Italy, Politics, and Twitter

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/anti-berlusconi-tweets-fill-summit-screens/?scp=5&sq=italy&st=cse

Thought all might find this interesting.

Peace Out.

I could start with a cliché like "all good things must come to an end." Or something banal like "veni vidi vici." However, it's not true that all good things must end (truthfully, as far as we know all things end, not just good things but maybe I'm equivocating on 'end'). And its not necessary for this to end. We could choose to stay here and never return. And as far as I know, we came, we saw, but conqueror is an overstatement. Simply, we came, we saw, and we grew. 

Italy was the experience of a lifetime. A facebook message from my grandfather (yes, he's on facebook) told me to enjoy my time here. He spent time here while serving in the US Navy, and he said one never knows when he/she might see this side of the world again. He was sure that he wouldn't have another opportunity. This made me realize my fortunate nature, and the blessings my family and education have bestowed upon me. Traveling abroad has become commonplace in many institutions, and it's widely encouraged. However, many friends and peers of mine do not have the means to pursue such options. And those that do don't necessarily recognize the value within an experience as such. In all, I must thank Dr. Mills and Dr. Johnson for encouraging us in this adventure and giving us the opportunity to grow personally and intellectually. 

So it is that we depart in about 18 hours. Perhaps we leave with some positive anticipation to return to our normal lives, jobs, and loved ones. But there are small frowns within each of us. We've bonded to form new friendships, created memories, and grown to love a culture other than our own. But it's not that we come home completely. In some unconscious state we will always be here (no it's not that I'm pushing a conception of time like the Tralfamadorians from 'Slaughterhouse-Five'). Some might be here through photographs, others through stories, and some through language. We can't leave something like this behind. Soon we are headed out for dinner together. Our own "Last Supper." Corny, I know, but I had to say it. 

Its been amazing, but now it closes. We'll be home soon. 

Ciao, Italia. 

-Jimmy

Venice!

We are on the home stretch. Today we arrived in Venice; our last stop before returning to Rome. To our surprise, there was no rain and a bit of sun.  Unfortunately though, the Italian air showed no mercy and breathed chilling air on our necks as we ventured the narrow streets. 

Venice is a unique city in that it's built on water, more or less. To navigate the city the options are by foot or by boat. Every corner there seems to be a canal, and it takes just a morning of rain to flood the streets. This brings out the walking planks, allowing residents and tourists to move about. The best option though, rain boats. Never had I thought I'd be jealous of the silly rain boat fad that's struck women across the world. However, for the next three days I fear I might. Let's not mistake my want, though. It's the envy of dry, warm feet that drives my desire, not the fashion statement. 

We saw the church of San Marco today, and a modern art exhibit as well. The rest of our day consisted of learning the ropes of the city and finding our way about. Not the most stimulating day intellectually, but it was great to see what Venice is like and get a feel for the area. Well that's all for now. Take care, all!

Jimmy

A Day In San Gimignano

About an hour from Florence, set in the Tuscan hills, among the grapes and olives, lies San Gimignano. Immediately I was reminded of Assisi, not only because of the view, but also because of the friendly atmosphere and brisk winds. It was raining when we arrived, Jazymne and I that is. We survived the rain. It was piercing to say the least, as the temperature struggled to hover above freezing. We made a wrong turn from the beginning, but that was no problem. It took less than 15 minutes to get from one end of the city to the other, so we started at the back and worked our way forward. We started at San Agostino, where we saw beautiful frescos and many fine paintings. We then ventured to the Collegiata, and saw more frescos cycles, featuring Old Testament stories, New Testament stories, and a vivid depiction of the seven deadly sins.

Aside from the art, the city was surrounded by medieval walls. Houses and apartments were set in the medieval structures, and shops and cafes were in plenty. Mothers could be seen with their children, and everyday life was happening all around. There were no problems getting to or from the city, and we met several Americans in our journey. It was very much a worthwhile experience, and I cannot wait to share pictures with my family, friends, and classmates.

