Standardization (literature class essay)

Fifty-three years ago, the writer Pier Paolo Pasolini announced the "standardization" of the habits and customs of the Italian population through mass media. Although the author explained the dynamics of this phenomenon in the 1970s, they are still very relevant today, as the means of communication have increased, and so has consumerism.

He states that "real cultural models are being disowned." While this is undeniable, I believe it is an inevitable consequence of societal development. Being born into a technological boom, where trends travel the world and change quickly, I could not imagine a digital world made of people who still wear their traditional clothing. Personally, I am very attached to my local culture; even though it is not an integral part of my daily life, I believe that today there is no need to practice one's culture out of obligation. However, it is important not to forget it, and I find it wrong to ignore the traditions that have accompanied a country for centuries.

If in the past those who had no contact with distant countries were inevitably bound to their own traditions, today technology pushes us to look elsewhere, often making us forget our roots. In this context of globalization, seeing traditions, dishes, and holidays from other cultures spread into one's own country can appear extremely interesting, but the risk is seeing local peculiarities vanish. Phenomena like the arrival of new migratory flows and the cultural standardization of young people lead to a loss of traditions that, if no longer passed down, risk disappearing forever.

This transformation is also fueled by a consumerism that has changed profoundly over time. Right now, we live in a frantic society based on consumerism, where companies aim to sell as much as possible by creating goods that last for shorter periods. Once, a purchase was an investment for the family, based on quality and durability. Today, purchasing has become an individual act, a way to assert oneself. We feel a deep need to satisfy artificial needs, created to push us to consume without ever feeling truly fulfilled.

The urge that pushes us to buy the same things and behave in the same way is what feeds the phenomenon of F.O.M.O. (Fear of Missing Out), the fear of not keeping pace with others and remaining excluded.

I believe it is essential to eliminate these artificial needs to truly understand who we are. We must find the courage to re- embrace our unique roots, remembering that Italy is a mosaic made of many small, distinct cultures. Only by rediscovering our identity can we authentically share it with others and learn the empathy necessary to connect with new realities.

My final literature essay! I know it sounds a bit patriotic, but you know...