais migrant camp, and architectural elements from Calabria and Rome. Caliandro is a contemporary art historian and member of the scientific committee of Symbola Foundation.