Hope all are doing well back in the States!

-Jimmy

Florence!

Twenty-four hours have passed since departing Assisi and arriving in Florence. I was in fear of a hangover; Assisi was the most intoxicating site I've ever witnessed. I couldn't imagine anything ever comparing to it's beauty. Although Florence is not as breathtaking and naturally beautiful, it is a rather brilliant city. The historical sites are offset by surrounding hills that look like they were handcrafted by the great artists themselves. The clouds hang just above the hills, as if to mingle with them. The view from atop the Duomo offers this site. Climbing St. Peter's was a much greater chore than climbing the Duomo. Similar in height, yes, but the structure of the stairs made the latter a much more pleasant climb. Before the Duomo we started our morning at the Medici chapel, where we saw tombs and burial sites for some of Florence's most powerful men and works by one of the greatest, Michelangelo. We also visited San Lorenzo, San Maria Novella, explored the markets, and found ourselves learning about public transportation courtesy of Dr. Mills.

Compared to Rome, Florence feels much more genuine. A song by the Arcade Fire tags the line, "it feels like I've been living in a city with no children in it, a garden left for ruins by a billionaire outside of a private prison." That was my exact thought for Rome, beautiful but modern. It seemed deprived of families and simplicity. It felt very much like New York. There were amazing historical sites, but they were mostly ruins of a former life, a former Rome. Florence, however, has the big city feel but also has those essential features to make for the suburban life. The view from atop the Duomo justifies this as I could see homes and neighborhood, and real life happening. Florence has less tourists, a more lively atmosphere, and the perfect balance of lifestyles. It feels a lot likes Columbus.

Well it's time explore Florence more! Until next time!
Ciao!

Annotated Bibliography - Etruscan Sarcophagus Larthia Seianti

Steingraeber, Stephen, "Investing In The Afterlife," Dig 6, no. 3, (March 2004), 6.

The article highlights the importance Etruscans placed on death and the subsequent afterlife. They crafted elaborate tombs that reflected their value of honoring the dead. Sites were built at the tomb for family and friends to pay homage to the deceased; these were specifically in the way of elevated platforms. Corridors usually lead into the main chamber of the tomb, and along the way walls were decorated with architectural detail consisting of features like windows and columns. In the chamber the deceased were placed on stone beds or in wooden sarcophagi. This is where the investment can be seen. All around the tomb rich burial gifts were placed. These included things such as vases, weapons, and jewelry. Tomb art reflected Greek influence and style, but the custom of decorating the tomb was an Etruscan concept. Wall scenes depicted mostly humans and animals, and they provided information about daily living, sports, banquets, and social customs.


Merola, Marco. "Unearthing The Tomb of The Badger." Archaeology 61, no. 5 (September 2008), 27-29.

This essay is on the recent discovery of a new Etruscan tomb. The tomb has been determined to be one of the largest gravesites from the era. Despite this being at the end of the Etruscan era and the beginning on the Roman, the burial still has all the markings and customs of traditional Etruscan sentiment. Etruscan tombs were noteworthy for their valuables, and many of them remained in place here. Vases, bronze mirrors, and sarcophagi make up the largest portion.


"Etruscan civilization." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition (July 2010): 1.

This entry was the most in-depth look at Etruscan lifestyle. It covered the history of the civilization from it's earliest roots of Asia Minor to the dominance of Rome that befell it. There is great consideration for social-political structure and also valuable information about military life. Religion, art, and architecture comprise the majority of the article. Through art, specifically burial sites, we have come to learn a great deal about Etruscan religion and values. Art was mostly in the forms of wall paintings and sculptures. The purpose was not intrinsic, as much of it details history and seems to honor their gods and goddesses. There is a great influence of Greek style in the art, but Etruscan art had a significant influence on early Roman art, too.


Warden, P. Gregory. "Etruscan Treasures From The Temple And The Tomb,” Veranda 23, no. 3 (April 2009), 44.

