You know, Edna, if it were easy to find, it would not be holy

Artwork © Kluzkk

In Search of the Holy Grail

The Middle Ages next to come

Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, April 28, 2025

A passage from Sergio Bettini’s book on L’arte alla fine del mondo antico (Art at the end of the ancient world) describes a world which is difficult not to recognise as similar to the one we are living in. “Political functions are assumed by a state bureaucracy; that accentuates and isolates itself (anticipating the Byzantine and medieval courts), while the masses become abstentionist (seed of the popular anonymity of Middle Ages); however, within the state new social nucleuses form around the different forms of activity (seed of the medieval corporations) and the large estates, that have become autarchic, herald the organisation of some large monasteries and of the feudal state itself”.
If the concentration of political functions in the hands of a state bureaucracy, its isolation from the popular base and the growing abstentionism of the masses are perfectly suited to our historical situation, it is sufficient to update the terms of the following lines to recognise something familiar here too. To the large estates evoked by Bettini correspond today economic and social groups which act in a more and more autarchic fashion, pursuing a logic completely detached from the interests of the collectivity, and to the social nucleuses that form themselves within the state correspond not only the lobbies which act within state bureaucracies, but also the embodiment of entire professional categories into government functions, as has happened in recent years for doctors.
Bettini’s book is from 1948. In 1971 Roberto Vacca’s book, Il medioevo prossimo venturo (The Middle Ages next to come), was published, in which the author predicted a catastrophic evolution of the most advanced countries, which would no longer be able to solve the problems related to the production and distribution of energy, transportation, water supply, waste disposal, and media and information literacy. If Vacca could write that the announcements of imminent catastrophe were in those years so numerous so as to produce a properly so-called “ruinographic” literature, nowadays apocalyptic predictions, especially those related to climate, have at least doubled.
Even if disasters — such as those produced by nuclear energy — are, if not probable, certainly possible — the demotion of the systems in which we live is conceivable without this necessarily taking the form of a catastrophe. The political, economic and spiritual break-up of European countries is, for example, now obvious even if they will continue to survive for a while yet. How, then, to think of the advent of a new Middle Ages? How can the political abstentionism that we see around us turn itself into a “popular anonymity” capable of inventing new and anonymous forms of expression and life? And how the isolation of state bureaucracies and the spread of autarchic potentates can herald the appearance of phenomena similar to the large monasteries, in which the exodus from the existing society produces new forms of community? It is certain that this can happen only if an initially small, but growing number of individuals will be able to read in the dissolving political forms the omen of new or more ancient forms of life.

(English translation by I, Robot)

Edward Robert Hughes, A Witch, 1902. Courtesy of WikiArt.

Yes, Edna, culture and education must be spread through the whole world and even further, because they refute the notion that ignorance and vulgarity are funny things

Artwork © Orli Dun

The Soul’s Code

Don’t take it too lightly, Edna — for, as they say, gratitude is a heavy burden to bear

Artwork © Frever

Readers and Reading

The 20-metre high Sisyphe bookshop inside The Ring, a brand new shopping centre in 重庆 (Chóngqìng)’s prestigious 北部新区 (New North Zone). Photo: Alessandro Gandolfi.

Well, Edna, paraphrasing a well-known formula, one might say, “one throne, two queens”

Artwork © HOOKEEAK (Kim Sun Young)

Journey to the Chianti

Spent Sunday with Mado Flynn and Memole at the Handmade Street Market in downtown San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Metropolitan City of Florence.

It is a curious thing, Edna, but your worshippers are luckier, because faith in you needs no oath

Artwork © C (@dane_cumbersome_19)

A Celestial Being

Four-time Women’s World Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), in her capacity of representative of referees, swore the oath just before the kick-off of the 2025 Open and Women’s Chinese Team Chess Championships in 张家口 (Zhāngjiākǒu), 河北省 (Héběi province), China, on Friday, April 25, 2025. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

You know, Edna, as Herbert Marcuse used to say, “Being is continuous becoming”

Artwork © C (@dane_cumbersome_19)

尋常之外 (Beyond the Ordinary)

Hey, Edna, do not be too sober in your heart, for there is only one life, and it should not be sacrificed for the sake of death

Artwork © C (@dane_cumbersome_19)

Haute Couture in a Garden

Monica and Sabrina’s creative display of Mado Flynn’s mini scented clothes, inspired by iconic dresses from the history of cinema. Have a look at La Bottega dei Fiori di Via Pisana, Via Pisana 236R, 50143 Florence, Italy.

