Goodbye Italy

 I can't find an appropriate word to describe today. Odd.. Maybe? It started out with all of us lugging our suitcases all over Venice to get on the vaperato, then a four hour train ride, and more exercise while we drug our bags to our hotel in Rome. First of all I was a bit proud of myself for navigating the city fairly well. I was oriented and haven't needed the map... Yet :). After lunch we went to a crypt which was very.... Interesting. Pretty much it was just bones arranged to decorate several rooms. Some of the skeletons were full bodies, but a lot of them were just skulls or clavicles or scapulae that ornamented the walls. Even the chandeliers were made from bones!! 

I also find it hard to describe my day because it's our last day in Italy. Yes, I am ready to be done living out of a suitcase but am I ready to leave? Not in the least. Being here has intrigued and challenged me in so many ways. It's hard to explain. This has been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I thouroughly enjoyed it. Learning about art history and philosophy is one thing in a classroom, but seeing and experiencing them firsthand is incredible. I could have studied the Sistine chapel for a week in itself, but we have gone, done, and seen so much more.

Inevitably I will be asked what my favorite part of the trip was, and honestly I can't say. Yes, it sounds cliche but each experience has had a different effect on me, all of which I value. The beauty of Assisi brought me serenity and a new appreciation for life, the hustle and bustle of Rome brought me to consider all the unique lifestyles people have, and Florence brought me a sense of home because we were there for the majority of our time here. 

I'm excited to come home, see my family, and decorate Christmas cookies, but I'm sad to leave Italy. However, I've had an amazing time and I am lucky to take away new memories and all in all, a new me.  

Venice :)

Tomorrow is our last night in Italy and it's an odd feeling. Although we've only been here for less than two weeks it seems like so long ago that I was walking around the remains of ancient Rome. Overall, it has truely been a life changing and memorable experience. People told me that I would return with a new perspective, and now I understand. Being in italy not only allowed me to visit many historically important sites, it also showed me a lot about myself. Part of our journal assignments are to write about ourselves and the things we've learned on a deeper level and I canhonestly say that this has been an extremely valuable experience for me. 

Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit the jewish ghetto and the guggenheim museum. I thought the synagouges were particularly intriguing because I knew so little about the Jewish faith. I can not imagine being segragated from my community based on the way that I act or the things that I believe. Being locked into my neighborhood At night would be hard to deal with I would imagine. The guggenheim museum was my favorite part of yesterday. Seeing works by pablo Picasso was so interesting, I absolutely loved it. 

I'll talk to you from Rome!! Ciao!!!  

Venice :)

We arrived in Venice today and it is unlike Anywhere that I've ever been before. It's true, there's water everywhere! The locals function as in every other city; instead of hopping on the city bus, they just ride the city water bus into work. Their lifestyle is so interesting. Carrying, actually dragging our luggage to our hotel was quite a site to see, but we mAde it. It's a weird feeling to not see any cars around, and to see the wooden planks they put up for when it floods or the tide comes in.

The contemporary museum we visited tOday was really interesting. The exhibits were completely different from the mostly religious affiliated works we've been seen thus far.

Yesterday we finally got to see the David. Let me just say, his feet were probably as big as I am. I was shocked at the size of this sculpture and the talent it took to create this sculpture. I'm really glad the strike took a break!!

I think that's all for now other than to say if you ever come to Venice, bring a map! :)

News from cortona :)

Today was our day trip to cortona. Andrea, Olivia, Kailee and i survived! The day started a little crazy because we got confused at the train station. Somehow we were supposed to know to look at the train headed for Rome? Thank goodness for non verbal communication! I hope it makes all of you laugh to know that we sprinted to get on our train within seconds of it's departure. Once we got to our final destination we looked for the bus to take us up the mountain to cortona, but an Italian taxi driver intercepted us. Don't worry, he was exteremely helpful!! He helped us get our return tickets and then gave us a short tour of cortona. He didn't speak any english, but he was really good at signaling and repeating words so that we all understood.