This essay is similar to the "Investing" article. It focuses on the immense wealth that Etruscans accumulated, and their desire to take it with them. They had faith in a material afterlife, no doubt. The tombs were adorned with bronze, silver, and rare gold techniques. Their mastery for metalwork is evident as well. The essay does note a slight shift in themes from the beginning of Etruscan civilization to the end. In earlier centuries tombs displayed paintings focused on lively and cheerful events. Later paintings, however, were more focused on death and the afterlife. This shift could be the result of struggles and slow growth as the region was being dominated by the advancing Roman civilization.


Bernard, Nancy Stone, “The Mysterious Etruscans,” Dig 6, no. 3 (March 2004), 6.

This article is a short one-page essay on how we can use artifacts from Etruscan life to tell us about their world and culture. Bernard talks about the importance of writings and inscriptions, along with artifacts like urns, helmets, and jewelry. It relates to the “Investing” essay because it continues with the theme of the afterlife and superstition.


“Etruscan Art,” from Hunt For (2007), retrieved 7 November 2010 from

This website is a quick overview of Etruscan art, it’s different uses, and the significance of it over time. It details many of the same points and facts as the other essays. It was especially useful because it has many images of Etruscan artwork, and it also offers links to other Etruscan related information.


“The Sarcophaugs of Larthia Seianti”, from Popoli Antichi (2003), retrieved 7 November 2010 from

This is the most in-depth analysis of Larthia Seianti that I was able to find. It is originally an Italian article, so it had to be translated. It thoroughly discusses the body position, colors, and portrait of the female subject. It references the mild-manner face of the subject, and how it relates to the shift in burial theme from early to later centuries. It also gives a description of her garments, the moldings on the sarcophagus, and the significance of the other artifacts that were found in the tomb. Overall, this was probably the most helpful in analyzing Larthia Seianti.

Role of Art

Renaissance art will always stand alone in function and purpose. Of course it was a catalyst for artistic method and style. It was a period that provided the advancement that the art world had long needed. Paintings gained depth from the discovery of linear perspective and other visual cue techniques. Sculptures returned to a Roman naturalistic style, bringing more life to all the figures. And architecture moved from Gothic styles back to Romanesque, with rounded arcades and a more horizontal orientational. Overall, architecture was more simplified and restrained.

As for the role of Renaissance art, there are several. First and foremost, the architecture seemed more practical. It served a more general purpose. Paintings were more for a specific population, that is, usually a work commissioned by a family for their home or church. Artists did not paint just to sell or hang their works in a museum. Sculptures, however, were both for the populous and for specific persons/families. Statues were erected in public forums, like those in ancient Rome. But statues and other sculptures were also made for specific churches or households.

As for art in today's society, architecture is still very practical and mostly simplified. Architecture is hard to compare because we do not view it the same as art it was in the Renaissance. Our architecture is meant mostly to serve a purpose or function, not necessarily to decorate an area. However, in recent years there has been a resurgence in designing extravagant buildings, but mostly in cities like Hong Kong, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. So the practice is not dead entirely, and perhaps its being revived.

Modern attitude towards paintings is mostly for artists to create works for others to buy. Not often are artists commissioned to do work. It's mostly a freelance trade, and each artists is hoping to be recognized for his/her talents by hanging their works in galleries. Most of the art that we use for personal collections, however, are art replicas, or prints of famous paintings. There is also a desire for what I like to call "feel good" art, which are replica paintings of artists like Thomas Kinkade. Much like van Meegeren's forgeries, there is aesthetic value(1), but the art is not worth anything. This is vastly different from the Renaissance art, which was original, and not only had aesthetic value but also value because of the artistic merit.

Sculptures are still used in similar ways, and viewed similarly as well. It's not uncommon for a city to commission a sculpture to honor a former president, other political figure, war heroes, or even local heroes. Public statues in modern era and the Renaissance served a very similar purpose. Abstract art, however, has emerged to be a another means of public art. The use of abstract art to decorate empty space in a forum was unheard of in the Renaissance, mostly because the technique wasn't around. But today we often find abstract art to be pleasing and appropriate to fill empty space. It accents our environment and serves similar purpose as the statues the modern and Renaissance era.

