Zerocalcare at Giffoni: 'I've always been insecure, I have no recipes for happiness'

Italian comic artist Zerocalcare, celebrated for his Netflix series that concludes the trilogy started with 'Strappare lungo i bordi' and 'Questo mondo non mi renderà cattivo,' shared his thoughts at the Giffoni Film Festival. Known for his frankness, Zerocalcare admitted to feeling perpetually "tangled up" and insecure, a theme that resonates deeply with young audiences who identify with his portrayal of inadequacy and fragility. He expressed that he often struggles to provide definitive answers or advice, as he himself grapples with these feelings.

“

I am evidently a tangled-up person, I always have been, and the stories I tell are about these tangles. And what hooks the kids I meet is exactly this, the sense of inadequacy, of insecurity, of fragility, etcetera. And so in reality, I often find myself not knowing what to answer, in the sense that someone thinks that because I talk about these things, I have, I don't know, more knowledge or the answers. But I have no idea, I have no advice to give, because otherwise, if I had advice, I would be much better off than I am...

Zerocalcare highlighted that his work connects with young people because it addresses the anxieties and uncertainties of navigating life. He noted that while his stories delve into insecurity, they also touch upon civic engagement, political commentary, and historical memory, referencing events like the G8 in Genoa. He also recommended the French animated short series 'Les Lascars' as a significant influence.

“

I have always paid attention to the stories of the last ones. I use my language to push people to become interested in issues that are distant from them. We live in a time when there are no horizons to look at. The seventies were different, but perhaps even then there were too many lenses of fascination. Surely now everything has collapsed.

Reflecting on his artistic process, Zerocalcare spoke about the influence of punk culture, particularly the "do it yourself" mantra. He stressed the importance of careful word choice to avoid misinterpretation, acknowledging that this meticulousness can sometimes hinder artistic interpretation by leaving less room for the reader's imagination. He also touched upon the difficulty of separating his public persona from his work, stating, "It is also difficult to distinguish the work from the character."

“

It influenced me a lot. The basic rule is do it yourself, meaning do things yourself and they don't even need to be perfect.

Despite his success, Zerocalcare conveyed a sense of frustration, stemming from a desire to act on the high values he was raised with. He questioned the possibility of true happiness, admitting he has often used the pursuit of the unresolved and anxiety-inducing as an excuse for his own unhappiness.

“

I think I am very didactic. And honestly, the idea of being misunderstood terrifies me, which is why I think carefully about every syllable and try to define my message. This represents a damage from an artistic point of view, because there should always be room for interpretation for the reader. But in my case, it is also difficult to distinguish the work from the character.