Alessandro Baricco Urges Giving Voice to Thirty-Year-Olds to Challenge Orthodoxy

Italian writer Alessandro Baricco appeared as a guest at the Arena Repubblica Robinson, where he discussed the concept of heresy as a necessary response to rigid orthodox thinking. Baricco argued that Western intellectual frameworks are lagging behind rapid global changes, resulting in society asking the wrong questions. He emphasized the need to shift focus from older generations to thirty-year-olds, who possess the right questions even if they lack answers. Baricco described his personal evolution from avoiding narcissism to actively using his body and gestures in public performances, such as upcoming readings in Rome. While generally avoiding political discourse, he reflected on Italy’s recent election of Giorgia Meloni, suggesting her victory represented a heretical break from established political norms. The event also featured references to author Zadie Smith, highlighting a broader cultural conversation about generational shifts and the limitations of current intellectual elites. Baricco concluded that combining the experience of older generations with the fresh perspective of youth would be ideal, but currently, the younger voice is insufficiently heard.