One major difference in art today from the Renaissance is the use of public art in general. It may not be completely recognizable to those who do not have the proper sensitivities to art, but public art is a major part the current art culture. Artists like Banksy use public art as a way to speak out against propaganda. Other artists like Maya Lin use it as a way to make a name, and like the use of statues, use it to honor war heroes . And then artists like Richard Sierra, who are world renowned, are commissioned to create public works because of their name.

Art still serves similar roles today, and it forever will as long as it is meant to be enjoyed and viewed by mass amounts of people. Artists do not want their works kept quiet. They are mostly proud of their abilities and recognition if the best thing for their careers. They want to create works that will garner income for them, after all, hasn't that always been the goal of artists. It may be something one loves to do, but anyone who has no career besides art needs it to be a source of income. Renaissance art stands alone in its purpose because of the change it brought to the art world. But as long as the public finds value in artistic ability, arts most fundamental purpose will always remain the same.

(1) I am not comparing Kinkade's artistic ability to Vermeer's, just the similarity that to some extent Kinkade has aesthetic value.

Importance of Travel

There are several important aspects of traveling. Consider traveling for the sake of traveling, that is leisure or vacation. The whole process is one we often take pleasure in. There is great excitement in planning the trip. The anticipation as a whole is almost satisfying. There is of course the pleasure we get by reaching and exploring the destination, and there is also pleasure in returning, sharing stories, and reflecting on the experience. However nice it might be to travel for leisure, there are further reasons to travel and ones that weigh on the instrumental value of travel. As we are plan to do in this class, traveling can be a means of education. Its not just an academic education either. In many travels one educates himself on culture and history. The academic value of the trip to Italy is substantial, but nonetheless many of the lessons could be taught in the classroom. With that, however, there are many experiences we cannot know without going there. To hear authentic Italian, experience the cuisine, live a european lifestyle (though only for a short while), and see some of the greatest art in history first-hand, each one of these aspects cannot be duplicated in any other way. Each pertains to the culture and history of the region, and represent important reasons for travel.

Time in reflection, thought, or solitude also makes a case for traveling. As Petrach points out, one can see traveling as an analogy for life's journey. It is a time we can reflect on the importance of the self, focus on our thoughts, and gain a greater awareness of who we are as individuals. Carrying a journal while we tour Italy will be usefully for this reason. In our time alone looking at art, sitting on the train, or just at night before bed, we can reflect on what we learned about ourself in the day, and how being in a different culture brings out new ideas and a greater appreciation of the self.

There is no right or wrong way to travel, just as long as you learn and experience something new along the way. If traveling to another country or city, the method may not always be important. Whether one travels by car or plane to New York will likely have an impact on the overall goal of the trip. There are likely goals within the city that reflect the importance of how one travels. For instance, if one travels by bike of by foot through Central Park, then there may be a difference. If you're looking to enjoy the trip, then hiking and experiencing the entirety of the park is a much better way to go. By bike you would miss the essence of the park, and when you reach the end you might feel empty or less satisfied. Think of earning a degree. If one can get passing grades by doing the bare minimum, then one might be relieved when graduating, but will soon realize he missed out on the importance of education in general. But one who struggles along the way, and takes time to learn all the material will be much more fulfilled and satisfied with the experience.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html

This site is by the US Department of State. It answers about every question one might have about traveling. I've turned to it many times for information and its about the most reliable resource. The information is current and relevant and everyone should take a look if you haven't traveled much before. There's everything from how to stay safe to what you can and can't take on an airplane.

To continue with the New York theme, a picture from my trip two weeks ago, and undoubtedly my favorite place to visit in all the world, Yankee Stadium!