It was an amazing feeling to have the freedom to roam the city and figure everything out on our own. Cortona has a market on Saturdays that sold everything imaginable from fruits to sweaters. Once the market closed for the day everything in the city seemed to shut down. I even walked into a restaurant without realizing they weren't open :). The city and the views were gorgeous!!! Although we were practically mountain climbing all day long because the streets were so steep, I loved the atmosphere and the opportunity for adventures. We went shopping, ate lunch, and roamed around to take pictures. Did I mention it was beautiful?

Overall, I really enjoyed being able to tackle the obstacles we encountered today. Even though there is a language barrier, everyone thus far has been more than willing to help us. The culture here is so much different and I love it!!! Talk to you soon! Ciao!

Hi from Florence :)

It still hasn't hit me that we are finally here after waiting so long for this trip. I can honestly say the sights I have seen are literally breathtaking. My pictures never seem to justify what i have actually seen . So far my favorite town has been Assisi. I love Rome and Florence, but Assisi is unlike anything I have ever seen. It's hard to imagine that people actually live there everyday with those views. Assisi is home to st. Francis's basillica which was absolutely beautiful. St. Francis's relics are housed in the basement of the church, and those were neat to see especially since I did my project about him. Rome was a crazy city, where traffic laws are optional. Florence is a bit more roomy ifyou will and today I saw my first vegetable stand where produce didn't cost five euros per kilogram. Today we also went to a market which reminded me a lot of findlay market in cincinnati. Anyway, tomorrow is our day trip and Olivia, Kailee, Andrea and I are off to cortona :) talk to you soon!

annotated bibliography

References

Dennis, M., Nangle, O. J., Moe-Lobeda, C., & Taylor, S. (1993). St. Francis and the Foolishness of God. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

St. Francis and the Foolishness of God is a biography of St. Francis of Assisi. The authors have tried to imitate Francis on his walk of life, with each chapter pertaining to his beliefs about a particular subject, such as community or suffering. The book was helpful when I was researching Francis’ beliefs about creation. It provided details and quotes in relation not only to his adult life after he became a monk, but also provided a glimpse of his childhood. This source is biased only in the fact that the authors are Catholics who wish to bring their readers closer to God. For this reason, their writing may not be strictly objective.

Francis of Assisi. (2010, 11 04). Retrieved 11 05, 2010, from Wikipedia: HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi

Wikipedia provided a good starting point. Giving a brief summary, this site provided much of St. Francis’ biographical information. The goal of Wikipedia was to give a brief overview of who St. Francis was, and his important contributions. The information was straight-forward facts so it was non-biased. This source was a helpful starting point in my research. I was able to get an idea of where to go next, based on his major contributions.

Irvine, W. B. (2009). A Guide to the Good Life. New York: Oxford University Press.

This book did not provide me with information about St. Francis himself, but is sited in my paper because Seneca’s ideas which are explained in A Guide to the Good Life, parallel St. Francis’ in some ways. The novel is written by a present day author, who outlines the principles of stoicism. Irvine is a stoic, so the novel is not purely objective, but biased in favor of stoicism. Irvine’s ideas about the luxuries of life are similar to those of St. Francis’, so the book was helpful in assisting me in making those comparisons.

Nations, U. (2010, 11 08). UNESCO World Heritage. Retrieved 11 08, 2010, from Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco: HYPERLINK "http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/990" http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/990

The World Heritage website lists and explains each of the world heritage sites, separated by country. It also includes qualifications for becoming a world heritage site. The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is a designated World Heritage Site and is listed on the website. Therefore, the site was helpful for me to collect information regarding the site. It is non-biased and was a helpful source that provided me with information regarding a place we will actually see in Assisi.

Robinson, t. b. (1905). Sacred-texts. Retrieved 11 05, 2010, from The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi: HYPERLINK "http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/wosf/index.htm" http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/wosf/index.htm

This website is actually a book that was translated in 1905. It was put on the web and includes St. Francis’ actual works. The site is broken down into parts that progress from rules, to letters, to prayers of St. Francis. This source was the most helpful when I was conducting research because it contained so much of St. Francis’ actual writings. I was able to read what Francis actually wrote rather than a biography. The information I got here was also the most accurate because it did come straight from St. Francis, assuming that the translator did so correctly.

