For a sociology of the imaginary. Notes about Vivere nelle immagini by Fabio La Rocca

A central theme of international sociological debate concerns the fundamental role of the imaginary. It reflects the contents and forms of society, and relaunches processes involving different spatio-temporal contexts. In this respect, Fabio La Rocca's thoughts are certainly relevant. He offers an in-depth analysis of society's transition from a focus on spectacle to information culture, and takes a comprehensive look at important segments of the modern and contemporary imaginative encyclopedia. The Italian sociologist shows how the kaleidoscopic ensemble of metaphors, symbols, and allegories that fuel modes of expression proves to be both an indicator of, and a hermeneutic tool for, the extra-aesthetic aspects of reality. La Rocca highlights the significant role of the imaginative horizon both in the representation and constitution of social complexity.