RAI: the Orbanization begins
Plus, "ancient pizza" and a summer read by Domenico Starnone
From Andreotti to Craxi, Prodi to Berlusconi, PMs of all stripes have always sought to manipulate Italy’s public service broadcaster to influence society. In general, this kind of state influence has been tempered by the notoriously short shelf-life of most administrations. This government, however, is different. With Georgia Meloni still enjoying strong polls, and her rule virtually unchallenged, serious restructuring appears to be on the way at RAI. The first warning signs came last month when Carlo Fuortes resigned as managing director, citing ambiguous “pressure from the government”. Shortly after this, Giampaolo Rossi - a neo-fascist sympathiser and self-proclaimed “fan” of Vladimir Putin - took on the role of General Director. A series of high-profile resignations and walk-outs followed. Fabio Fazio, a left-leaning talkshow host, had his show cancelled without warning. Luciana Littizzetto, his co-presenter, resigned in protest. Others, since then, have been accusing the new Board of seeking to “obliterate anti-fascism” and “re-write history.” This week, after much sabre rattling, the actual implications on future content are becoming apparent, and the news is not good. According to a contract leaked by the newspaper La Repubblica, RAI will now be required - by mandate - to “promote family life and increase the birth rate” while at the same time “cut[ting] investigative journalism services” that could damage the state’s reputation. This double dose of far-right ideology and anti-democratic muzzling is, of course, deeply worrying. But it’s not surprising. From abortion rights to civil liberties, Italy has been following Hungarian PM Victor Orban’s ultraconservative playbook for a while now. The real question - unfortunately - is how much further the current administration is willing to go. Meloni the moderate? Not in my book.
In case you haven’t seen already: archaeologists made a startling discovery in Pompeii this week. During a recent round of excavations, a team working on a site in Insula 10 of Regio IX uncovered a beautiful painted fresco depicting a platter of food, wine, fruits, nuts and what may well be the earliest ever image of a pizza (or, more accurately, an oval shaped flatbread that resembles what we’d now call pizza, but still…) In fact, Scholars are already busy debating what the image actually depicts. Some believe it is a kind of savoury bread topped with a kind of ancient pesto called ‘moretum’; others have suggested it may actually be a crispy “sweet” biscuit of some kind. So yes, the more you look into it, the less those “ancient pizza” headlines really make sense. That said, it’s hard not to share the Director of Pompeii’s Archaeological Park Gabriel Zuchtriegel’s enthusiasm when he states: “[this discovery] makes me think of the contrast between a frugal and simple meal, which evokes a sphere between the bucolic and the sacred, on the one hand, and the luxury of silver trays and the refinement of artistic and literary representations on the other. How can we not think, in this regard, of pizza, which also originated as a 'poor' dish in southern Italy but has now conquered the world and is served even in Michelin-starred restaurants?” Click here for more quotes from that (excellent) speech as well as more detailed information about this exciting find.
I’ve just been catching up on Italy Segreta’s latest edition which is dedicated to none other than… the city of Florence! There’s tons of great essays here, from a lament at the state of Tuscan bread to tips on tracking down decent natural wine to a short history of calcio storico [Florentine medieval football]. Obviously - and I know I’m biased - I think you should take the time to read all of these pieces. That said, my favourite contribution this time round actually goes to an essay called “1970s Florence: A Dantesque Destination For Queer Debauchery” which, like it says on the tin, traces the genealogy and contemporary echoes of the city’s LGBTIQ+ scene. I knew from the opening reference to the writer and journalist Pier Vittorio Tondelli that I was going to enjoy this one, and it did not disappoint. “Florence,” the author writes “[was once] an extravagant map: a cluster of alleys packed like intertwined serpents in a box made up of provocative clubs and underground venues. A queer Babylon, overturned like Dante’s map of hell, where everyone could find and be themselves.” Click here to find out more about this “radical” Florentine past that, while understudied and critically under-appreciated, arguably represents one of the most overt legacies of this city’s more progressive Renaissance humanistic thought [though it’s also just a lot of fun…].
Arts and culture: books, books, books
The Venetian publication Ytali magazine has published a short exchange with the historian Carlo Ginzburg that, dodgy translation issues aside, I really enjoyed. The interviewer, Adriano Favaro brings up a wide range of topics from historical archives to artificial intelligence to futurology that are all absolutely relevant to the present information economy. The main focus of the discussion, however, is basically “the contemporary relevance of philology.” Ginzburg is a humorous, modest man and I appreciated his reflections on reliability, inter-subjectivity and translations as “jokes.” Nevertheless, and probably unsurprisingly, the Professor is at his best when he seriously confronts what (post)humanism could and should mean in 21st century. To cite just one, particularly eloquent passage: “Of course, new technology has multiplied the production of news, true and false. We find ourselves faced with a historic break: a turning point that is comparable, on a different scale, to that of the invention of printing. History does not repeat itself, but knowing it helps us to understand the present. To suppose that the world in which we live is completely new is a form of provincialism.” Amen to that. Read the full piece here, and if you don’t know Ytali mag, make sure to check out their back catalogue while you’re at it.
Looking for some Italy-related summer reading? Well, Europa Editions has got you covered (as ever). Specifically, for 2023, the indie publisher has just put out an edition of Domenico Starnone’s novel The House on Via Gemito, translated into ENG by Oonagh Stransky. This is a great novel; probably my personal favourite of what I’ve read by the author. The book tells the story of Mimi, a Neapolitan boy, who is struggling to find his place in life - as a person, but specifically, gendered, as a man - in no small part due to his father Federi’s patriarchal narcissism. Federi himself is a wonderful, complex figure. A railway clerk who also happens to be a talented artist, he is frustrated with his life and his poverty, taking his anger out on his family. He is sympathetic and loathsome in equal measure. But I would challenge any reader here NOT to find this portrayal of working class Neapolitan masculinity absolutely vital. Still, if you remain unconvinced, or on the fence, check out this extract on Lithub and or this review by Tim Parks which may well change your mind…
Recipe of the week: Gaetano Arnone’s farro salad
It wouldn’t be June in Tuscany without farro salad. This nutty, earthy, slightly bitter whole grain - usually translated as “awned wheat” - is a classic “prova costume” alternative to pasta. Yes, it’s an acquired taste, but once you get your head around the tones - the aromatic smokiness - this underrated pulse becomes strangely moreish. Farro salad lends itself well to bulk preparation. It’s good stuff for lunchboxes, for barbecues. It works for aperitivo, as a side for parties and generally as a snack from the back of the fridge. The traditional version - as eaten in Florence - is usually prepared with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, pecorino, olives and sometimes a little pesto. My favourite variation, however, is by Gaetano Arnone who gets a little little bit more adventurous with the addition of peach for a touch of sweet-sour zing. The result is a delicious, simple, creative-take on a summer staple. Find the recipe over at The Florentine.
About Me
My name is Jamie Mackay (@JacMackay) and I’m an author, editor and translator based in Florence. I’ve been writing about Italy for a decade for international media including The Guardian, The Economist, Frieze, and Art Review. I launched ‘The Week in Italy’ to share a more direct and regular overview of the debates and dilemmas, innovations and crises that sometimes pass under the radar of our overcrowded news feeds.
If you enjoyed this newsletter I hope you’ll consider becoming a supporter for EUR 5.00 per month (the price of a weekly catch-up over an espresso). Alternatively, if you’d like to send a one-off something, you can do so via PayPal using this link. No worries if you can’t chip-in or don’t feel like doing so, but please do consider forwarding this to a friend or two. It’s a big help!