Apocalisse, mito, ecologia: lo sguardo cosmico di Pasolini

This essay explores Pier Paolo Pasolini’s visionary perspective on the ecological and existential crises of modernity, framing his work within an apocalyptic, mythological, and environmental lens. Through a critical reading of Pasolini’s films, essays, and especially the posthumous novel Petrolio, Fiorillo argues that Pasolini foresaw a symbolic and material collapse of humanity due to capitalist homogenization, environmental degradation, and the loss of cultural specificity. Pasolini’s concept of the “new Power” is analyzed as a diffuse, productive force that reshapes human life and the environment, leading to an irreversible anthropological mutation. The article also situates Pasolini’s work within broader philosophical and literary discourses, referencing thinkers like Mark Fisher, Antonio Moresco, and Peter Sloterdijk, and connecting Pasolini's mythopoetic vision to contemporary debates on the Anthropocene and ecological catastrophe. By linking myth (e.g., the Argonauts), cosmic imagery (space travel), and ecological consciousness, the paper contends that Pasolini’s “cosmic gaze” provides a unique ethical and aesthetic stance on the planetary condition of humanity. Ultimately, Fiorillo presents Pasolini as a prophetic figure whose artistic output challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the Earth, time, and future generations.