Collections of photos by Taylor Smith from the 2019 Anderson University Study Abroad trip to Florence Italy.
Italy has three eras. Pre-Settlement. Ancient Empires. Modernism. Before people settled the Italian peninsula, nature ruled and dictated how the land appeared. This era spanned the most time, yet is the hardest to capture because of human intervention. Ancient Empires began settling and leaving their mark. Their ruins are seen peeking through the cracks of modern society. Modernism is the current age. It is fascinated by looking to the past. A brief yet important subpoint during the shift towards modernism was Fascism. Fascism was a quickly abandoned philosophy characterized by brutal and inorganic geometry. Because of its political implications, the Italian people rejected it soon after the closure of World War II. In Italy, Modernism forgets that there is a future ahead and by obsessively conserving the past, that future is neglected.
Pre-Settlement. Before people inhabited Italy, nature was present and thriving. The waves pummeled the shore day in and day out. Wind relentlessly shook the mountains. Trees grew where they pleased. Grassy plains stretched miles. Flowers sprouted to share their beauty with the animals. Plants appeared, grew, and withered away without a soul to witness. Today, it is rare to see untouched areas of Italy. The nation is much smaller in comparison to other countries. Its size demands the country to be efficient in its resource management. Nature, despite man, acts as a window to the past.
Ancient Empires. The Romans built Italy from the foundation of the Etruscans. They constructed towns, villages, cities, roads, artwork. Civilization was thriving. This period spans most of recorded Italian history. Much of what the Modern era seeks to protect originates in the trappings of the kingdoms of old. From Florence, to Siena, to Rome, remnants of ancestors peek from the streets and buildings. The past is crumbling and the only ones capable of preserving it are those living today.
Modernism. Italy still sees influence from its past regimes. This era began when society realized how important the past was to current life, culture, and heritage. It also encompasses the many worldviews, such as Fascism, that have come and gone, only to leave their mark on the landscape. Laws require the conservation of historical landmarks. Most would agree the preservation of history is an important cause in the wake of heartbreaking occurrences in the past that have robbed society of pieces of the human record. However, what are the negative aspects of compulsive conservation? Modernism looks to the past to validate its own importance. “Look at what Man has achieved in the past! These are the reasons why he is so great!� There is nothing inherently immoral in looking backward. Observing the past is the only way to learn from its mistakes. Moving forward while only focusing on the past, however, is dangerous. It is impossible to predict the outcome if no one is attentive. Contemporary Italy is too focused on preserving the past. It is neglecting the future.