Mario Perniola

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Mario Perniola (born May 20, 1941, in Asti, Italy) ranks as one of the most impressive figures in contemporary Italian philosophy. He has distinguished himself by his analyses on art theory, contemporary arts and aesthetics. His work is connected to the avant-garde, Situationist International, postmodernism, posthumanism and critical theory.

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[edit] Life

Mario Perniola received his formal philosophical education under Luigi Pareyson, in the famous Turin school where Umberto Eco and Gianni Vattimo also graduated. His work however also focuses on the avant-garde. His early interest was in metaliterature, that drew Eugenio Montale’s attention. From 1966 to 1969 he was closely connected to the Situationist International founded by Guy Debord with whom he kept on friendly terms for several years. Full professor at the University of Salerno from 1976 to 1983 and then at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” (Italy) where he continues to teach. He has been Visiting Professor in many universities and research centres in France, Denmark, Brazil, Canada, Japan and the U.S.A. He is the author of many books that have been translated into several languages. He has directed the journals «Agaragar» (1971-3), «Clinamen» (1988-92), «Estetica News» (1988-95) and «Ágalma. Rivista di studi culturali e di estetica» (since 2000).

[edit] Perniola's Philosophy

In his philosophical research he has worked on four main issues, developing radical and challenging theories: the body as a thing that feels; ritual without meaning; différance as a post-dialectic opposition; and art as a historical category. The first concept is closely associated with the trends of contemporary thought that have dealt with reification (Marxism), sexual fetishism, and impersonal feeling. The second concept is connected to the latest anthropological and historical investigations on ritual, focusing on the ancient Roman world and Catholicism. The third belongs to a tradition of thought that goes from Friedrich Nietzsche, Georges Bataille and Martin Heidegger to Jacques Derrida and deconstruction. The fourth explores the historical and social conditions surrounding the development and appreciation of artistic and aesthetic experiences, drawing on a trend of research started by Cultural Studies, Media Studies, and touching upon issues also dealt with by Theodor Adorno and Jean Baudrillard.

[edit] Works by Perniola

1. Il sex appeal dell'inorganico, Torino, Einaudi, 1994, 2004, ISBN 88-06-16996-3.

The Sex-appeal of the Inorganic, translated by Massimo Verdicchio, London-New York, Continuum, 2004, ISBN 0-8264-6245-6.

Der Sex-Appeal des Anorganischen, translated by Nicole Finsinger, Wien, Turia & Kant, 1999, ISBN 3-85132-195-2.

Le sex-appeal de l'inorganique, translated by Catherine Siné, Paris, Léo Scheer, 2003, ISBN 2-915280-00-2.

El sex appeal de lo inorgánico, translated by Mario Merlino, Madrid, Trama, 1998, ISBN 84-89239-07-X.

O sex appeal do inorgânico, translated by Carla David, Coimbra, Ariadne Editora 2004, ISBN 972-8838-04-2.

O sex appeal do inorgânico, foreword by Massimo Di Felice, translated by Nilson Moulin, São Paulo, Studio Nobel, 2005, ISBN 85-7553-052-6.

Japanese translation, forthcoming.

2. Contro la comunicazione, Torino, Einaudi, 2004, ISBN 88-06-16820-7.

Contre la communication, translated by Catherine Siné, Paris, Lignes/Manifestes, 2004, ISBN 2-84938-024-5.

Contra la comunicación, translated by Carlo R. Molinari Marotto, Amorrortu, Buenos Aires – Madrid, 2006, ISBN 84-610-9005-5.

Wider die Kommunikation, translated by Sabine Schneider, Berlin, Merve Verlag, 2005, ISBN 3-88396-213-9.

Contra a comunicação, translated by Manuel Ruas, Lisboa, Teorema, 2005, ISBN 972-695-633-1.

Contra a comunicação, São Leopoldo, foreword by Manuel da Costa Pinto, translated by Luisa Raboline, Unisinos, 2006, ISBN 85-7431-211-8.

Iletisime karsi, translated by Durdu Kundakçi, Ankara, Dost Kitabevi, 2006, ISBN 975-298-228-X.


3. L'arte e la sua ombra, Torino, Einaudi, 2000, 2004, ISBN 88-06-14737-4.

The Art and Its Shadow, foreword by Hugh J.Silverman, translated by Massimo Verdicchio, London-New York, Continuum, 2004, ISBN 0-8264-6243-X.

Die Kunst und ihr Shatten, translated by Anja Hilgert, Köln, Diaphanes, 2004, ISBN 3-935300-15-8.

El arte y su sombra, translated by Mónica Poole, Madrid, Cátedra, 2002, ISBN 84-376-1992.

A arte e a sua sombra, translated by Armando Silva Carvalho, Lisboa, Assirio & Alvim, 2006, ISBN 972-37-1087-0.


