Conferences
Conferences about nerd culture and contemporary social themes.
Available for private and public events, physical and online meetings. Topics can be researched on request.
Contact me for quotations.
Current and past panels
Adrian, Disney, Jovanotti, and the CRINGE. When pop culture tackles big issues and fails miserably.
Recorded at Bologna Nerd Show, February 17, 2023.Mainstream culture constantly grapples with topics like feminism, inclusivity, and environmentalism, but misrepresentations often lead to communication disasters. Even major productions like Netflix, Disney, and Adriano Celentano are not immune to criticism. The series "Adrian," Marvel's failed attempts at creating "woke" superheroes, and Netflix's romanticized depictions of abuse are just a few examples highlighting these companies' clumsy efforts to address such sensitive issues.
With the collaboration of Mattia Bulgarelli, (Awe Edizioni).
Is fantasy racist or not? A reconnaissance from Tolkien responding to the Nazis to the role-playing game by Burzum.
Recorded at Bologna Nerd Show, February 17, 2023.Fantasy has evolved from being a second-rate genre to a first-rate literary genre. Similarly, consumers' sensitivity towards themes like racism, often indirectly present in fantasy works, has changed over time. The link between Lovecraft's conservatism and ethnic stereotypes in role-playing games like "Dungeons & Dragons" and "Vampire: The Masquerade" raises questions about racism within the nerd community. The keyword is one: bioessentialism.
With the collaboration of Mattia Bulgarelli, (Awe Edizioni).
Apocalyptical girella enthusiasts and how to scare them. How and why comics and cartoons of the past "were political."
Recorded at Bologna Nerd Show, February 18, 2023.The Girella, a mythical snack of the '80s, influenced the childhood of a generation of Italian nerds. Naturally, some long for that infantile golden age when comics and cartoons were devoid of political content. Today, however, there is an increasingly prominent presence of political symbolism in comics and cartoons, from the queer characters in "Sandman" to entirely female superhero universes. This situation elicits different reactions from the audience, dividing them into "apocalyptics" and "integrated." But does such a golden age truly exist, where comics and cartoons were devoid of politics? Let's travel back in time in search of a lost dimension where comics had no political subtexts.
With the collaboration of Mattia Bulgarelli, (Awe Edizioni).
Godzilla vs. King Kong. Pulgasari vs. the Empire. Hulk Hogan vs. the Indominus Rex (!). History observed by the kaiju.
Recorded at Bologna Nerd Show, February 18, 2023.Let's consider the kaiju, the giant monsters born with King Kong and represented by Godzilla, who define a cinematic genre in which monstrosities clash for the future of humanity. It is an escapist genre: many Godzilla films and numerous American monster movies are even geared towards a child audience. However, artistic criticism teaches us that art, even the commercial one, reflects contemporary society. Kaiju films tell us of modern history through fragments of culture and society of their time.
With the collaboration of Mattia Bulgarelli (Awe Edizioni).
Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Zack Snyder. Lights and Shadows of Three Fandoms (Preannounced by Rocky Horror Picture Show).
Recorded at Gardacon, March 27, 2023.Fandom, active and passionate communities, has gained tremendous power over the years. In addition to creating content and engaging in debates, they influence the commercial success of works through memes and reviews. The initially unsuccessful film Rocky Horror Picture Show became a cult phenomenon thanks to its fandom. The power of fans is real. Let's see what happens when it backfires.
With the collaboration of Mattia Bulgarelli (Awe Edizioni) and Zeth Castle.