A Throne of One’s Own

And yet, Edna, as the proverb says, 人不可貌相 (Do not judge a book by its cover)

Artwork © C (@dane_cumbersome_19)

A Welcome

Chinese honour guards perform at a welcome ceremony for Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, at the Great Hall of the People in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: Iori Sagisawa/EPA.

Have you noticed, Edna, that no one is ever loved in life as much as is loved in death?

Courtesy of Disney Parks

Butterfly Wings

A Palestinian boy displaced by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, spends his time playing with a pigeon at the large conference hall of the Islamic University, which has been turned into a temporary shelter. Photo: Anadolu/Getty Images.

Yes, Edna, an ice cream in a cone is like a dove in the sky on a sunny day

Artwork © Mahnoor Ansari (@jazmine.dezign)

The Ninth Gate

Magnus Carlsen – Vincent Keymer

9th GRENKE Chess Festival; Freestyle Open; time control: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; Karlsruhe, April 21, 2025

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Position #140

1. d4 d5 2. Nb3 f6 3. Nc5 Nd6 4. h4 a5 5. Bh2 b6 6. Ncd3 c5 7. c3 c4 8. Nf4 b5 9. f3 e5 10. dxe5 fxe5 11. Nxd5 Qxh4 12. g4 Ba7

Mutatis mutandis, Black is threatening scholar’s mate.
13. e3! Qh6! 14. Kg2 Qe6 15. e4 Nc7 16. Nc2 0-0-0 17. Nce3

With his last move Carlsen has offered a Queen sacrifice, but it is best for Keymer to decline it: 17. ... Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Nxe4? 19. Bxe4! Rxd1 20. Rcxd1 g6 21. Nf5! eventually followed by the Rook’s invasion at d6.
17. ... Qe8 18. Qe2 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 h5 20. Bg3 Be6 21. g5 Rd7 22. Rcd1

22. ... h4!? With almost no time left Black opts for a brilliant active defence — implying a Pawn sacrifice — which, in practical terms, cannot but be doomed to failure.
23. Bxh4 Qd8. The corollary of his previous move. Now the threat is ... Rh8xh4.
24. Qe1 Rh5 25. Qg3 Nf5?? Inevitably, with a few seconds on the clock, here comes the blunder of blunders.
26. exf5 Rxd5 27. Rxd5 Bxd5 28. Qg4 Bf7 29. g6 Qd2+ 30. Kh3 Rxh4+ 31. Qxh4 Bd5 32. Be4 Bxe4 33. Qxe4 Qh6+ 34. Kg2 Qg5+ 35. Qg4 Qd2+ 36. Kg3 Kc7 37. f6 Bf2+ 38. Kh3 Bc5 39. fxg7 Qh6+ 40. Kg2 Qd2+ 41. Kg3 1–0.

And so, Edna, happy be you, if you be happy

Artwork © Irina Kryvasheina

In the Cage

Étienne Bacrot – Magnus Carlsen

9th GRENKE Chess Festival; Freestyle Open; time control: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; Karlsruhe, April 19, 2025

qnrkrbbn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/QNRKRBBN w ECec - 0 1

Position #302

1. d4 d5 2. Ng3 0-0-0 3. 0-0-0 f6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Ng6 6. Nbc3 e5 7. dxe5 Rxd1+ 8. Rxd1 Nxe5 9. f4 Nc4. More prudent was to retreat to d7.

10. a4. Much stronger appears to be 10. Be2! (threatening the check at g4), for after 10. ... f5 11. Bc5! fxe4 12. Bxf8 Black cannot safely retake on account of the Bishop checking at g4.
10. ... b6 11. g3 f5 12. Bh3 Rxe4 13. Bxf5+ Re6 14. Qa2 Qc6 15. Nb5 Kb7 16. Nd4 Qd5 17. Bxe6 Bxe6

18. b3?? A sucidal move, which literally buries the White Queen behind its own Pawns. Simply 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. Qb3 would leave White with a not too comfortable but sufficiently tenable position.
18. ... Ba3+! 19. Kb1 Qh5! 20. Rd3

20. ... Qh3! 21. Rd1 Nd2+ 22. Ka1 Bb4 23. Qb2 Bg4 24. Rc1 Nf3 25. Nxf3 Bxf3 26. Qxg7 Nc6 27. Kb2 Bd2 28. Ra1 Qg2 29. Bd4 Be4 30. Bc3 Be3 0–1.

