The third meeting under the 'Romanian Literature Month in Rome' programme reconfirmed the growing interest of the Italian and Romanian public in contemporary Romanian literature and offered a thought-provoking dialogue between writer Matei Visniec and professor Bruno Mazzoni.

The event, organised by the Romanian Embassy in Italy, the Ministry of Culture and the National Library of Romania, took place on March 17 in an emblematic space of cultural life in the capital of Italy - the Spazio Sette Bookstore, famous for its vault decorated with frescoes from the seventeenth century.

The debate addressed the role of literature in a world in continuous transformation, the relationship between artistic creation and totalitarian societies, as well as the impact of new technologies and artificial intelligence on the human condition.

During the dialogue, reflections were formulated on the paradoxical nature of man and the origins of the literature of the absurd: 'Anyone who has lived in absurd societies knows that the literature of the absurd has its origins there. The absurd also exists in human nature, often reflected in actions that can endanger one's own life,' said Visniec.

The discussion also explored contemporary dilemmas related to technology and identity: the idea that man could create artificial intelligence as a form of self-improvement, but also of intellectual self-annulment, as well as the temptation to become 'hybrid' between human and machine. The profoundly paradoxical character of the human being was highlighted: a miracle of creation, but also a potential threat to oneself.

Another central point of the debate was the distinction between problems and dilemmas: while problems can have solutions, dilemmas remain open, and literature becomes the privileged space in which they can be explored and understood.

The series of meetings organised every Tuesday turned into a true cultural itinerary of discovery of Romania in the heart of Rome bringing together a diverse audience - from intellectuals and students to representatives of the Romanian NGOs and entrepreneurs - in a constant and fertile dialogue.

The Romania-Italy Cultural Year 2026 is said to contribute significantly to increasing the visibility of Romanian literature by promoting both known authors and those from the new generations or from the diaspora.

The 'Romanian Literature Month in Rome' programme continues in the coming weeks, with new meetings at in cultural reference venues, offering the public the opportunity to discover some of the most relevant voices of contemporary Romanian literature. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Mariana Ionescu; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)