This book is about the presence of utopian and dystopian elements in the Italian literary landscape. It focuses on four authors that are representatives of the various positions in the Italian cultural debate: Pasolini, Calvino, Sanguineti, and Volponi. What did concepts like utopia and dystopia mean for these authorsIs it possible to separate utopia from dystopiaWhat is the role of science fiction in this debateThis book answers these questions, proposing an original interpretation of utopia and of the social role of literature. The book also takes into consideration four of the most influential literary journals in Italy: Officina, il menabo, il verri, and Nuovi Argomenti, that played a central role in the cultural and political debate on utopia in Italy. "Utopia and Dystopia is a skillful synthesis of the work of Calvino, Sanguineti, Volponi and Pasolini, cutting-edge intellectuals of the latter twentieth century. Fioretti's book fills a gap in our knowledge of the literature of commitment in Italy by connecting it to the tradition of utopian literature in Europe, a framework the author explores theoretically and practically, and applies to the texts of these very diverse authors. By virtue of his method and the elegant and streamlined nature of his prose, Fioretti succeeds in presenting this complex material in a way that is highly legible and inviting, whether to the novice reader or the expert."--Thomas E. Peterson, Professor of Italian, University of Georgia, USA.
Includes bibliographical references and index.