As part of the program dedicated to the Romanian Literature Month in Rome, organized under the auspices of the Romania-Italy Cultural Year 2026, the third meeting confirmed the growing interest of the Italian and Romanian public in contemporary Romanian literature.
The event took place on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in an emblematic space of cultural life in the Italian capital – the Spazio Sette Bookstore, located in the center of Rome.
Under the vault decorated with frescoes from the 17th century, a large audience participated in the dialogue between the writer Matei Vișniec and the professor Bruno Mazzoni.
The debate, dense and provocative, addressed very topical themes: the role of literature in a world undergoing continuous transformation, the relationship between artistic creation and totalitarian societies, as well as the impact of new technologies and artificial intelligence on the human condition.
During the dialogue, reflections were formulated about the paradoxical nature of man and the origins of the literature of the absurd: “Whoever lived in absurd societies knows that the literature of the absurd has its origins there. Absurdity also exists in human nature, often reflected in actions that can endanger one’s own life”, emphasized Matei Vișniec.
The discussion also explored contemporary dilemmas related to technology and identity: the idea that man could create artificial intelligence as a form of self-transcendence, but also of intellectual self-cancellation, as well as the temptation to become a “hybrid”, between human and machine. In this context, the deeply paradoxical character of the human being was highlighted: a miracle of creation, but also a potential threat to itself.
Another central point of the debate was the distinction between problems and dilemmas: if problems can have solutions, dilemmas remain open, and literature becomes the privileged space in which they can be explored and understood.
The series of meetings organized every Tuesday turned into a true cultural itinerary to discover Romania, in the heart of Rome, bringing together a diverse audience – from intellectuals and students to representatives of the Romanian associative environment and entrepreneurs – in a constant and fertile dialogue.
The Romania-Italy Cultural Year 2026 contributes significantly to increasing the visibility of Romanian literature, by promoting both established authors and those from the new generations or from the diaspora.
The event was organized by the Romanian Embassy in Italy, the Ministry of Culture and the National Library of Romania, in collaboration with Spazio Sette Libreria and Voland Publishing House.
The “Romanian Literature Month in Rome” program continues in the coming weeks, with new meetings organized in reference cultural spaces, offering the public the opportunity to discover some of the most relevant voices of contemporary Romanian literature. More information here: https://roma.mae.ro/local-news/3840
Photo credit: Nicu Floroaica