Spoto, D. (2002). Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

This source was another biography written about St. Francis of Assisi. The book was organized by time period, with each chapter depicting a range of years in Francis’ life. From this source, I was able to obtain information that supplemented some of my main points in my paper. This book tried to capture not only events in Francis’ life, but also his personality and character. Because of this, I felt like I “knew” St. Francis better than simply reading facts about him, or works that he had written.

Mannerism vs. Renaissance Art

Kayleigh.. well said!!

Renaissance art valued much of what we talked about in class, including naturalistic and illusionistic characteristics. Artists aimed to create what they observed, without exaggeration. Working to decieve the eye, artists played with the idea of optics in order to create illusions that would convey realistic works. An example of these illusions is the large hands that Michelangelo sculpted on David so that when viewed from the ground, the hands would appear in proportion with the rest of the body.

Mannerism appears to be less realistic. The people are more slender and their body parts are not in proportion. The artist is creating works based on the way that they want them portrayed, which seems to be more dramatic. The drama can be seen in the painting Modonna of the Long Neck. As the name implys, the woman has a long neck. The "baby" is also completely out of proportion. Michelangelo has influenced many of these works as well. He valued human anatomy and often sculpted/painted humans in contorted, uncomfortable positions, as we see in the sculptures on the Medici tomb. Body parts are elongated and exaggerated. Mannerist artists also bring more light and brightness into their works.

As Renaissance art progresses into Mannerism it seems as though the artist is beginning to gain more control over their own works. As exemplified through Michelangelo's works on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, artists did not always want to create works that were realistic.

art-Melissa

Although some of us may enjoy certain arts such as painting, sculpting, or photography, it is not given the respect that it once was during time periods such as during Medieval and Renaissance Italy.

During these historical periods, art was a symbol of power and status. Only the middle and upper classes held positions that enabled them to commission and/or own works of art. Most of the art created during the medieval time period was purely religious oriented, and was therefore displayed particularly in churches, where the majority of people attended regularly. During the Renaissance, art began to transform into a more secular focus, with an emphasis on the idea of “the here and now” rather than the focus on religion. However, art remained a luxury of the middle and upper classes. Works of art could be interpreted different ways based on your educational background, but the thought was that in order to fully appreciate art, the viewer must be educated. The same idea applied to the artist as well. Artists were required to be well educated in many different subject areas such as theology and mythology. Overall, artists were regarded and intelligent, well-respected individuals. The works they created told stories and often had multiple story lines intertwined in them.

Today, artists are not as prevalent in society. Because art is not in my realm of study directly, I am not knowledgeable whatsoever in the area of contemporary art. Although I enjoy art and am interested in furthering my understanding of art, I simply do not have enough time to devote to this area. Society’s focus has shifted away from it’s emphasis on art for education’s sake and more toward art as form of marketing, or entertainment. Art is seen in museums, on billboards, and in advertisements all over the place. In this light, artists are not appreciated as they once were for their talents and innovative art forms.

It will be interesting as we travel to Italy to view these works we have discussed and think about the ways in which they impacted society then as compared to how art impacts society today.

Travel :)

In my personal opinion, traveling enables a person to become a well-rounded, insightful individual. Delving into a different city, country, or even the small town down the road can facilitate a deeper understanding of worlds outside of your own personal space. In addition, traveling can bring about a sense of self-awareness. The opportunity to go to a place other than your origin forces you to interact with people who are from a completely different background, and who may not speak your language. Confronting this challenge takes you away from your comfort zone, and can make you realize many qualities you didn’t know that you possessed. In addition to self-realization, traveling can bring about serenity and relaxation, which seems to be unknown to our culture in the US. Understanding other cultures through travel can break stereotypical barriers, build knowledge, and gain insight.

Traveling with a prepared suitcase, an open mind and an relaxed attitude is ideal. Although I am always up for an adventure, preparedness will decrease stress and anxiety while in an unfamiliar place. An open mind is essential in order to absorb all the beauty of the destination, even if it’s hidden in unusual places. A calm demeanor will allow you to think clearly and more effectively in uncomfortable or alarming situations. Self-awareness can be further realized when considering the two latter ideals.

