# 16, 2014 (III)

Popsophia. Teoria e pratica di un nuovo genere filosofico
Philosophy. Theory and practice of a new kind of philosophy

a cura di - edited by: Lucrezia Ercoli

Articoli, Interviste & Contributi

Editoriale: Lo spettro della Popsophia
di Lucrezia Ercoli| leggi
¶ Sezione Prima - Che cos'è la Popsophia?
Interviste/1: On the wild side. L’amore perverso per la cultura di massa.
Intervista a Simone Regazzoni
a cura di Lucrezia Ercoli | leggi

Abstract
Simone Regazzoni has been agitating for years the Italian debate that surrounds the many contaminations of pop philosophy and he is always on the front line when it comes to accept the challenges posed toward and against the academic world. The following interview is the synthesis of many public lectures given during Popsophia Festival’s various editions..
Testi/1: La philosophia nasce come popsophia
di Umberto Curi| leggi

Abstract
Philosophy has not always been considered as a technique, nor it has always been an elitist subject. As Professor Curi points out in his article, philosophy was born in ancient Greece precisely as pop philosophy: “philosophy” due to its ability to instill the wonder in people’s mind (the thauma); “popular” because of the relation between ancient philosophers and their daily living environment, the polis. Therefore, philosophy cannot be considered in no other way then as pop philosophy.
Articoli/1: Thèse sur la pop’philosophie
di Laurent de Sutter| leggi

Abstract
The French philosopher Laurent de Sutter outlines five thesis on “pop’philosophie” starting with the theorisation of the concept proposed by Gilles Deleuze: a new “reading practice” capable of awakening philosophy from the catatonic dream in which she fell. We are not facing, according to Sutter, a popularisation of philosophy, but on the contrary, a more higher and aristocratic form. The finals argumentations overtake Deleuze and propose a more radical pop’philosophie which vampirizes and destroy the very same concept of philosophy.
Articoli/2: La sophia del pop e la libertà post-metafisica
 di Corrado Ocone| leggi

Abstract
Our post-metaphysics age demands a new perspective on philosophy. Starting from the work of Benedetto Croce (who aims to define philosophy as the “methodology of historiography”), Corrado Ocone points out the main prejudices that have surrounded philosophy for centuries. Philosophy must now face Reality: everything is suitable for it. Still, the author prefers to address this new approach not as “pop philosophy” but as “sophia of pop”, where thoughts are raised from apparently futile subjects.
Interviste/2: Philosophy is all around you (and that includes pop culture). Intervista a William Irwin, a cura di Federica Nardi | leggi

Abstract
One of the many ways in which pop philosophy has reach the contemporary cultural life of every one of us is through publishing. In this interview professor Irwin, known for his work for the Open Court Publishing’s Popular Culture and Philosophy and the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, gives his point of view on the vast and complex phenomenon of pop philosophy in the American culture life.
Interviste/3: La Semaine de la Pop Philosophie. Intervista a Jacques Serrano,
a cura di Federica Nardi | leggi

Abstract
The public sphere of festivals is the ideal environment for pop philosophy to be discussed and spread. In this interview Jacques Serrano discuss the concept of popular philosophy from the earlier definition given by Deleuze drawing from his experience as art director at La Semaine de la Pop Philosophie of Marseille and Bruxelles.
Testi/2: I filosofi italiani fuori dall’Accademia. Festival, televisione
e dibattito internazionale, di Roberto Esposito | leggi

Abstract
Esposito believes that the contemporary Italian philosopher is finding a way out to reach a more vast and complex audience than the only academic one. The ways through which he is doing this are mainly three: pop philosophy, television’s debates and the spreading of his thought into the global world. Each one brings a risk within: when knowledge widens to the point of losing its boundaries it may also implode eventually.
¶ Sezione Seconda - Esercizi di stile Pop-filosofico
{ Musica
Articoli/3: Il jazzista è un eroe
di Massimo Donà| leggi

Abstract
The main difference between the classical and the jazz approach to music can be found in the respective conception of time and space. Classical music relies on the music page as philosophy has relied on universal concepts. In front of the static and silent “space” of the score, the interpreter can only try to get close to the perfection of written music. Jazz musician, however, gets rid of this subjection to space and rather plays a different equally valid truth every time he deals with the score: he is a hero against destiny, history and settled truths.
Testi/3: E il naufragar m’è dolce in queste note... Nichilismo e canzonette
di Marcello Veneziani| leggi

Abstract
In this article, Marcello Veneziani, an Italian philosopher and journalist, thinks over the relationship between nihilism and Italian pop-music. Music reflects their times and we can find many pop songs with nihilistic themes and ideas such as suicide, God's death, "spleen" and so on. Starting from the nihilism’s thesis, which says that life is without an objective meaning, purpose or intrinsic value, it makes sense to be devoted to pleasure and hedonism. According to Veneziani, Vasco Rossi, maybe the most important Italian singer, supports a practical nihilism singing about a life full of drugs, excesses and transgression even though meaningless.
Testi/4: I pop à penser raccontano un mondo. Analizzare i cantanti ci aiuta a capire il nostro immaginario
di Maurizio Ferraris| leggi

