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Futuro Antico. Interview with Claudia Petrucci
18 lug 2023
Ludovico Pratesi
Passionate about science fiction, the young writer Claudia Petrucci envisions a future dominated by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Here are her responses:
What are your inspirational references in art?
My references don’t translate directly into my writing; they are more like artifacts that allow me to breathe as an artist. I have a deep passion for genre literature, particularly science fiction. One of my key influences is certainly Stanislaw Lem, as well as Primo Levi, with his collection of stories Storie Naturali. In literature, I also draw inspiration from authors like Clarice Lispector, Ingeborg Bachmann, and for poetry, Gottfried Benn. In film and theater, I am fascinated by the works of Charlie Kaufman, Andrei Tarkovsky, Christopher Nolan, Henrik Ibsen, and Luigi Pirandello. Another constant reference for me is the Sacred Scriptures, albeit in an obscure way. While writing Il cerchio perfetto, I was inspired by works like The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, Poema a fumetti by Dino Buzzati, and The Best Offer by Giuseppe Tornatore. Quatuor pour la fin du temps by Olivier Messiaen is another essential source.
What is the project that represents you the most? Can you tell us about its genesis?
The project that best represents my current vision is my latest novel, Il cerchio perfetto. In this work, I believe I’ve found a new balance in my writing, which I approached in an honest and authentic way. This novel expresses my devotion to storytelling and metanarrative investigations. Its genesis lies in the sketch of the floor plan of the house on Via Saterna, which becomes the focal point around which the entire story and its characters develop. Initially, I designed this villa to appear square from the outside, but it reveals a circular layout inside.
What importance does the Genius Loci have in your work?
As the protagonist Irene explains in the novel, I also believe in the Genius Loci as the spirit of a place and more. I find that in my writing, there is an undeniable and distinctive spirit that I recognize and, to some extent, submit to—described by readers as a lingering sense of unease, a constant pressure. In art, the Genius Loci is a composite sign that should make the author's hand immediately recognizable, in my opinion; something that transcends pure technique.
How important is the past in imagining and building the future? Do you believe the future can have an ancient heart?
In my novel, I write about a very near future that is nonetheless anchored in events from the past, shaping the protagonists' present in a circular narrative. For me, the future sometimes seems like a repetition with different connotations, which I believe is due to the tendency—quite characteristic of my generation—to look back nostalgically at our childhood in the late '80s and '90s, before the terrorist attacks of 2001.
What advice would you give to a young person who wants to pursue your path?
This has already been said by others more precisely, but in Italy, it’s not that difficult to get published. My suggestion is to approach writing with seriousness and a structured mindset while also thinking originally and outside the rigid application of references. Another crucial piece of advice I feel compelled to offer is to study and find a job that preferably has nothing to do with writing, from which you can secure your financial stability.
In an era defined by post-truth, does the concept of the sacred still hold significance and power?
As a child, I received a rather strict religious education, which was fascinating in its own way and I believe it shaped my understanding of the world as an adult. Even though I have distanced myself from the specific aspects of the doctrine, I consider my education in the sacred to be a fundamental part of who I am and how I perceive the world. I wouldn't give up that same education, even if I could go back. There is an invaluable sacredness in the way we live and, above all, in how we confront death and cultivate the love that permeates our existence. The concept of the sacred, understood not just in a religious sense, is intrinsic to each of us.
How do you envision the future? Could you share three ideas that you believe will guide the coming years?
Artificial intelligence and machine learning, sustainability, and the return of significant migrations.