News and Blog

ANFS 370:Anthropology of Food students explored the notion of food as cultural heritage by visiting two sites in Città di Castello: the heritage orchard “Fondazione Archeologia Arborea”, and the Research Center and Museum of Folk Traditions or “tradizioni popolari”. Below is a reflection written by one anthropology student, Gerard Pozzi:

“Our class field trip to Città di Castello provided me with both an authentic and colorful glimpse into the history of rural life. The orchard has the goal to preserve heritage species of fruits (that would otherwise disappear). I found particularly interesting the emphasis on the preservation of tradition and heritage, occuring simultaneously with the incorporation of modern scientific and agricultural techniques. The curator of the orchard, Isabella Dalla Ragione, taught us the tremendous history behind each fruit, and the unique tastes and recipes that are uncovered when (excuse the pun) digging — though, rather, picking — bits and pieces from the past.

The heritage farmhouse was an enriching experience, engaging all of the senses to experience what life in this farmhouse once resembled. I was interested in the agricultural and household equipment, from old tractors to (what was then) innovative kitchen tools. My favorite room, I (unsurprisingly) have to say, is the kitchen. The immense hearth in the center resonated with me, as it put emphasis on the process of making the local version of torta al testo, ‘ciaccia.’

The visit and tour of Isabella’s property and the heritage farmhouse in Città di Castello was informative and inspiring. It reminded me of the importance of preserving heritage and tradition in a way that does not distance us too much from the past. In my opinion, it is important, even today, with modern technology and innovation constantly in flux, to expose younger generations to the past, antique ways of life. Perspective on both the past and the present is eternally useful”

Umbra Institute ESUS 310: Placemaking students attract media attention as they continue their work on the “Salotto con Vista” terrace project that began during the Fall 2015 semester. The terrace project was featured on Rai News’ “Buongiorno Regione Umbria” program on Friday, October 14th. We would like to congratulate professors Ray Lorenzo and Viviana Lorenzo, as well as their past and current Placemaking students for their contributions and hard work.

View the video below at 14:00 to see the segment that covers work on the terrace on Via del Cortone in Perugia, Italy.

Click here to read about the project in Luoghi Comuni’s article (in English), published in their online magazine during the Spring 2016 semester.

Click here to read more about the Borgo Bello Association that collaborates with Umbra students on Placemaking community projects in the Borgo Bello neighborhood of Perugia. 

As in previous semesters, students will return to provide an interactive language and culture lesson

The Umbra Institute encourages students studying abroad in Perugia, Italy to take on service learning projects that involve them in the local community. On Friday, October 14^th, PYHD 430: Human Development in Culture students took advantage of the opportunity to visit a local Montessori school, and Fabbretti primary school.

When visiting, students were tasked with investigating classroom organization and how primary school students and teachers interact. They also got the chance to engage in curricular activities with primary school students. Their experiences in Italian classrooms will be used for their final project, an ethnographic research project on their choice of a topic such as: enculturation, acculturation, mental health across cultures, education across cultures, and dimensionalizing cultures.

Students will visit the schools again to provide English language classes with an interactive lesson on American culture, which they will design.

The class is open to all students, and is particularly interesting for students who study education, psychology, or sociology. 

Read more about the course PHYD 430: Human Development in Culture

Umbra would like to congratulate Prof. Philippa Stannard, professor of photography and ceramics, on her active participation in this year’s Foto Biennial in Berlin.

Philippa is known for participating in shows with photos taken at a number of international destinations, including countries such as Tanzania, Cuba, China, and Australia. This time, her work is taking part in the annual Foto Biennial for Fine Art and Documentary Photography. Four of her pieces are featured among the works of other talented artists from around the world, including artist Steve McCurry who recently published a series of photography based in Umbria.   

Click here to view samples of some of Philippa’s work.

Students enjoy discussing lifestyle and cultural differences among friends

Learning the local language is an important part of studying abroad in Italy. For this reason, Umbra organizes a number of cultural immersion activities, including Tandem. The goal of Tandem is to provide students with intercultural competencies acquired through a relaxed, conversation-oriented environment. Italian and American students meet for Tandem multiple times each semester to practice their respective languages, compare cultural practices, and forge friendships, all within the comforts of a local Italian pizzeria.

During last night’s Tandem event, students were asked what they enjoy most about Tandem. Gabrielle Swain, from Pennsylvania State University, shared, “I like coming to talk about the lifestyle differences between here and home. It is a great way to learn about Italian culture.”

Olivia Rhodes, from George Washington University, commented, “I love Tandem! I think I understand Italian at this point, but speaking is still hard. I practice with shopkeepers but those conversations don’t take very long. Tandem is an opportunity to practice my Italian and not be embarrassed about it.”

Akosua Ako-Addo, from Arcadia University, expressed that, “Getting to practice Italian in a semi-controlled environment lets me feel more comfortable than in a street where ‘survival Italian’ is all I speak.”

 

Click here to learn more about opportunities Umbra students have to immerse themselves in Italian language and culture.

