How will you communicate?
Taking my cue from Pistoletto’s ‘demopratic’ provocation, I’d say that I hope that the future will be animated by παρρησία, that is the willingness to say everything, without duplicity and being aware of the revolutionary power of truth, which, not by chance, is often the field of action of art.
New technologies, in fact, present us with opportunities and risks: on one hand is the unmediated and horizontal communication of social networks, where everybody plays the same part, the role of opinion leader is abolished because anybody can become an influencer, and the public is not only a passive recipient of communication but a participating subject; on the other is the risk of dehumanization, of a loss of sense, of propaganda and Orwellian manipulation, of transforming the public into mere followers. What future will prevail?
As of today, the topicality of themes like the fake news, the post-truth society, the influence of international powers on elections suggest that the pessimistic theory might have relevance. To the pessimism of the intellect, I juxtapose the optimism of willingness. But this means that, as a society, we have to implement measures so that the web is a transparent and participatory space and not a manipulated and manipulating sphere; as individuals, we have to refer back to the Greek concept of παρρησία, a moral imperative which allows democracy to work on a practical level instead of devolving into formalism. A challenge we can win all together. With awareness, of course. The awareness that art and culture have the power to instil in our consciences, to awaken the followers from the torpor and lead us back to a model of active citizenry.