February 7, 2020
Cover image: Denise Turu from Who Is My Neighbor? (Flyaway Books 2019)
"Us," Not "Them": Opening the Conversation
A significant moment arrived last month when Civiltà Cattolica — the prestigious and widely read Jesuit journal directed by Antonio Spadaro — published a reflection by Justin Glyn titled "Us," Not "Them": Disability in the Church. The core argument of the Namibian Jesuit is that physical and mental disability are manifestations of the limits that belong to humanity as a whole, limits that Jesus himself assumed through the incarnation. Glyn addresses many dimensions of this question, not all necessarily shared, but certainly invaluable for the essential conversation they open (spirituality and disability was the theme of Ombre e Luci no. 3/2019). This is a conversation we need to nurture and advance. For that reason, we asked an initial response from Stefano Buttinoni, author of a recent book on the subject, which Cristina Tersigni reviews. Two voices — Glyn and Buttinoni — each taking a different approach to the celebrated concept of inclusion, which in practice remains largely hollow.
"Do you think there is such a thing as clothing for disabled people?" Valentina Tomirotti, a "journalist on wheels" (as she describes herself), asked on Twitter not long ago. That question is where we started when we decided to focus the first issue of 2020 of Ombre e Luci on the relationship between fashion and disability. In exploring the construction of truly inclusive paradigms and practices, we arrived at some fascinating conclusions: while there is still much ground to cover, it is true that scenarios unimaginable just a few years ago have opened up. From Gerber's choice of Lucas (a child with an extra chromosome) as a spokesperson to the importance of self-care; from wheelchaired mannequins and textiles designed for people with autism, to Jillian Mercado, who felt shut out by a world that worships beauty and became one of its stars. In our regular sections, Silvia Gusmano shares in Testimony her "second first day of school" (how Fede e Luce shaped her work as a teacher), while in Entertainment, Cristina Tersigni presents the first of four documentaries, The Body of Love, devoted to the difficult and crucial subject of affection and sexuality in disability. As always, we open with an interview — this time featuring Maria Goffi, a ceramics enthusiast with big dreams and a face that stands out from the ordinary.
Our special on Cinema and Disability grows with a contribution from Armando D'Amato, a film enthusiast at the La Fabbrica dei Sogni day center, and with the presentation of a rich dossier that our French cousins at Ombres et Lumière devoted to the topic in issue 232 of their magazine.
Benedetta's Blog
Me, Lorenza, and the Ham
I don't know if I like shopping. I really don't. I haven't figured it out. No clue. Everyone tells me to take some money and go to the store and buy something. But why should I do that? I don't know. But in the end I go anyway. Keep reading...
Calendar
Rome — Marking 30 years of Il Carro, the association is offering a three-part reflection on the founding themes of its group home experience. The first event is March 8, with registration closing March 1.
In Theaters — The documentary Lourdes, directed by Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai, arrives in Italy with a preview on February 11 at the Institut Français - Centre Saint-Louis in Rome and in select theaters only February 24, 25, and 26.
Rome — The community Il Chicco dell'Arca presents the concert Leadership with the Beatles on February 20 at 6:30 p.m., via Ancona 1, Ciampino (RM).
Naples — Ten years after the Verona edition, the National Deaf Association organizes the Third National Conference on Deafness from February 20–22. An update on the latest scientific research and socio-cultural perspectives in the field of hearing disability. Registration closes February 14.
Fede e Luce Life
The Festival of Light celebrations have begun: in Rome, Milan, Naples, and Bari the event took place last Sunday, and photos are already up on the Fede e Luce website.
The Edelweiss community (Messina) posted a video of moments from their January 2–4 Christmas camp. The theme was "On the Road."
On Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8, the San Gregorio community stages A Christmas Carol at Santa Silvia parish in Rome. Full details here to attend the performance.
For more news, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.