Students after a presentation about the Mafia in Umbra’s Aula Magna

 Last week, students in the new HSIT 380: Cosa Nostra: Cinema and History of the Mafia course took part in a presentation about the Mafia, hosted in collaboration with the Libera: Associations, Names, and Numbers Against Mafias, an Italian anti-mafia organization. Italian writer and journalist, Vincenzo Vasile, known internationally for his work writing about organized crime, shared how his childhood in Sicily was directly influenced by the Mafia. His experiences ultimately led to his decision to dedicate his career to covering topics such as the influence of mafia operations and Antimafia Commission investigations within the United States and in Italy, describing how criminal activities evolved, from murder to money laundering. 

On Sunday, students went to visit the first confiscated property in the region of Umbria, Col della Pila farm in Pietralunga. Students learned that the property was confiscated from Mafiosi thanks to Italian Law n. 109/96. The law, since 1996, has allowed the Italian government to seize property from Mafiosi and give it to cooperatives or associations, who then use the property for community building and agricultural purposes.

Click here to learn more about HSIT 380: Cosa Nostra.

Current Umbra staff member and Fall 2014 alumna, Ashley Webb, in collaboration with professor Antonella Valoroso and Spring 2016 alumna Shameesha Pryor, wrote Il matrimonio all’italiana visto da un’americana for Corriere della Sera’s La 27esima Ora. The article was published online, last night, by the most widely circulated news corporation in Italy, thanks to Professor Valoroso’s assistance and Italian translation.

The article was written after a social experiment the three conducted in Perugia, in an attempt to understand the cultural traditions behind the preparation and execution of an Italian wedding. For the experiment, Shemeesha posed “under-cover” as a bride-to-be and took in the experience of dress shopping in Italy alongside Professor Valoroso and Ashley. After an exciting and moving activity, Shameesha used her experience to complete her final research project for SOIT 360: Contemporary Italy: Culture, Society, and Trends; and Ashley wrote about the expectations of a bride versus the cultural impositions that are presented as boxes being placed on the shoulders of each bride-to-be.  

Click Here to read the original English text or read the article in Italian on La 27esima Ora.

Click here to read about Umbra’s Contemporary Italy course which inspired this social experiment.

On Saturday, Umbra students taking part in STFS 330: Sustainability of Food took a day trip to Italy’s Chianti region to learn from the renowned Tuscan butcher Dario Cecchini himself. Students began their day with a glimpse at Dario’s shop, where he takes creative license to prepare meat in varied styles and flavors, always using every single piece of the cow.

Students then hiked through the surrounding territory to learn more about the geographical region in which Dario raises his cattle (some in the Chianti area, others in Catalonia, Spain) as well as the significance of agriculture in the area. They met and even fed hay to some of the local cattle before returning to the town of Panzano for lunch at Dario’s restaurant. Students enjoyed a meal that offered selections from every part of the cow, atop a placemat that illustrated the menu’s various uses of meat cuts.

After the educational tour and delicious meal, Dario personally described his work and philosophy as a butcher to the class. He discussed his belief that being carnivorous demands certain responsibilities, stating that it is important to provide animals with a healthy, happy life and a dignified death, and that his business model is based on this same cycle of life and death. The famous butcher repeatedly emphasized the idea that all parts of the cow must be used; a concept reinforced by his sense of responsibility and idea that to waste any part of an animal is an insult to the life of the animal and contributes to an unsustainable lifestyle.

Prof. Elisa Ascione translates the words of SapereFood’s Filippo

On Thursday night, ANFS 370: Anthropology of Food and ISLI 330: A Taste for Knowledge students met with Filippo Benedetti Valentini and Emanuela De Pinto, owners and founders of SapereFood Magazine, an online magazine focusing on agricultural topics relative to Italy’s region of Umbria. Filippo and Emanuela presented their magazine’s background as well as various journalistic techniques to help students with their semester project: contributing relevant articles to be published by SapereFood.

“We always address quality,” said Filippo as he explained the importance of Italian exports and more specific information about agricultural products that Umbria exports internationally. He then went on to describe quality food as that which: is created within hygienic conditions; maintains a substance balance and low to non-existent chemical levels; exhibits ideal organoleptic elements (pleases ones senses); and is derived from an origin that reflects the territory in which it is produced, and/or a tradition that stands the test of time.

This semester, students will visit local olive oil and porchetta producers to then contribute articles, based off of their research and experiences, to SapereFood Magazine. Anthropology students will specifically focus on quality origin as they each contribute a Food Story to the magazine’s website; while Taste for Knowledge students will focus on organoleptic sensations that will inspire food fiction stories for the website.

Filippo and Emanuela also presented the differences between print and web journalism, focusing on online journalistic techniques that will assist students with their writing assignments. Emanuela also added, “Where we do not arrive with our words, we can arrive with our photos.” She shared that students will also be asked to submit photos, explaining that web journalism demands photos that appear inspirational, that show technique, passion, and personality.

After the presentation, students further prepared for their projects by asking questions about how producers are selected as article protagonists, who makes up the SapereFood audience, and how to maintain an ethical approach should a producer not meet expectations.

Click here to read Food Stories and Food Fiction written by past ANFS 370 and ISLI 330 students.