Talking About 2023. Back To Modernity, past
IN PURSUIT OF A NEW LIFESTYLE.
Stefano Salis in conversation with Giuseppe Lupo.
The first talk, on the values and essence of modernity, took place in Milan. The focus was on the past and the arrival of industrial modernity in Italy. With the help of photographs and practical examples, and discussing Giuseppe Lupo’s book, Misunderstood modernity (2023), it provided an overview of topics. A crucial turning point that saw Italy undergo a radical transformation: from a peasant civilisation to an industrialised nation, from the countryside to the cities. A new way of challenging the future, without forgetting the values of craftsmanship, talent and Italian “know-how”.
Stefano Salis, journalist, and Giuseppe Lupo, writer and university professor, have often discussed these issues and brought them to the attention of readers. Their approach is a cultural one: how the phenomena of modernity (from businesses to design, from fashion to communication) have impacted the collective imagination and that of intellectuals, often leading to misunderstandings, adjustments, revisions and reworkings. But at times, with the decisive impetus of those who have known how to welcome change.
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Lucania, Giuseppe Lupo lives in Lombardy, where he teaches theory and history of literary modernity at the Catholic University of Milan. In 2018 he won the Viareggio prize with ‘Gli anni del nostro incanto’ and in 2011 the Premio Campiello (both Italian literary prizes) with ‘L’ultima sposa di Palmira’. He is the author of numerous other novels, including ‘L’americano di Celenne’, ‘La carovana Zanardelli’,’Viaggiatori di nuvole’, ‘L’albero di stanze’, ‘Breve storia del mio silenzio’ and ‘Tabacco Clan’ (2022). He has published several essays on 20th century culture and industrial modernity. His latest book is ‘La modernità malintesa’ (2023). He contributes to the cultural pages of Il Sole-24 Ore.
BIOGRAPHY
A Sardinian from Sant’Antioco (1970), Stefano Salis is a journalist at Il Sole 24 Ore, where he is responsible for the Comments page. He regularly covers bibliophilia, publishing, art, design and literature in his Sunday supplement. He has held conferences on these topics all over the world, as well as university journalism courses at the University of Milan and at the Cattolica. His contributions in book form include the editing (with Barnaba Fornasetti) of ‘Piero Fornasetti’. Certain screens have been designed twice (Henry Beyle). His latest book is ‘Sulla scacchiera’ (publisher: Franco Maria Ricci). ‘The writing of stones’ by Roger Caillois (Franco Maria Ricci) is soon to be released. He is on the management committee of the FMR magazine.
