Christian Caliandro's Critique of Italy's Golden Age Nostalgia

Christian Caliandro, an art historian and professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, published a reflective essay on Artribune on May 17-18, 2017, criticizing Italy's obsession with a mythical golden age of the 1960s and 1970s. He describes a train journey to Verona, where he observes a society governed by dual regimes of official and informal rules, drawing parallels to Middle Eastern countries and the Ottoman influence. In Verona, he visits the Casa di Giulietta, noting the accumulation of graffiti and tourist kitsch, including a statue of Juliet created in 1972. He argues that younger generations are burdened by an invented historical weight and calls for embracing the present moment without imported nostalgia. The essay blends personal observation with cultural critique, touching on power dynamics, urban identity, and the need to choose one's own life.