Ripetizione, ridondanza, infinito

This chapter examines the complex interplay between repetition, redundancy, and infinity within contemporary communication technologies, focusing on their impact on the perception and representation of the face. Starting from a reading of Carlos Drummond de Andrade’s poem "No meio do caminho", the analysis distinguishes between syntactic repetition and semantic redundancy, challenging the widespread cultural tendency to devalue repetition as meaningless. In contrast, the chapter suggests that repetition, especially in ritual and poetic contexts, generates depth and significance. It critiques generative artificial intelligence systems, such as ChatGPT and DALL-E, for fostering an ideology that privileges endless variation while concealing semantic redundancy beneath apparent diversity. By juxtaposing digital media practices with ritual language traditions, the chapter calls for a revaluation of repetition as a fundamental mechanism for meaning-making, proposing that the true infinite lies not in novelty but in the conscious reiteration that sustains identity, presence, and human experience.