The Modern Art of Seduction

An architect in love with art and culture, a writer who narrates the world of interpersonal relationships with irony and intelligence: Luca Fiocca is all this and much more. On April 2, 2025, on the occasion of the three hundredth anniversary of Giacomo Casanova’s birth, his essay “If It Is Turtledove To Water Back” was officially presented (at Nhero Milano, Via Felice Casati, 44, h: 17.30), a semi-serious compendium that tackles the theme of contemporary seduction with acumen and lightness. The date coincides with the international launch of the English edition, “If It Is Turtledove To Water Back,” marking a new milestone for a project that is already capturing the attention of the public and the media.

Fiocca’s idea is what he himself defines as “born from the discomfort of the contemporary male.” The essay draws inspiration from a reality that few dare to tell: the Latin male, once the emblem of confidence and charm, now seems to be experiencing a crisis. Data from a recent study conducted by the National Research Council (2020) revealed that 40% of Italian teenagers still believe that it should be the man who supports the family, and one in four males thinks that the man should be in charge at home. These alarming data demonstrate how gender stereotypes persist among young people, highlighting not only the reflection of an anachronistic mentality but also a worrying cultural delay that hinders a more balanced and equal vision of relationships between men and women.

The situation is also present in the relational dynamics of adults. A survey conducted by Ipsos for Save The Children in the same year highlighted how this stereotypical reality influences the opinions and behaviors of Italian teenagers, with a significant portion associating certain behaviors and emotional abilities with the female gender, while logical and assertive skills are perceived as more evenly distributed between genders. This rigidity in roles can lead to difficulties in interpersonal relationships, making seduction an art to be rediscovered with new rules and a sensitivity updated to modern times.

A vision that contributes to a growing shyness and lack of initiative in sentimental and social dynamics. Even international star Charlize Theron recently highlighted this issue with a statement that sparked discussion: “I’ve been single for ten years. Someone should step forward! I am scandalously available.” A statement that, more than a personal case, seems a symptom of an epochal change in couple dynamics: if even an iconic and prominent figure like her, globally recognized as one of the most beautiful, elegant, and sensual women struggles to find men willing to take the initiative, it is evident that something in the traditional male model has cracked. It is precisely in this context that “If It Is Turtledove To Water Back” fits with clarity and irony: not a seduction manual in the classical sense, but an invitation to rediscover the encounter in its most authentic and pure sense, beyond stereotypes, with sensitivity, awareness, and a strongly inclusive perspective.

Who is Luca Fiocca

Luca Fiocca is not just a theorist of seduction, but a true interpreter of his time. During the recent Milan Fashion Week, he collaborated with designer Carmela Luciani and tailor Geza Berez of Dress Me and You in the charity initiative linked to the “Fashion for Good” event – directed by Alex Belli and hosted by Marianna Miceli of Mad Mood Milano -, presenting a show and contributing to the donation of 20 wigs to the Humanitas hospital. A gesture that unites the world of appearance with that of essence, emphasizing the value of beauty, in its most intimate and noble meaning, even in contexts of difficulty and suffering.

Fiocca’s reflection has already won over the Italian media. For six months, Novella 2000 dedicated a weekly column to his essay, with articles ranging from practical advice to psychological analyses of the art of conquest. Gianni Ippoliti dedicated a segment on Rai 1 in his press review of Uno Mattina in Famiglia, consecrating the manual as an editorial case capable of uniting pop culture and sociological research.

The idea behind the title of the essay is deeply rooted in Salento culture: the turtledove returning to the water symbolizes the return of an authentic love, a bond that overcomes difficulties and finds its way. The ancient saying from the Land of Otranto, “Ci è tòtura all’acqua li tocca,” describes just this: a turtledove that, by instinct, always returns to its source, so a sincere feeling overcomes obstacles and distances. This concept now transforms into a real brand, with the launch of a line of t-shirts featuring the phrase both in Italian and English, “If It Is Turtledove To Water Back.” A play with significant meaning, between past and modernity, that confirms Fiocca’s desire to make his message something tangible and everyday.

Because seduction is not just an art of language, but also a way of presenting oneself in the world, of expressing an identity. And this is where Palascia comes into play, the brand of glasses entirely made in Salento, born to tell tradition, craftsmanship, and character. Designed by Margherita Plenilunio, who with her husband Valerio Furone leads F & P Occhiali, Palascia represents an idea of elegance that has its roots in Salento culture, just like Fiocca’s book.

The presentation event on April 2 was only the first step in a journey of deepening a theme that continues to evolve with society. Luca Fiocca does not limit himself to writing: with his ability to observe and reinterpret reality with elegance and irony, he is building a new way of talking about love and relationships, perfectly adapting to social changes and the sensitivity of the contemporary audience. His figure emerges as a true point of reference for anyone who wants to understand and live the art of the encounter with style. “In a world where love seems to have lost the lightness of play and the depth of feeling, finding the courage to look into each other’s eyes is the first step to rediscovering oneself.” Luca Fiocca.