Stefano Massini's TV plea: 'Culture is not useless!' goes viral

During the April 9, 2020 broadcast of Piazzapulita on La7, author Stefano Massini championed the importance of culture, asserting that artists are not 'useless' even though they have been overlooked in Italy's reopening strategy. His remarks received support from notable figures like Vasco Rossi, Renato Zero, and Carlo Verdone. Massini condemned the government for prioritizing commercial activities while neglecting theaters and museums. He highlighted the contradiction of depending on cultural works during the lockdown while marginalizing the sector. He referenced Giulio Tremonti's 2010 statement about culture and questioned why recovery efforts should not begin there. On April 14, bookstores were permitted to reopen, a move Massini found unclear. He stressed the economic significance of cultural events and concluded with a quote from Aldous Huxley regarding memory.