Teenage Perspectives on The Literary Gathering: Insights from High School Attendees at The Book Salon
Fresh Take:
High School Students on the Front Lines at the Book Fair
Get ready for some insightful takes on various topics, straight from the minds of high school students acting as journalists at this year's Book Fair! Let's check out their impressive work from day two.
Social Media: A Threat to Politics?
"Italian unity and democracy are a hard-won but shaky victory," declared Vincenzo De Luca, Head of the Campania Region, during the Book Fair, sharing the stage with eminent scholar Luciano Canfora.
De Luca delved into the theme of national identity, reflecting on the criticisms that have plagued Italian politics since unification and the lingering issues like the Southern Question. He underscored how the concept of national unity and homeland resonated more deeply among intellectuals than among politicians at the time.
Today, democracy is a rare form of government worldwide, and its fundamental principles, such as the separation of powers and universal suffrage, are in peril. We witness widespread apathy and indifference towards institutions, even among the youth, who are sucked in by social media and the virtual universe.
Gaia Fama and Federico Montrucchio (Alfieri High School - Turin)
Book Fair Headlines
- Book Fair 2025: Preview and Guests
- Hours, Entrances, Stands: All You Need to Know
- Beyond the Book Fair: Explore All Events
A Modern Take on the Ideal of Beauty
For centuries, art has been used to convey the ideal of female beauty through the male gaze, promoting a taste that expects women to be elegant, sinuous, and pure, always serving as the passive subject of representation. It's increasingly critical to change this viewpoint in order to eliminate a narrative that stifles women's individuality.
This topic marked the beginning of a discussion with Sarah Cosulich, Director of the Pinacoteca Agnelli and organizer of the art exhibition at the Pista 500. Among the works dedicated to the female narrative, a comparison between Picasso's depiction of his lover in his paintings and the self-portraits taken by Dora Maar herself illuminated the divergent perceptions that women have of reality.
Contemporary art should aspire to induce the observer to question everything established rather than passively accepting it, according to the meeting's organizers.
Matilde Padovani and Alice Poerio (Ariosto High School - Ferrara)
WORTH NOTING The Book Fair Daily Digest for Day One
Literature: A Bridge Between Generations
"Passing the torch means igniting the passion for literature, the emotion that a poem or a special book stirs within you," said Lia Levi during the presentation of "Cara Nonna, Caro Nipote" (Il battello a vapore), written with her grandson Simone Calderoni. The event was moderated by the "Lost in the Books" reading group from Prato.
Levi noted that this book isn't merely about remembering the horrors of the Holocaust but about illustrating the differences between her generation and her grandson's. A curious audience member inquired about the writing process. The authors preferred to work independently and then merge their pieces, as their methods differed: Lia Levi prefers pen and paper and conceptual frameworks, while Simone Calderoni relies solely on his computer.
Despite their divergent working styles and life paths, literature united two generations.
Fatima Battistini and Viola Natalini (2H Middle School Peyron - Turin) Gabriele Tagliarini (tutor, Copernico High School - Turin)
Enrichment Insights:
- Art history has long perpetuated or challenged gender roles and beauty ideals through visual narratives.
- Contemporary artists use their work to question norms, challenge traditional beauty standards, and empower diverse identities.
- Artistic practice often reflects everyday experiences and the lived realities of women across various sectors of society.
- The role of students' voices is important in reimagining representation and inclusivity in art.
- The concern about the apathy and indifference of youth towards institutions, fueled by their excessive engagement with social media, could possibly affect their ability to make informed decisions about their average lifestyle and education-and-self-development.
- Discussing the role of literature as a bridge between generations, Fatima Battistini, Viola Natalini, and Gabriele Tagliarini might explore how this connection could enhance entertainment options for different age groups and promote intergenerational understanding in the broader context of lifestyle and self-development.
