Antonio Porta
Antonio Porta, born Leo Paolazzi on November 6, 1935, in Vincenza, Italy, was a significant figure in 20th-century Italian poetry and literature. He earned a degree in literature from a college in Milan in 1960 and began his literary career with the publication of his first major poetry collection, *La palpebra rovesciata*. Porta was an influential member of the Italian literary community, contributing to various literary journals and helping to establish several important publications, including *Maleboge* and *Quindici*.
In 1961, he was featured in the groundbreaking anthology *I Novissimi*, which showcased a group of avant-garde poets who sought to redefine poetry by intertwining it with political themes and experimental language. Porta was a founding member of Gruppo '63, a collective that aimed to break away from traditional societal norms in Italy. His poetry collection *Zero: Poesie visive* (1963) exemplified his radical approach, pushing linguistic boundaries and influencing a new generation of poets.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Porta's work evolved into more unified narrative forms while maintaining his exploration of language's limits. His collection *Invasioni* (1984) earned him the prestigious Premio Viareggio. Antonio Porta passed away on April 12, 1989, in Rome, but his literary legacy continues to resonate, with his works still being widely translated and published.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Antonio Porta
Poet
- Born: November 9, 1935
- Birthplace: Vincenza, Italy
- Died: April 12, 1989
- Place of death: Rome, Italy
Biography
Antonio Porta, the pseudonym of Leo Paolazzi, was born in Vincenza, Italy, on November 6, 1935. He attended college in Milan, earning a degree in literature in 1960, before starting a career in publishing. Porta was active in the Italian literary scene, publishing his first major book of poetry, La palpebra rovesciata, in 1960. He also was involved with a number of literary journals, serving as an editor for Il Verri and helping to found Maleboge, Quindici, Tabula, Alfabeta, and La gola.
In 1961, the anthology I Novissimi: Poesie per gli anni sessanta (the newest poets: poems for the 1960’s) was published, one of the most important events in twentieth century Italian literature. Edited by Alfredo Giulini, the anthology included work by the editor and by Porta, Nanni Balestrini, Elio Pagliarani, and Edoardo Sanguineti. This group of avant- garde poets wrote in response to the hermetic school of poetry, then the dominant force in Italian letters. They believed that poetry is inextricably connected to politics and should be dedicated to experimentation in language.
Two important events occurred in 1963: Porta published his poetry collection Zero: Poesie visive and helped found Gruppo ’63, a group of Italian intellectuals and radicals who called for a break from traditional Italian society. The core members of this group were the poets whose work appeared in I Novissimi and other important thinkers and writers, including Luciano Anceshi, Umberto Eco, and Amelia Rosselli. In Zero, Porta equates poetry to zero and pushes the language to its extremes. This book was deeply influential among the young poets of Italy and Gruppo ’63 was one of the most important literary movements of the mid-twentieth century. The group held annual meetings and founded Quindici, a literary journal that began publishing in 1967. This journal was an important voice among Italian radicals until it ceased publication in 1969 in the wake of student uprisings that ultimately led to the dissolution of Gruppo ’63.
Porta published several volumes of poetry during the 1960’s, including I rapporti in 1966, Partita in 1967, and Cara in 1969. While still writing prolifically in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Porta’s poetry shifted to a more unified narrative form. However, he remained committed to exploring the limits of language, and his work continued to grow and change throughout the years. His collection of poetry, Invasioni (1984; Invasions, and Other Poems, 1985), received the prestigious Premio Viareggio in 1984.
On April 12, 1989, Porta died of a heart attack in Rome. His importance to Italian literature cannot be overstated. His work has been widely translated and published around the world. Edited collections of his work continued to be published decades after his death, implying that critical interest in Porta will continue into the twenty-first century.