Turning Round La Brutta Figura
21 viewsItaly is a very image conscious country - just wander down any Italian street and you will see beautiful shops and elegantly dressed passers by. The places and people are examples of ‘la bella figura’ - which means ‘creating the right impression’. The opposite of the ‘bella’ version is ‘la brutta figura’, which is similar in concept to the French ‘faux pas’, only in Italian culture ‘la brutta figura’ is somewhat worse than its French equivalent. In the eyes of the world Italy is one making big brutta figura at the moment, thanks in no small part to recent articles in internationally read newspapers.
While some dismiss these articles as foreign interference, many of the people I know, would not disagree that things are not going all too well in the land of pizza and Ferrari. These people are aware of Italy’s brutta figura, and it is embarrassing. However, there is the possibility that the embarrassment that these mischievous articles have generated may actually help reverse the downward slide which is occurring in the Living Museum. Two changes would make a noticeable difference. First, the electoral laws need to be properly reformed, and second all that is needed is quite simply a few new faces in Italian politics, and, possibly, the forthcoming collapse of the Prodi government may just provoke someone who can bring about such change into Italian politics.
That someone is the present head of Ferrari and the Italian employers’ federation chairman Luca di Montezemolo, and there are rumours that once his presidency at the federation ends he will enter politics. Heck, I really hope so. He would be something of a breath of fresh air in Italy, and he certainly has the management skills necessary to put together the right team and thus get down to sorting things out. Whether he will be able to navigate the veritable ocean of vested interests is another question, but seems to have done OK at Ferrari and Fiat, both of which are quintessentially Italian companies, warts, vested interests, and all. So it sounds as though he may stand a sporting chance.
The slight fly in the ointment, or so it would seem, is that Prodi’s band of brothers has collapsed a short time before Montezemolo managed to enter the scene . However, all may not be lost, because you see, the next elections will result in the same old unloved but familiar faces gaining power, and this will further lower the Italian populace’s esteem in those who purport to lead them. Enter stage right Montezemolo and, with a little luck some electoral reform will be carried out, he will sweep the field, and his mere presence may well give the majority of Italians the impression that there is still a ray of hope shining through what has been becoming an ever more overcast sky.
And, never fear, if Montezemolo really does manage to get the Italian ball rolling once more, there are more than enough talented Italians to keep it rolling in the right direction. This I know, I am lucky enough to teach plenty of them. And the frustration that has built up in such people is, at the same time, serving to stoke the fires of ambition, and, in the not too distant future the flames emitted by these people will reduce the old and ineffective to mere ashes.
La brutta figura will lead to la bella figura, or, as we say in English ‘every cloud has a silver lining’. Just you wait and see.
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I really hope that from ‘brutta figura’ we get back to ‘bella figura’. I have high esteem of Montezemolo. I met Montezemolo personally when he was a young boy since we lived in the same Roman district for a while and he is only one year older. I can tell you that his talents were evident even at that age (acute intelligence plus a good sense of humour, to name a few).
One last thing. I didn’t know I was in your blogroll. Thank you. I will read your blog from now on (I found it only today). An English person of Italian origin, as far as I understood. It seems so interesting.
All the best
ManofRoma
ManofRoma,
Very interesting to hear from someone who has actually met the Montezemolo and also holds the man in high esteem!
If he were to enter Italian politics and could avoid being dragged the more muddy aspects of the Italian political establishment, then I’m sure he could do good things.
As for your being in my blogroll, I came across your blog some time ago, thought it was a gem, and added it.
You have understood correctly that I have Italian origins, albeit from quite a few generations ago. I thing it was my great grandmother who was Italian - on my mother’s side. Indeed, my mother’s mother looked quite typically Italian from the few photos of her I have seen. Alas my mother’s mother died many years before I was born.
The Italian side of my family actually came from Milan, as I believe I have mentioned in the ‘about’ section. So you could say that I have come back to my roots, even though I found myself in Italy more through chance than by design. Having said this, I do find myself quite at home here, and have no intention of returning to the UK.
It’s odd at times how destiny leads one in certain directions. And at times, this almost makes one wonder whether someone or something planned it this way.
Kindest regards to you,
Alex
Thank you for you appreciation and now that I am getting into it I think your blog is great too. I have to thank *windrosehotel.blogspot.com* for finding it. He added a comment to my blog telling me he found me through you (exciting the way blogs link to one another, a totally new world to me). His space seems so interesting too, plus an Italian who masters English is an exception in this country.
As far as Montezemolo, he is a great guy and I’d have many anecdotes to tell about him and us, since we were in the same school, but I do not think it is right to get into gossip ah ah ah.
All the best
ManofRoma