Choose the name of the century!
“Every era has its definition:
Humanism for the Quattrocento,
Renaissance for the Cinquecento,
Baroque for the Seicento,
Enlightenment for the Settecento,
Romanticism for the Ottocento.
And the Novecento?
What shall we call the twentieth century?”
Submissions are closed.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their ideas.
The proposals received are now being reviewed by the committee, and we will share updates soon.
The name of the century
Philanthropic literary competition promoted by La Milanesiana and FNM
The Novecento represents one of the most complex and controversial periods in human history. It was a century marked by extraordinary processes of progress and innovation, but also by conflict, mass destruction, radical social transformations, and profound political and cultural crises. Its dynamics have had a decisive impact on contemporary thought, on the development of technology, on language, on the forms of civil coexistence, and on the very idea of what it means to be human.
Despite its historical and symbolic significance, the Novecento continues to be referred to generically as “the last century,” without a truly shared understanding of its overall meaning. This observation is the starting point for The Name of the Century, the philanthropic literary competition promoted by La Milanesiana and FNM, with no commercial purpose and open to broad public participation.
The initiative aims to spark a collective reflection to identify a name capable of defining the Novecento—not with the goal of simplifying its complexity, but of critically interpreting its tensions, legacies, and fractures. While not conceived as an academic project, the competition engages with scholarly knowledge and offers itself as a space for cultural, civic, and linguistic dialogue.
Participants are asked to submit:
- a name to give to the last century;
- a brief description that conveys its meaning, semantic field, and cultural horizon of reference.
The proposals will be examined and evaluated by a Jury chaired by Andrea Moro, supported by a Scientific Committee.
The Name of the Century is not a competition of definitions, but an exercise in symbolic and interpretive responsibility. Naming an era means consciously taking on the task of reflecting on the past in order to better understand, with greater clarity, the present and its origins.
Reworked from Johannes Gump, Self-Portrait, 1646
Original drawings for Linus
by Michele Bernardi and Davide Toffolo
RULES
Philanthropic literary competition The Name of the Century
Art. 1 – Promoters
The Name of the Century competition is promoted by La Milanesiana and FNM, in collaboration with cultural organizations that share its aims.
The competition has no commercial or profit-making purpose (event excluded pursuant to Art. 6, letter a) of Presidential Decree 430/2001).
Art. 2 – Purpose
The competition aims to find a symbolic, conceptual, or metaphorical name capable of defining the Novecento, understood as a historical and cultural century, fostering public discussion of its meanings, values, and contradictions.
Art. 3 – Nature of the competition
The competition is philanthropic and cultural in nature; it does not offer cash prizes and is oriented toward critical and linguistic reflection rather than commercial publishing.
Art. 4 – Participants
Participation is free and open to people of all ages and backgrounds, with no requirements regarding educational qualifications or professional affiliation.
Each participant may submit only one proposal.
Art. 5 – How to participate
Each proposal must include:
- A name given to the Novecento
- A brief description (maximum 5,000 characters including spaces) that explains its meaning
Proposals must be original and must not infringe on the rights of third parties.
Art. 6 – Deadlines
Technical submission procedures will be announced through the promoters’ official channels.
The competition is open until September 30, 2026.
Art. 7 – Evaluation of proposals
The proposals will be reviewed by a Jury chaired by linguist Andrea Moro, supported by a Scientific Committee appointed by the promoters. The evaluation will take into account the conceptual strength of the name, its semantic coherence, its interpretive capacity, and the clarity and depth of the accompanying description.
Art. 8 – Recognition
The competition does not offer cash prizes, but only forms of cultural recognition.
The authors of the proposals considered most significant by the Jury will receive, as recognition, an annual subscription to the magazine “Linus.”
The recognition will be awarded during the awards event, the date of which is yet to be determined.
Art. 9 – Outcomes
The Jury will select a group of proposals considered particularly significant.
The results may be the subject of public presentations, cultural events, or dissemination initiatives.
Art. 10 – Rights
Authors retain ownership of their works. By participating, they authorize the promoters to use the proposals for cultural and promotional purposes, always crediting the author.
Art. 11 – Acceptance of the rules
Participation in the competition implies full acceptance of these rules.