4. Del sentire, Torino, Einaudi 1991, 2002, ISBN 88-06-16254-3.

Do sentir, translated by António Guerreiro, Lisboa, Editorial Presença, 1993, ISBN 972-23-1690-7.

German translation, translated by Sabine Schneider, Berlin, Merve Verlag, forthcoming.

Spanish translation, forthcoming.


5. La società dei simulacri, Bologna, Cappelli, 1980.

Blaendverker, abridged Danish translation, foreword by Carsten Juhl, translated by Carsten Juhl, Aarhus, Syakalen 1982, ISBN 87-88175-02-2.

E koinonía ton omoiomáton, translated by Paola Caenazzo, Atene, Alexandria Publ. 1991, ISBN 960-221-023-0.


6. Transiti. Come si va dallo stesso allo stesso, Bologna, Cappelli, 1985, foreword to the 2° edition by the author, 1989.

Transiti. Filosofia e perversione, New edition, foreword to the 3° edition by the author, Roma, Castelvecchi, 1998, ISBN 88-8210-113-4.


5a - 6a. Ritual Thinking. Sexuality, Death, World, foreword by Hugh J. Silverman, introduction and translation by Massimo Verdicchio, with the author’s introduction, Amherst (USA), Humanity Books, 2000, ISBN 1-57392-869-0.

Pensando o Ritual. Sexualidade, Morte, Mundo, foreword by Annateresa Fabris, translated by Maria do Rósario Toschi, with the author’s introduction, São Paulo, Studio Nobel, 2000, ISBN 85-85445-92-0.

Chinese translation by Lu Jie, Bejing, with a new introduction specifically written by the author, Beijing, The Commercial Press, 2006, ISBN 7-100-04552-5/B_657.


7. Enigmi. Il momento egizio nella società e nell'arte, Genova, Costa & Nolan, 1990, ISBN 88-7648-109-5.

Enigmas. The Egyptian Moment in Society and Art, translated by Christopher Woodall, preface to the English Edition by the author, London-New York, Verso, 1995, ISBN 1-85984-061-2.

Enigmes. Le moment egyptien dans la société et dans l'art, translated by Robert Laliberté et Isabella di Carpegna, preface to the French Edition by the author, Bruxelles, La Lettre Volée, 1995, ISBN 2-87317-037-9.

Enigmas. O momento egypcio na sociedade e na arte, translated by Catia Benedetti, preface to the Portuguese edition by the author, Lisboa, Bertrand Editora, 1994, ISBN 972-25-0762-1.

Enigma. Egîputo, barokku, sen nen shumatsu, translated by Atsushi Okada and Tadashi Kanai, Tokyo, Arina Shobo, 1999, ISBN 4-7566-9957-X.

Enigmas. Egipcio, barroco y neobarroco en la sociedad y el arte, translated by Javier García Melenchón, Murcia, Cendeac, 2006, ISBN 84-609-9288-8.


8. Disgusti. Nuove tendenze estetiche, Milano, Costa & Nolan, 1999, ISBN 88-7648-321-7.

Ekel. Die neuen aesthetischen Tendenzen, translated by Nicole Finsinger, Wien, Turia & Kant, 1999, ISBN 3-85132-271-1. Spanish translation forthcoming.


9. Bataille e il negativo, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1977.

Philosophia sexualis. Scritti su Georges Bataille, New edition updated, Verona, Ombre Corte, 1998, ISBN 88-87009-08-2.

L'instant étérnel. Bataille et la pensée de la marginalité, translated by François Pelletier, preface to the French edition by the author, Paris, Méridien/Anthropos, 1981, ISBN 2-86563-024-2.


10. Dopo Heidegger. Filosofia e organizzazione della cultura, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1982.


11. L'estetica del Novecento, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1997, ISBN 88-15-06028-6.

Estética del siglo veinte, translated by Francisco Campillo, Madrid, Visor, 2001, ISBN 84-7774-611-7.

A estética do século XX, translated by Teresa Antunes Cardoso, Lisboa, Editorial Estampa 1998, ISBN 972-33-1348-0.

De esthetica van de twintigste eeuw, translated by Annie Reniers, Brussel, Vubpress, 1998, ISBN 90-5487-187-3.

Estetika 20. století, translated by Helena Lorenzová, Praha, Universita Karlova v Praze, 2000, ISBN 80-246-0213-X.

Estetika 20 stoletja, afterword by Lev Kreft, translated by Aleksa Susulic, Ljubljana, Sophia, 2000, ISBN 961-6294-25-3.

Estetika dvadesetog veka, translated by Drenka Dobrosavljevic and Marija Matic Radovanovic, Novi Sad, Svetovi, 2005, ISBN 86-7047-474-3.

Japanese translation, forthcoming.


12. Le ultime correnti dell'estetica in Italia, in “Storia della letteratura italiana. Il Novecento. Scenari di fine secolo”, Milano, Garzanti, 2001.

De siste stromniger i italiniensk estetikk, translated by Gry Solbraa, Oslo, Agora 2001.