Traveling in a smaller group of 2-4 people is best. A smaller group makes it easier to agree on an itinerary, and leaves more time to reach everyone’s desired destinations. Once you have experience traveling in new places, it becomes more feasible to travel places on your own. You have developed skills necessary to navigate an unfamiliar area safely and effectively.

HYPERLINK "http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice-140867/TravelGuide-Venice.html"http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice-140867/TravelGuide-Venice.html

The above link is a travel guide for Venice. Since we will be visiting there, the information will be helpful! It includes facts about the city, restaurants, things to do, nightlife and even warnings about what to watch out for. Check it out!

This picture is from the top of the Rockefellar Center in NYC. Andrea, Olivia and I went there for spring break this past year, and it was our first vacation on our own. :)

Seneca essays

www.stoics.com/seneca_epistiles_book_1.html

The first topic I chose was about saving time. This was of particular interest to me because, being a college student, I have many things to do, and never enough time to get everything done. In this essay, Seneca describes how time is constantly slipping away from us, and most of the time we spend is without purpose. Therefore he advises us to not to waste anymore time because by the time we die, it will be too late. In connection to our lecture on Monday, three of the four psychological techniques can be applied to the concept of saving time. As time is slipping away, we should be pondering, "What if I didn't have this time that has been given to me?" The thought alone should give you a greater appreciation for the time you have, making you value it more. We experience hedonic adaptation in reference to time because we grow accustomed to having control over what we do with our time, all the while unaware that time is slipping away. Related to this idea is the dichotomy of control, meaning that some things we have complete control of, some things we have partial control of, and some things are completely out of our control. Time is related to all three of these concepts because although we can not control time ticking away, we can somewhat control what we do with our time. Prior obligations do take some of the time that we have, but it is our decision to do with our free time whatever we choose.

www.stoics.com/seneca_epistiles_book_1.html
The second of the Seneca letters that I read concerned true and false friendships. Seneca felt that a true friend is someone you can trust, and who knows you as well as you know yourself. You should feel comfortable telling your friends anything, and you should keep friends that are loyal and are not deceiteful. Seneca's thoughts about this topic can be related to the philisophical techniques of negative visualization and self-denial. For example, if you visualize your life without your true friends, you will learn to appreciate their company more, and not take for granted their presence in your life. Self-denial could also be practiced by putting yourself in a situation in which you are around complete strangers. Therefore when you are with your friends, you will be able to reflect on that experience and enjoy the comfortibility of the situation.

1b

The sites that have been chosen as World Heritage sites are places that have some kind of cultural, natural, or blend of cultural and natural significance globally. These places have had influences on the history of not only the countries in which they are located, but the world as well. Therefore, it is the belief of UNESCO that all people are responsible for preservation of these sites.

Although it was challenging to choose only a few sites to focus on, I was able to choose one cultural and two natural World Heritage sites.

The Historic Centre of Siena is located in Siena, which is a city in Tuscany. The center of this city was designated a World Heritage site because of it's medieval and gothic appearance. At this time between the 12th and 15th centuries, several artists wanted to greatly influence Italian and European art, and did so through the architecture of this city. Preserving this part of history gives insight into the culture of the time.

The Aeolian Islands are volcanic islands that have greatly contributed to the studies of geoscientists. The changes and eruptions that have occured over time have led to these islands being studied for over 200 years.

The Dolomites is a mountain range in the northern Italian alps that have been designated as a World Heritage site. (If you haven't seen the pictures of these you should definitely check them out!!!) The mountains contain many sites where geologists have uncovered fossils from the Triassic period. Some of the highest limestone walls in the world can be found here, alongside ledges and peaks that overlook meadows of incredible beauty. The area is protected by government provinces as well as staff members that control the number of visitors allowed on the property.

Melissa B.

Melissa

Hi everyone I'm Melissa Buschmann :). I'm a Nursing major here at Otterbein, which unfortunately limits the amount of study abroad opportunities that are available to me. This class is enabling me to travel (if only for two weeks), out of the country, which I have never done before. Like everyone else I am very excited to go to Italy, but I am also excited to take the course so that I have knowledge base while touring. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you!