Is not possible to start a discussion about culture without mentioning what in these days is scaring Europe: the IS terrorist attack in the heart of Paris is nothing but a menace to all of us. But there is also another reflection that we, as researchers and practitioners of culture, must underline in this act, and is that the choice of the sites point the attention on the very heart of our lifestyle: culture.
Since its beginnings IS has attacked with peculiar attention cultural sites: firstly site under the protection of the UNESCO, and then irreverent voices of European Culture (Charlie Hebdo). Now the attack has been addressed versus a theatre, a stadium and versus people who was spending their time in cafès.
This should make us consider once more the importance of culture in our lives. The nature of the attack followed the evolution of what has been for centuries intended with the word Culture: first the heritage, then the literature and freedom of expression and ultimately (this is our hope) the music and the sports.
I’m not a conflict expert, but to every observer should be clear that IS is fighting its war mainly on two dimensions: the fear and the symbol. Destroying cultural heritage sites has been for century one of the main abused symbols of war, but stadiums, theatres and boulevards are something new.
In my opinion it is not only a security level topic, there is something more. There is the importance of our immaterial infrastructure, the knowledge on which we base our lifestyle.
Everyone would be pleased to do anything in order to avoid any other attacks.
As women and men of culture, as researchers, as professionals of what characterize our lives, we know that the best we can do is working in order to better understand the reasons of the conflict, and to carry on our activities with proud and determination.
Improving the quality of our lives, the ways we appreciate our leisure time, providing citizens with cultural amenities so to allow them to enjoy arts, music, and all the other cultural productions.
Is what we’re trying to do with our Tafter Journal, and a special thanks is addressed to all the authors of this number.
