Christian Caliandro's Summer Theory: Art, Politics, and Resistance in Italy

In a lyrical and politically charged essay published on Artribune, art historian Christian Caliandro weaves together personal reflections, cultural critique, and a call to resist rising racism and incivility in Italy. The text opens with a 2018 beachside monologue by artist Laura Cionci, who describes her relational art practice as a pioneering force against institutional constraints, emphasizing physical engagement and action-reaction dynamics. Caliandro then shifts to a 2016 meditation on cultural regeneration along the SS16 road, contrasting abandoned places revitalized by culture with the spread of functional illiteracy and youth poverty. He excoriates the pervasive racism and verbal violence in Italian society, comparing it to the worst of the American Midwest, and condemns those who remain silent or complicit. He praises the band Pearl Jam for displaying the #APRITEIPORTI (Open the Borders) logo during their cover of "Imagine" at a June 26, 2018 concert in Rome's Stadio Olimpico. The essay ends with a stark warning about Italy's historical failure to uphold values in times of crisis, invoking the country's tendency toward selfishness and emptiness. The piece is both a personal testament and a political manifesto, urging active resistance against barbarism.