During this global pandemic and quarantine, we hear a lot of talking about a war-like situation. Sure, there are some similarities between the two emergency circumstances. On the other hand, psychology, strategy and social system play a total different role…
Coronavirus, a chance to walk on the other side
When the whole world was looking at Italy with worry, the virus was spreading everywhere else. This is because that worry wasn’t always “genuine”, but more often led by a stereotypical consideration of Italy, (one of) the“open flank” of Europe. With all the lack of controls and weak structures… (allusion by some news from England), being the country of disorganization and slowness “par excellence” (tacit from some French news). And this attitude came also from our debate. Is this disturbing? Yes, because it doesn’t tell the whole story…
Nouri Bouzid, facing any taboo in the Arab world
“In our tradition there is a strange reversal of roles, where the rapist is proud and the victim must be ashamed”. I remember once, when I returned to my city in Sfax, I met my brother and other friends and acquaintances playing cards in a bar. I joined them, and I recognized someone who had been a rapist when we were younger, even though he was a few years older than me. Well, at a certain point he said to me, and repeated it several times, without anyone reacting in any way: “if I had raped you as a young man, you would not have had the courage to open your mouth now”…
Nuovi media, vecchie criticità
Siamo abituati a pensare che internet prima e i social network poi abbiano rivoluzionato e democratizzato il mondo dell’intrattenimento e dell’informazione, rendendo obsoleto ogni altro media antecedente. Ovviamente non è così, non del tutto almeno. Perché se il mezzo è certamente più rapido e capillare, le dinamiche alle spalle sono grosso modo sempre le stesse…
The mad (female) scientist
Thinking about great women scientists, in these hours, we especially have in mind Katherine Johnson, the woman who brought the man on the moon, recently deceased at the age of 101, and Ilaria Capua, well-known virologist that absolves Italy from its brand new “infective stereotype”…
The barber and his pivotal role in societies
More than just taking care of style, the figure of the barber – reconsidered thanks to hipsters – historically dealt with a lot of aspects that, apparently, had nothing to do with razors, scissors or shaving foam…
Beard trends through History
The symbolism assumed by the beard affected trends and fashion throughout centuries. Growing one could have been seen as a sign of poverty like in ancient Egypt, of rebellion like during the Italian Risorgimento or of a lack of hygiene like during proto-Christianity. The Roman emperor Julian the Apostate even wrote a satire against the beard detractors (Mispogon)…
The vegan is not an idiot
It’s a classic: vegetarianism (no to meat) and veganism (no to any animal derivative), have just defeated the oldest stereotype of “they are bad for children health” and are almost recognized as better diets, that TV and media in general are starting to unleash the baddest “carnivores” (usually men) against the most docile and defenseless herbivores (usually women). As if the clash between these, if then a clash must exist, were placed on the level of “sensitivity” and “being strong”, and so on with other cliches…
Mass tourism, detrimental and democratic
Changing is scary, it’s a natural feeling. Mass tourism is a product of social, economic, geographic transformations and adjustment takes time, resources and efforts. So, in the name of an unbearable status quo, the problem is reduced to elitist positions that go against those who, just few years ago, could only have dreamed of a day trip…
I hate the mobile phone, don’t you?
Roma, Italy. A cellphone rings in a crowded bus. A boy takes it out of his pocket, turns the ringer off, and puts it back in place. The lady pressed up against him smiles and, with a sort of complicity, asks: “You don’t feel like answering, do you?” “No, now it’s not really the moment”. She sighs as a sign of understanding and comments “I’m not saying it’s not useful… but sometimes the phone is just a real hassle!”, “Yeah” he says while others around silently nod…