Gianfranco Manfredi (intellectual), an eclectic figure

He described himself as eclectic and identified with a “Sagittarius” centaur, not only because he was born on November 26 (1948). In the intellectual Gianfranco Manfredi (who passed away on January 24, 2025), there were far more than two sides to his personality: he was a historian of philosophy, a political singer-songwriter, a screenwriter for film and television, an actor, a novelist, a comic book artist, a keen observer of social customs and cultural history, and much more besides. Throughout a career spanning more than half a century, his curiosity about the many languages of modernity consistently shone through, along with his ability to navigate them with amused irony. And Manfredi’s success as a comic book artist—particularly with Sergio Bonelli Editore, through Tex, Dylan Dog, and “his” Magico Vento—did not diminish the vitality of his many earlier writings and narratives.

This extraordinary figure—an eclectic intellectual—will be the focus of a conference at IULM University on November 12 and 13, organized by Paolo Giovannetti and Rocco Moccagatta (with the contribution of the Department of Communication, Arts, and Media "Giampaolo Fabris ") No, it wasn’t an illness. Gianfranco Manfredi, an eclectic intellectual, Scholars will seek to define Manfredi, trace his multifaceted interests, and bridge the gaps between worlds and media. Academic experts in cultural and political history, cinema, and comics will join witnesses, friends, and colleagues, who will recall their past collaborations and certainly reaffirm Manfredi’s relevance in the heart of today’s diverse media landscape. How does his work allow us to grasp certain characteristics of contemporary song, comedy films, “satirical” television, and comics? To what extent do his reflections on certain contemporary myths—beginning with the figure of the zombie—influence our present and help us understand it? What does it mean to work in the cultural industry while always keeping the needs of contemporary audiences firmly in mind?

We will attempt to answer these and other questions during the conference, as well as during other events taking place that same week, both on and off the IULM campus, designed to explore Gianfranco Manfredi’s body of work in greater depth: screenings of films for which he wrote the screenplays (Liquirizia, 1979, S. Samperi, and Il nido del ragno, G. Giagni, 1988), book presentations (his unpublished essay Kong e i suoi fratelli. Storia del cinema scimmiesco, Allagalla , 2026), and special evenings dedicated to his theater work and songs.

The complete program for the conference and accompanying events will be announced shortly.

No, It Wasn’t an Illness
Gianfranco Manfredi: An Eclectic Intellectual

Aula Seminari (IULM 1)
November 12, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
November 13, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.