Essere il Rinascimento. Strategie di identificazione nella poesia italiana contemporanea

Abstract

This paper starts with the hypothesis that contemporary Italian poetry is openly questioning the notion of identity. It therefore proposes to read the references to Renaissance visual civilization as elements of a new identity process in full development, aimed at redefining the role and legacy of Humanism. The first section describes four strategies adopted by poets in identifying with sixteenth century paintings and the thesis is exemplified by a body of texts dedicated to Tintoretto. The analysis then extends to the construction of fluid identities, in a transnational, post-traumatic and gender perspective relating to Botticelli and Pinturicchio. In the concluding paragraphs I propose to pinpoint the causes of this renewed interest in the Renaissance in the post-humanist debate. Finally I suggest to visualize the dynamics of identity processes with the support of a woodcut by Dürer in relation to Stefano Dal Bianco’s thesis on classicism and on contemporary Petrarchism.