Bradford A. Masoni

Alessandro Cabiati. Baudelaire and the Making of Italian Modernity: From the Scapigliatura to the Futurist Movement, 1857–1912

Introduction

Alessandro cabiati. Baudelaire and the making of italian modernity: from the scapigliatura to the futurist movement, 1857–1912. Explore Baudelaire's profound influence on Italian modernity, tracing its impact from the Scapigliatura to the Futurist Movement (1857–1912). A study of literary and cultural evolution.

Abstract

Review

Alessandro Cabiati’s study, *Baudelaire and the Making of Italian Modernity: From the Scapigliatura to the Futurist Movement, 1857–1912*, promises an illuminating exploration into the formative years of Italian literary and cultural modernism through the pivotal lens of Charles Baudelaire. The ambitious scope, spanning over half a century and connecting two distinct yet profoundly influential movements—the Scapigliatura's early aesthetic rebellion and Futurism's radical break with tradition—suggests a nuanced and historically grounded analysis. This work positions Baudelaire not merely as a source of influence, but as a crucial catalyst in the very construction of an Italian modernity, offering a fresh perspective on the transatlantic flow of ideas and the complex process of cultural appropriation. Based solely on its compelling title, the work appears set to offer a meticulous account of how Baudelaire's aesthetic, themes, and worldview permeated and shaped the nascent stages of Italian modernity. The choice to trace this influence from the Scapigliatura, with its melancholic, decadent, and anti-bourgeois impulses, to the Futurists, with their embrace of speed, technology, and violent rupture, points to a sophisticated understanding of Baudelaire's multifaceted legacy. The study would presumably delve into how specific Baudelairean concepts—such as the flâneur, the poetics of the city, the juxtaposition of beauty and decay, or the concept of modernity itself—were interpreted, adapted, and transformed within the unique cultural and political contexts of post-Risorgimento Italy. The precision of the timeframe (1857–1912) further suggests a deep engagement with primary sources and a detailed tracing of reception history. While the absence of an abstract prevents a detailed assessment of the methodological approach or specific arguments, the title itself raises crucial questions that the work likely addresses. For instance, how does Cabiati define and differentiate "Italian modernity" in relation to its French counterpart through Baudelaire's lens? What specific aspects of Baudelaire's oeuvre resonated most deeply with these diverse Italian movements, and how did they adapt or transform his influence to suit their own artistic and ideological agendas? Ultimately, this research appears poised to make a significant contribution to both Baudelaire studies and the understanding of Italian literary history, offering fresh perspectives on the transnational nature of modernist development and the enduring power of a single poet to shape a nation's artistic consciousness.

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