Valerio Evangelisti and the Imagination as Revolution

How could it be a theoretical/poetic statement that was not written by Valerio Evangelisti? Certainly not far from celebrities I believe By James G. Ballard: “I believe in the power of imagination to shape the world, to unleash the truth within us, to stalk the night, to outrun death, to enchant highways, to please birds, to assure the trust of fools…”

Certainly not far from the words of the surrealists: art, poetry, revolution, love, changing the world, changing lives. In the combination of these elements emerges the importance of building fantasies, fantasies against the power of surveillance capitalism and an entertainment society that numbs intelligence and eliminates the ability to act. In an interview Evangelisti conducted with Ballard in 2006, the English writer argues that the use of mass communication is functional to a new kind of sentimental politics: «Because that is the key to everything: emotions. Emotions are always with us. Never think: it is wrong to think.

One cannot think of freedom without freedom of imagination was one of the slogans during the emergence of Berlusconi (“Berlusconi-Bedouest media dictatorship” were Bivo’s words) and as emphasized by Nico Massentelli in Reconstructing an Experience Carmelaa magazine (printed since 1995, online since 2003) founded and directed by Evangelisti: «Carmela was born in opposition to the colonization of fiction by the media, by the entertainment community».

This contribution are collected in Phantom rebellion. Valerio Evangelisti is an author, campaigner, and theorist in literature science (Edited by Sandro Moiseo and Alberto Sebastiani, Mimisis, p. 226, 20 €). A volume that is not celebratory but opens up useful contributions to both today’s literature and political intervention, beginning with the many and complex aspects of an evangelist’s work.

In this « unofficial wunderkammer From the imagination of the author who has made his distinguishing feature the critique of the current mode of production and the inevitable apocalypse that accompanies it towards the future », writes Moiso, we find the contributions of Luca Cangiati, who weaves links between literary research and political activism; by Walter Catalano, Fabio Ciabatti and Franco Pezzini who narrate the “contemporary” power of the Detective Emmerich cycle, by Domenico Gallo dedicated to the deconstruction of the “fascist fanta” and the radical practice of science fiction, by Paolo Lago in the heterogeneity of the cycle dedicated to pirates; By Moiso on connections and differences with Salgari, by Aberto Sebastiani that delves into the “forms and discourse of comedy in the Evangelisti”, by Gioacchino Toni that contextualizes life and does well marshalling ideals and revolutions that have their roots in two centuries «Emilia-Romagna rebellious».

To the creation of the Evangelicals In addition to Ballard, the Surrealists, Dick, Elroy, Vonnegut, Manchet, we must add – Gallo does well to remember – such authors as George Moss and Furio Jesse. The Polish writer based his criticism on the writings of these scholars to dismantle the mythical machine unleashed by the neo-fascist culture. The sprawling attack by Gianfranco de Torres of Evoli on Evangelisti is no accident, very similar to the one that follows every repost right-wing culture Jesse. The “blood and soil” myth that establishes hierarchies against the myth that decolonizes imaginary and opens up to revolutionary transformation, as Evangelisti has taught us.

The volume will be presented at the Vag61 space in Bologna on April 15 from 2:30 p.m. as part of an initiative in memory of Evangelisti and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Carmela online.