Description
SPQR NOW
Book Summary
SPQR NOW proposes an unusual journey through the streets of Rome to reveal how the classical past filters into the global present. The author, Tono Vizcaíno Estevan, guides us through a critical analysis that uncovers the unpredictable Romanization of the 21st century. The reader will discover how ancient Rome is not a static legacy, but a cultural, political, and aesthetic model that is constantly reinvented in contemporary architecture, art, and the collective imagination. A visual and conceptual essay that invites us to rethink our relationship with history.
What is it about?
The book starts from an evocative premise: ancient Rome has not disappeared, but has instead transformed into a visual and symbolic language that permeates current culture. Through a walk through the Eternal City, the author identifies the traces of this process of silent Romanization in everyday elements, from advertising to urban design. The work analyzes how the Roman Empire has become a malleable benchmark, used by both the established power and the counterculture, and examines the paradoxes of a past that is constantly reinterpreted to make sense of the present. It is not a tourist guide, but a visual essay that connects archaeology, art theory, and cultural criticism.
Main themes
- The persistence of the Roman imaginary in contemporary visual culture.
- The political and aesthetic use of the classical legacy in the 21st century.
- Romanization as an unpredictable and constantly reinvented cultural process.
- The relationship between archaeology, urban space, and historical memory.
- Critical analysis of the classical tradition from a modern perspective.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in art history and art theory, especially ancient and classical art. It will also be of great value to students and professionals of archaeology, history, and cultural criticism. Likewise, it is a stimulating read for any curious person who wishes to understand how the Roman past continues to shape our present in subtle and surprising ways, beyond historical clichés.
What this book contributes
- An original and contemporary look at the influence of Rome, far from traditional textbooks.
- Keys to interpreting the presence of the classical world in current visual culture.
- An essay that connects disciplines such as archaeology, art history, and cultural theory.
- A critical reflection on how the past is reinvented to legitimize present-day discourses.
Technical specifications
- Author: Tono Vizcaíno Estevan
- Publisher: Sans Soleil Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Art theory, Art history: ancient and classical art, Ancient History, History, Archaeology, Archaeological theory
- Collection: Pigmalion
- Publication date: June 2021
- Number of pages: 184
- Weight: 537 g
Editorial review
SPQR NOW offers a fresh and scholarly approach to the permanence of the Roman legacy. Its interdisciplinary focus and its ability to connect the past with the most current cultural manifestations make it a work of interest for specialists and enthusiasts of art history and archaeology alike. The author's proposal, which combines academic rigor with a critical and evocative gaze, invites a deep reflection on how we construct our relationship with Antiquity. A book that provides a necessary perspective to understand the visual culture of the present.