Last week, LaGazetta team had the opportunity to meet and interview Cesare Cunaccia; journalist, writer and the world citizen. 

The team had the occasion to discuss several topics with him, from his personal life and interest to his thoughts about the digitalization of media and it's new era.

LaGazetta: Can you talk about yourself: your background, current occupation, your passion?

Cesare: Yes of course, I studied Art and Architecture at the university IUAV in Venice. I started my journalism career as a writer of mostly music and opera contents. Subsequently, for various years, I have been Editor-at-Large at Vogue Italia with Franca Sozzani and I spent 25 years as Art & Antiques Consultant at AD Italia. I am both a journalist and a writer. I have written some books about the art and historical architecture of Italy and, among them, “Ville e Palazzi d’Italia”. The last books that I have written are “Capri Dolce Vita” and “Tuscany Marvel by Assouline”. I also wrote for several Italian and European magazines such as Panorama, Il giornale dell’arte, Connaissance des Arts and AD Germany, they are mostly about art, fashion, design, antiques, literature and culture. I’m currently the Senior Editor of the magazine Lampoon and I’m preparing two new Assouline books. I’m visiting professor in three International Masters at the LUISS university in Rome and, moreover, brand consultant and exhibition curator. 
My passions are also my work: art, ancient, modern, contemporary password. 
I love travelling a lot, thanks to the fact that I am living between Florence, Capri and Paris. My favourite cities in the world are Naples, Paris and Beirut. My most loved art period is Mannerism while my favourite artists are Pontormo and Cy Twombly.

LaGazetta: How can you describe the digitalization of the press and its pros and cons?

Cesare: I like to call it “robot journalism” because it definitely combines speed and efficiency, from technology to writing and large-scale dissemination. On the one hand, it enables a more flexible time and lets journalists concentrate on more complex topics. On the other hand, the risk of fake news proliferation is so high, it should not be underestimated. Also reading on paper is not comparable to a screen. The feeling is completely different. Digitalization had the strongest impact on the traditional idea of press. This phenomenal force democratized and made immensely large customer platforms.

LaGazetta: Do you use digital media tools? How is new media different from traditional media? 

Cesare: I only use Instagram actually, because I can translate my thoughts and feelings through pictures and images that I collect there. I think that the difference between new and traditional media depends on the demographic zones you are trying to reach, the message you want to communicate, your budget and personal preference. As more and more consumers rely on their smartphones for everything, new media has become an increasingly effective way to advertise. In spite of the way it is often positioned, traditional and new media do not have to go head-to-head. They complete one another, each one playing an active and vital role. 

LaGazetta: What do you think about fashion & technology? How can technologies be used for fashion?

Cesare: Innovation is important not only to continually improve the consumer experience, but also to ensure that the fashion industry is moving forward. A lot of fashion technologies help to improve the sustainability of clothing items or the manufacturing process, so in this way innovation and sustainability are both linked. 
If fashion brands aim to be more innovative and sustainable, if they can hope to engage more customers and profit while lessening their social and environmental impact on the planet.

LaGazetta: Finally, you wrote a book: “Capri Dolce Vita” with Assouline editions. How did you get inspired, and can you please describe the aim of the book?

Cesare: I have lived in Capri ever since my early childhood. Capri is the essence of my memory and imprinting, especially regarding my culture and life attitude. The book that I wrote, “Capri Dolce Vita”, is an homage to the beauty, the social soul and the immense amount of culture, art and suggestion which Capri has represented since more than two millennium and a half. 
That is the unique legacy of Capri, an intriguing place that in the early beginning of XX century revisit the classical roots of Greek and Roman heritage in a new kind of modernity. Capri attracted eccentrics, dandies, glamourous ladies, political agit-prop, writers and painters from every part of the world. 
Even now, despite the mass tourism, this incredible essence is still alive and significant. The sea is full of marvellous echoes of past civilizations and amazing colour reflection. Capri is the radiant geometry of Villa Malaparte, the decadent memories of Villa Lysis, the Ciglierà Promenade in Anacapri. The best pizza, called “pizza all’acqua” at Aurora restaurant, is a masterpiece. In addition, a walk at Eremo di Centrella, on Monte Solaro, an ancient Madonna shrine and heritage with a spectacular view, in an early spring morning, is a unique experience. 

30/11/2021