In this country—because it is a country, with its parochialism, gossip, and all the rest—there's a gigantic gap between real issues and what we often propose, the overused "mainstream," the general discourse, the silent imposition of information. But is the ratings topic of a music competition really that important? Is what TV presents truly a mirror of the nation? Millions of people under 30 in Italy don't know what's on their televisions because they use YouTube, Twitch, and some social media, and if they watch anything at all, their only sustenance is something from Netflix.
Then there are the soccer fans, who instead of being passionate about Mazzariello versus Loredana Bove, watch Inter, Juventus, and Real Madrid all their lives. A good portion sleeps soundly. Few make love at that hour, because I have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow morning. Those who stay, if they stay at all, watch Sanremo.