Fabio Severino argues culture can save society from pandemic-induced illusions

In a reflective essay published on Artribune, economist and sociologist Fabio Severino argues that culture is essential for overcoming the existential crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He contends that society has become trapped in Plato's cave myth, living through images rather than direct experience, seeking validation through social media likes. Severino asserts that culture provides identity by connecting us to memory and history, and that it can short-circuit the numbness of a society seduced by illusion. He calls for culture in all its forms—cinema, books, theater, music, museums—to provoke emotional and perceptual awakening. The piece appears in Artribune Magazine #64 and is part of a broader reflection on the role of culture in times of crisis.