Ya know, Edna, they are still wondering whether the book is a hardcover or a paperback

Artwork © Bopblip

A Reader on Reading

Ahead of World Book Day, on April 18, Peking University hosted symposia on its “Inside the Scholar’s Study” book series, exploring “A Different Form of Dwelling” in the digital age. Four-time Women’s World Champion and PKU Professor 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured above, first from right, and below, fourth from right) featured as honoured guest and lecturer, sharing her special book recommendation. So take a look at what she is holding in her hand! Photo: Peking University.

Of course, Edna, you do not have long summer holidays like the Western universities

Artwork © Daniel Cotta

Light the Night

To be sure, Edna, it’s just a matter of priorities, and right now, gluttony comes first

Artwork © Jesus Arcia

In Search of the Soul

Please, Edna, be careful not to get indigestion of chestnut beignets au brocciu

Artwork © Santos Rositas | Art (@santosrositas.art)

A Stone in the Sea

Never-never Land

After School Special

A Pure Formality

And here below is the 9th and last game of one of the most one-sided world matches in chess history, which we give just for ”duty of chronicle”:

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 9; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 16, 2025

Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. Re1 Nd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. c3 a6 8. Bf1 Nc6 9. Na3 Be7 10. Nc2 d5 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 dxe4 13. d3 exd3 14. Bxd3 0-0 15. Be4 Bf6 16. Be3 g6 17. Qb3 Bxd4 18. Rad1 e5 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Qb4 a5 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Be6 23. Bd5 Rfd8 24. Red1 Rac8 25. Kf1 Rd6 26. Bxe6 Rxe6 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Kg7 29. Rd7 b6 30. g4 Kf6 31. Rb7 h5 32. gxh5 gxh5 33. Kg2 Kg6 34. Kg3 f6 35. h4 Kf5 36. Rh7 Kg6 37. Rb7 Kf5 38. Rh7 Kg6 39. Rb7 ½–½. And thus 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) successfully defended her title for the fourth time.

Once again, the inseparable couple, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and 倪华 (Ní Huá), proved the harmony of their partnership. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

After all, Edna, it all depends on what they are ready to offer in return

Artwork © Designer64942

Horizon effect

A woman spends leisure time at a waterside park in southwest China’s 重庆 (Chóngqìng). Photo: 王全超 (Wáng Quánchāo)/新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Come on, Edna, surely nothing terrible can happen on a day off like today!

Artwork © DrawkeL11 (@drawkel11)

But Not Today

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 8; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 14, 2025

Vienna Game C28

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Nf3 d6 6. 0-0 Bxc3 7. bxc3 0-0 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Na5 10. Bb3 Nxb3 11. axb3 Qe7 12. Re1 Qe6 13. d4 Nd7 14. Qd3 a6 15. Rad1 Re8 16. Bg3 b5 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. b4 Nh5 19. Nb3 Qg6 20. dxe5 Nxg3 21. hxg5 Rxe5 22. Na5 Bd7 23. Re3 Rae8 24. Rde1 f5 25. Qd4 Rxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Rxe4 fxe4 28. c4

It had to be revenge, but not yet. After 28 moves 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) was down a Pawn and the one begging for a draw, but once again 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) showed a rather fairy touch:
28. ... e3! 29. Qxe3 Qxc2 30. Qa7 bxc4 31. Qxc7 Bb5 32. Nb7 (32. Qxd6 c3−+)
32. ... c3 33. Nxd6 Qd3 34. Qf7+ Kh7 35. Nf5 Qd7 36. Qxd7 (36. Ne7 Qe8 37. Qf5+ g6 38. Qc5 c2−+)
36. ... Bxd7 37. Nd4 Ba4 38. Ne2 c2 39. f3 Kg6 40. Kf2 Bb5 41. Nc1 h5 42. Ke3 Kg5 43. Kd2

43. ... Bf1! 44. Nb3 Bxg2 45. Nd4 Bxf3!! 46. Nxf3+ Kg4 47. Nd4 Kxg3 48. Nf5+ Kg4 49. Ne3+ Kf3! 50. Nxc2 h4 51. Ne1+ Kg3 52. Ke3 h3 53. Nf3 h2 0–1.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) won her fourth game in a row and is now just a draw away from the longed-for crown. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.