The book examines how Western societies have constructed and redefined
the concept of old age across the centuries. Rather than treating ageing
as a fixed biological condition, it presents it as a dynamic social and
historical process shaped by cultural values, economic systems, and
institutional frameworks. Adopting a two-level analytical perspective,
the author explores both family dynamics and broader social structures,
challenging the widespread notion of a "Golden Age" in which older
people were universally respected. Costanzi clearly distinguishes
between senescence (biological cellular deterioration) and ageing as a
multidimensional process, showing how the confusion between these
concepts has contributed to forms of discrimination. Through the
analysis of artistic and iconographic representations, the book
highlights the tension between inner identity and the visible signs of
ageing, tracing how older individuals have been alternately marginalised
and idealised across different historical periods. In doing so, it
offers scholars, practitioners, and policymakers a valuable framework
for rethinking ageing in contemporary society.