Ancient Italian Town Now Has Wind at Its Back

Article from the NY Times on 28 September. Thought some might be interested. Pretty big step for Italy in it's quest to be more economically and environmentally friendly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/science/earth/29fossil.html?_r=1&hp

Seneca Essays and Stoic Techniques

"On the God Within Us"

http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html#‘XLI1

"On the Healing Power of the Mind"

http://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_2.html#‘LXXVIII1

"On the Healing Power of the Mind": The prominent theme of this essay is the use of positive thinking to overcome physical illness. A milder theme of the essay is death and how one should look at death. The themes relate to the dichotomy of control and fatalism, respectively.

The former relates in that one cannot control illness, or more specifically it is a thing of which we have some but not complete control. One can do things to hopefully stay healthy (eat well, exercise, proper hygiene, etc.) but for the most part we cannot control physical illness as it is an occurrence of nature. But what we can control in the situation is our mental state. If an ailed man sets the mental goal that he can overcome the illness, and thinks positively that others have faced similar hardship, along with focusing on positive memories, then he gains some control. Though positive thinking cannot guarantee a return to health, it will keep his spirits high and provide him with strength, in a sense.

The topic of death relates to fatalism in that Seneca tells us that death is inevitable. To quote, "you will die, not because you are ill, but because you are alive; even when you have been cured, the same end awaits you; when you have recovered, it will be not death, but ill-health that you have escaped." We are all merely actors, as Epictetus said. We are playing a role and the final scene is death. Death, however, can relate to the dichotomy of control as well due to that fact that we cannot control it. If death occurs naturally, that is, not by suicide, murder, or some form of assistance, then we cannot know its place and time. It is completely out of our hands.

"On the God Within Us": I couldn't make any strong connections between the techniques and this section. The title very much explains the topic. The essay has an Eastern religion vibe, but there are also references to Western conception of god as well. The essay conflates these two viewpoints, but does positively so that we see the importance of the god that dwells within, and also the god that dwells within nature.

Italian Serie A

All, not sure if any of you are as interested in European football as I am, but I thought I'd give you the link to the Italian Serie A main page on ESPN. Soccer is a huge part of the current culture not only in Italy but the rest of Europe as well. We'll be in Italy right in the middle of the Serie A season, and also in the final week of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. AC Milan, Roma, and Internazionale are representing Italy in the Champions League, and the final week will likely determine who will go on to the elimination rounds. Milan is always a favourite to advance, but they were just dealt bad news for their next match as their captain and also one of their best forwards are both sidelined with injuries. This story just broke today.

Sorry I won't be rooting for any Italian teams while we're over there, I'm a Chelsea fan. But if you're interested here's the Serie A link and a link to the UEFA site.

Ciao!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/league?id=ita.1&cc=5901

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/index.html

Response to 1.b.

Though World Heritage sites can be naturally occurring, most of them are man-made, and referred to as Cultural Heritage sites. These specific sites are designated with such distinction not based on aesthetics alone, but also because of the importance of the history surrounding the site, it's influence on ancient and modern life, and it's universal applicability, that is, how it influences cultures from all regions of the world.

One site I wish to focus on is the Historic Centre of Siena. The gothic architecture is not only fascinating to me, but also had substantial influence on architecture and art throughout Europe. The Piazza del Campo looks to be a fascinating centre, and the Cathedral of Siena is a stunning Roman Catholic church.

A second site of importance are the Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia. These burial sites are not only some of the earliest known burial grounds in the northern Mediterranean civilization, but they also display large wall paintings that reveal aspects of life, death and religion in ancient Etruscan culture. The universal impact of this site is for the uniqueness of the tombs, which are unlike any other in design and structure. Also, burial sites have long been of importance to humankind, and a great deal of cultural knowledge can come from studying the grave sites of any civilization.

Salve!

Hi All, I'm Jimmy Lump. Senior Philosophy and Psychology major. I'm excited to be part of this course and looking forward to the quarter together. I hope each of you had a great summer, and welcome back to Otterbein University. See you in class. Ciao!