Abstract
From philosophy, to linguistic, to anthropology, popular music seems to be able to revive the contemporary thought in unexpected ways. The most famous philosophers – as Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Derrida – were passionate in the music of their time. According to Maurizio Ferraris, nowadays those philosophers would have probably relied on pop music as a kind of mythology of the outside world.
Articoli/4: Rihanna o dell’opera d’arte collettiva
di Salvatore Patriarca| leggi

Abstract
In this article the author aims to give a different interpretation of the mass art concept through the analysis of one of the most relevant contemporary mass phenomenon: the pop star Rihanna. Four classical philosophical dichotomies – singular/plural, biological/artistic, individual/universal, real/performing – change their meaning when confronted with contemporary products such as pop music.
{ Sport
Articoli/5: Epica e calcio. La filosofia del goleador
 di Elio Matassi| leggi

Abstract
In this article the author analyses the connection between the game of football and epic poetry. Epic poetry is not dead: heroes and anti-heroes still live in the football world. For instance some really famous soccer players as Totti, Zanetti, Del Piero and Maldini are considered real heroes by their fans because they never changed team. Elio Matassi makes a connection between Ettore and Achille, perhaps the heroes of the most famous epic poem, Iliade by Omero, and two contemporary soccer players Totti (as Ettore) and Ibrahimovic (as Achille).
Articoli/6: La posizione Ultrà: gradinata, nichilismo e mentalità
di Davide Grossi| leggi

Abstract
On the 2nd of May 2014, just before the ending game of Coppa Italia 2013/2014, which was held in Rome, one of the most tragic occurrences in Italian football took place. The media reactions to that day’s events are the starting point of this article. The author digs into the Ultra’s common laws and relationships with the State in order to demystify the prejudices with whom this and other violent events have been treated by national press and public opinion.
{ Fiction
Articoli/7: Aristotele U.S.A. e getta. Il sale delle merci,
le nuove serie tv e lo spettacolo della società̀
di Tommaso Ariemma| leggi

Abstract
Starting from a manifestation of contemporary beauty, this case study proposes a critical analysis of the media societies, spotted in the new American TV series. After seeing the Aristotelian principles of narration used by the American cultural industry, we also find a new way of understanding narration, in the more specific ‘serial storytelling’, with interesting effects on the spectators’ engagement.
Articoli/8: Downton Abbey o della Bellezza perduta
di Cesare Catà| leggi

Abstract
In Downton Abbey the crisis from which our contemporary paradigm was born is completely redefined. Moving from Jung analysis, the author points out how the success of this show can be explained for its function as an archetype for the audience. Through presenting the values and social dynamics of England’s society in the period covering the First World War, as a fairy tale or a myth would do, Downton Abbey tells us about the lost essence of our civilization.
Interviste/4: La filosofia di True detective.
Conversazione tra Marco Filoni e Salvatore Patriarca| leggi

Abstract
Salvatore Patriarca and Marco Filoni analyze the HBO’s True Detective series in order to understand both the success of the first season and to discover the inner philosophical issues that lie in the conversation between the main characters. Some sketches from the episodes are taken as examples in a show where dialogues, directions, locations and timeline are used in the same way philosophers use concepts.
Interviste/5: Breaking Bad o del diventare se stessi.
Conversazione tra Alessandro Alfieri e Salvatore Patriarca | leggi

Abstract
Many keys of interpretation have been proposed in these months for Breaking Bad, the popular award-winning tv show: the Walter White’s descent to hell; the turning of the hero into an anti-hero; the powerless man’s nietzschenean Will of Power; the possibility of understanding life’s meaning through death… many different ways to gain un understanding of the plot. Here the authors point out a different line of interpretation: chemistry as the main Walter White’s interest and as the core motion of the entire series. This conversation with Alessandro Alfieri, which took place in 2014 during Popsophia Festival’s edition, is an attempt to interpret the plot through a philosophy of chemistry.
Articoli/9: Homo homini zombie. Su morale e stato di natura,
da Thomas Hobbes a The walking dead̀
di Antonio Lucci| leggi

Abstract
This article presents a deep analysis of the Zombie revival (lead by HBO’s The Walking Dead) of those last years. Starting from the Catholic’s “expecto resurrectionem mortuorum” and through the categories of modern political philosophy, the author makes a comparison between the imaginary of the “ones who waits” and the reality of a post-zombie world where the Hobbesian state of nature rules over individuals and morality.
Articoli/10: Il ritorno dei vampiri. Antropologia mostruosa
e immaginario vulnerato
di Monia Andreani| leggi

