Hamlet in Venice. An Anthropology of Italian Theory

The essay analyzes the reading of Hamlet provided by Italian philosopher and politician Massimo Cacciari in the context of the current vogue for Italian theory in Anglo-American academia. It argues that Cacciari's interpretation can also be read against the grain as an example of that anthropology of Italy suggested by Luisa Accati's seminal book 'Beauty and the Monster' insofar as it suggests a political configuration typical of Cacciari's generation that has monopolized Italian politics and society and has offered very little space for women and younger people.