Spanish translation forthcoming.


13. Del sentire cattolico. La forma culturale di una religione universale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2001, ISBN 88-15-08205-0.

Abridged Portuguese translation, forthcoming.


14. Più che sacro, più che profano, Milano, Mimesis, 1992, ISBN 88-85889-34-4.

Mais-que-sagrado, mais-que-profano, translated by Dione M.D. Busetti, in “As questiones do sagrado na arte contemporânea da América Latina”(Maria Amélia Bulhões and Maria Lucia Bastos Kern ed.), Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2000, ISBN 85-7025-408-3.


15. L'alienazione artistica, Milano, Mursia, 1971.

L'alienation artistique, foreword by Pierre Sansot, translated by Anton Harstein, Paris, U.G.E., 10/18, 1977, ISBN 2-264-00187-9.


16. I situazionisti, Roma, Castelvecchi, 1998, 2005, ISBN 88-7615-068-4.

Spanish translation, forthcoming.


17. Presa diretta. Estetica e politica, Venezia, Cluva, 1986, ISBN 88-85067-25-5.

Estética e política, abridged Portuguese translation, foreword by António Guerreiro, translated by Luiz dos Santos Lisboa, Sagres, 1991, ISBN 972-9499-00-4.


18. Il metaromanzo, Milano, Silva, 1966.


[edit] Further readings

_ Giovanna Borradori, Recoding Methaphysics. The New Italian Philosophy, Evanston:Northwestern University Press, 1988.

_ Robert Burch, The Simulacrum of Death: Perniola beyond Heidegger and Metaphysics?, in Feeling the Difference, Extreme Beauty. Esthetics, Politics, Death (James Swearingen & Johanne Cutting-Gray Ed.), New York-London, Continuum, 2002.

_ Alessandro Carrera, Review to Disgusti, in Canadian Review of Comparative Literature, vol. 27, no.4, December 2000.

_ Stella Sandford, The Sex Appeal of the Inorganic: Philosophies of Desire in the Modern World, in Radical Philosophy (London), 2004, no. 127.

_ Robert Lumley, States of Emergency: Cultures of Revolt in Italy from 1968 to 1978, London-New York, Verso, 1994.

_ Mark Sink, Review of Enigmas. The Egyptian Moment in Society and Art, in New Statesman & Society, 25 August 1995.

_ Hayden White, The Italian Difference and the Politics of Culture, in Graduate Faculty Philosophy Journal, New School for Social Research, New York, 1984, no. 1.

_ Hugh Bredin, Review to L'alienazione artistica by Mario Perniola, in The British Journal of Aesthetics, Winter 1972.

_ Farris Wahbeh, Review of Art and Its Shadow and The Sex Appeal of the Inorganic, in The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Vol. 64 no. 4 (Fall 2006).

_ John O' Brian, The Art is getting slippery,in Art World (USA), 1996, no. 1.

_ Paolo Bartoloni, The value of suspending values, in Neohelicon, 2007, no. 34.

_ Christian Descamps, Mario Perniola et les rites contemporains, in Le Monde, 4. Civilisations, Paris, La Découverte, 1984 (in French).

_ Dell'Arti Giorgio - Parrini Massimo, Catalogo dei viventi 5062 italiani notevoli, Venezia, Marsilio, 2006 (in Italian).

_ Nils Roller, Simulation in Joachin RITTER- Karlfried Grunder, Historisches Woterbuch der Philosophie, vol. IX, Basel, Schwabe & CO AG, 1971-2004 (in German).

_ Joseph Fruechtl, Und dann heisst es wieder: Ich habﾕs doch gar nicht so gemeint, in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 31 Marz 2006 (in German).

_ Rosa Maria Ravera, Introducciòn a Pensamiento Italiano Contemporaneo, Fantini, Rosario, 1988, pp. I-XLV (in Spanish).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

The Sex Appeal of the Inorganic: A Conversation between Sergio Contardi and Mario Perniola ( http://www.psychomedia.it/jep/number3-4/contpern.htm )

Review of “Ritual Thinking. Sexuality, Death, World” (http://www.sirreadalot.org/religion/religion/ritualR.htm )

Sinnerbrink’s Review of “Art and its Shadow” in ( http://www.film-philosophy.com/, 2006, issue n.2 The Body of the Image

Haroldo Ceravolo Serena, Entrevista con Mario Perniola, Ir à Roma antiga para entender o mundo moderno,“O estado de S.Paulo”, 3 dezembro 2000 (in Portuguese) (http://www.italiaoggi.com.br/not12/ital_not20001205c.htm )

Ágalma. Journal of Cultural Studies and Aesthetics (in Italian) (http://www.uniroma2.it/agalma/)

Blog on “Feeling Thing” (in Italian) http://cosachesente.splinder.com/

Mario Perniola in Wikipedia (in Japanese) (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9A%E3%83%AB%E3%83%8B%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9)