Abstract
The reason why vampire is such a successful icon of our time is not easy to find out. Though, the huge success of products as Twilight or HBO’s True Blood shows the undeniable success of the American Vampire’s model worldwide. In this article the author wish to read this mainstream revival as the symptom and synonymous of the collective imagination, which is affected by cultural and social changes and which must face a still not predictable future.
Articoli/11: Nostalgia del presente. Tra cinema e serie tv̀
di Enrico Ghezzi| leggi

Abstract
Here are presented by Enrico Ghezzi three short essays about cinematography and television production. The first one deals with the relationship between cinema and television series, in particular for what concerns the different fruition by the viewer and reason why one should or should not engage with this kind of fruition. The second one is an articulate definition of cinema as nostalgia of the present. The last one is about the cinematographic mood of David Lynch’s Tween Peaks and some of his philosophical features.
Testi/5: Fins de séries̀
di Laura Odello e Peter Szendy| leggi

Abstract
The article, written by Laura Odello and Peter Szendy, analyses the different conclusions that a TV series may have. Through many examples – such as the last episode of House of Cards season one, the last gestures of Walt in Breaking Bad, the funerals of the Six feet under’s protagonists, the death of doctor House, the last frames of Sopranos – the authors describe the “general closeout” of the series’ last episodes and the impossibility (even if necessary) of putting an end to a serial storytelling.
{ Fumetti
Interviste/6: La filosofia di Dylan Dog. Intervista a Giulio Giorello
a cura di Lucrezia Ercoli| leggi

Abstract
In this interview, Giulio Giorello, an Italian philosopher, mathematician and epistemologist, analyses Dylan Dog's personality from a philosophical perspective. Dylan Dog is the main character of the Tiziano Scavi’s horror comics created in 1986. Dylan's endless thinking over the real meaning of things, his bitter irony on rhetorical language and his living in an unreal London hanging between reality and dream are the characteristics that makes him a real anti-hero. According to Giorello, Dylan Dog is the ideal spark for a philosophical thought.
Articoli/12: Il potere del fumetto. Topolino tra sogno e realtà̀
di Ilaria Cozzaglio| leggi

Abstract
In this article, Ilaria Cozzaglio, a young Italian philosopher, analyses, from a philosophical point of view, the funny animal cartoon character Mickey Mouse created by Walt Disney. Mickey Mouse (Topolino in the Italian version) has a strong philosophical approach to things; he thinks in a way that let him make sense of a world that seems meaningless. He is a real rebel with an insatiable curiosity and in his adventures we find scientific and political issues and reflections around the categories of logical reasoning.
Articoli/13: E nessuno ha mai detto che poi avremmo dormito
sonni tranquilli. Un’etica da X-Men
di Stefano Petruccioli| leggi

Abstract
In this article, Stefano Petruccioli, an Italian philosopher and journalist, assumes that reading comics is a deeply philosophical experience. Petruccioli chooses the X-Men, a team of superheroes that appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, as the subject for a philosophical essay. Their “thankless heroism”, strictly linked to a strong guilty-feeling and exaggerated responsibility, reminds us that a real ethical action is always disturbing.
{ Pop-capitalismo
Articoli/14: Iperrealismo morale applicato: la citta, le cose, il bene
di Flavio Michele Ceci| leggi

Abstract
In this article the author comments the book Il bene nelle cose by Emanuele Coccia, pointing out the main ethic consequences of this kind of hyper-realistic moral approach to the goods with whom we surround ourselves everyday. From the ambiguous relationship human kind have always had with goods to the technique environment, this new vision of markets and commodities makes this work a controversial but important one.
Articoli/15: Il più profondo è il make-up̀
di Debora Dolci e Francesca Gallerani| leggi

Abstract
In this article, Debora Dolci and Francesca Gallerani think over the real meaning of make-up. Because what make-up does is ‘hiding’, at least changes the real lineaments of woman, it has always been considered as a trick. Starting from this assumption, it should exist a unique and stable face compared to a multiplicity of fake faces that women made using rimmel and lipstick. Actually, it doesn't exist a unique and stable identity because our “ID” is splitted into a multiplicity of identities. So, make-up is not a trick, on the contrary helps women to portray the multiplicity of their identity.
Articoli/16: La nostalgia nell’era della sua riproducibilità tecnica
di Paolo Pagliaro| leggi

Abstract
In this article, Paolo Pagliaro, an italian journalist, tells us that a strong feeling of “nostalgia” for the past characterizes the contemporary age. People believe that past ages are perfect or in anyway they overestimate them. This feeling of nostalgia, according to Pagliario, concerns particularly politics. Especially young people idealize the great politicians of the past; they miss the revolution times and glorious political fights. Regretting the past is what Milan Kundera calls “the mathematical paradox in nostalgia”: the more the time passes, the more we regret it.