This spring, the Italian program within the 麻豆视频 & 麻豆视频 is hosting the Italian Studies Colloquium, a series of lectures bringing together enthusiasts of Italian art, culture, literature and philosophy.
The colloquium will take place in six installments, each with a different guest speaker and lecture topic. The next lecture takes place March 6 and features Giuseppina Mecchia from the University of Pittsburgh.
A week prior to the lecture, presenters distribute papers to be discussed and attendees can read about the topic and bring along questions and ideas to jumpstart the discussion.
, professor of Romance studies and comparative literature, , professor of Romance studies, and , Susan and Barton Winokur Professor in the Humanities, joined forces last fall to organize the colloquium. An iteration of the colloquium initially occurred almost a decade ago.
This semester, the colloquium has a larger focus on the philosophical, and speakers will lecture on topics ranging from the 鈥淭echnologies of Language鈥 and 鈥淒isaffective Citizenship鈥 to 鈥淧asolini and Italian Thought.鈥 The focus is fitting given that this time is an important moment for Italian thought and philosophy, Campbell said.
鈥淲riters such as Toni Negri, Giorgio Agamben, Roberto Esposito, Rosi Braidotti, and Adriana Cavarero continue to enjoy intellectual and editorial success because they obviously speak to current issues and problems in ways that are deeply meaningful,鈥 Campbell said. 鈥淚t felt important to use the colloquium to probe the reasons for that.鈥
The Colloquium will conclude April 30 with a lecture by Robert Esposito on 鈥淯nfinished Italy,鈥 at the Society for the Humanities. Following the lecture, Esposito will also host a seminar for students on May 1.
鈥淚t will be interesting to hear what the Italian philosopher 鈥 one of the most important figures in contemporary Italian thought 鈥 has to say about recent political events in the United States, given Italy鈥檚 own history with populist figures,鈥 Campbell said.
Lectures will be held on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. in Klarman KG42, and will be followed by public receptions in the Romance studies lounge. For instructions on downloading colloquium papers on , contact Campbell at tcc9@cornell.edu.
Colloquium schedule:
- February 13 - Elettra Stimili (University of Rome, Sapienza): "Italian Differences Between Politics and Philosophy"
- March 6 - Giuseppina Mecchia (University of Pittsburgh): "Technologies of Language: Franco Berardi 'Bifo' Between Transversality and the Simulacrum"
- March 20 - Graziella Parati (Dartmouth College): "Disaffective Citizenship"
- April 10 - Thomas Claviez (University of Bern): "Contingency in Agamben and Esposito"
- April 17 - Felice Cimatti (University of Cosenza): "Pasolini and Italian Thought"
- April 30 - Roberto Esposito (Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa): "Unfinished Italy"
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