A VOI ISSUE 3 | FALL 2018
MEET A VOI AMERICAN CEMETERY ROMA PERSONAL EXPERIENCE MILANO FASHION ITALIAN DAY TRIPS ITALIAN FLAVOR CLOSING REMARKS ART DIRECTOR & EDITOR IN CHIEF Sydney Geller
REPORTER & COPY CHIEF Erin Simonek
PHOTO EDITOR & DESIGNER Kalib Kiser
CULTURE COORDINATOR & CHEF Cover Photo by Sydney Geller
Melanie Talbott
Meet A Voi
SYDNEY GELLER Sydney is a visual communication design major from Louisville, Kentucky. Her favorite places are Amsterdam, Santorini, and Venice.
ERIN SIMONEK Erin is a journalism major from Cleveland, Ohio. Her favorite cities are Rome, Budapest, and Dublin.
KALIB KISER Kalib is an advertising major from Saegertown, Pennsylvania. His favorite places are Baarn, Tacloban, and Dublin.
MELANIE TALBOTT Melanie is a global communications major from Canton, Ohio. Her favorite cities are Amsterdam, Naples, and Rotorua.
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A Piece of America TAKING PART IN THE VISIT TO THE AMERICAN CEMETERY ALLOWED US TO REFLECT UPON OUR COUNTRY’S PAST, AND PAY OUR RESPECTS TO OUR SOLDIERS WHO LAY TO REST OVERSEAS. SEEING THE AMERICAN FLAG IN ITALY RESONATED WITH ALL OF US TO APPRECIATE OUR ROOTS. THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE IS PRESENT WITH US IN ITALY. 4
AMERICAN CEMETERY
Lost Soldiers Photo by Sydney Geller
Words by Erin Simonek and Melanie Talbott
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oming from a country so committed to supporting our troops and remembering their legacy, it is strange to think that we have largely forgotten those who fought an entire campaign. Stranger still is the idea that we would have forgotten a key part of World War II, which has become ingrained in our national consciousness as the moment of our true ascendency as a world power. Yet, despite the strangeness, nestled among the countless hills which surround Florence rest
thousands of our nation’s fallen soldiers, most never visited. The cemetery itself is a striking place. The rows of white crosses and Stars of David of our soldiers resting places are set among the cypresses and pines of Tuscany. The central monument evokes a massive altar adorned with numerous plaques listing the names of the unidentified lost. In the middle, rising like a torch, a white tower capped with a winged figure stands watchful over the grounds. It is in many ways an ideal resting place, and yet it has its disadvantages.
On our visit early in the fall, there were signs of visitation placed at just a handful of the thousands of markers that make up the rows. As freshman fashion student, Katarina Guenther, said, “There weren’t many flags or flowers and it really makes you think this is the forgotten side of the war.” Our guide, a member of the American Battle Monuments Commission, admitted that most of those buried in the cemetery had never been visited. While this is an unfortunate reality, the reasons for it make some sad sense.
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WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WW2, YOU THINK EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN GERMANY, FRANCE, OR IN THE CENTER, BUT YOU DON’T THINK ABOUT ITALY. The first is pure practicality. It is expensive to travel from the United States to Florence. Considering that the military has long been an opportunity for those from less wealthy families to improve their position, it should not be surprising that many of the descendants of those interred so far from home would struggle to make the journey. Another sad truth that leaves so many unvisited is that many of them have no living family or if they do, the family does not know they are buried here. More than a thousand names fill the plaques of the unidentified and lost. The Commission is constantly working to fill these gaps in our knowledge, but some will remain forever unknown. At the same time, there is another such gap which informs the unvisited state of our service members at rest in Tuscany. Junior English major, Maximilian Bruno, said, “When you think about WWII you think everything happens in Germany, France, or in the center, but you don’t think about Italy.” Though the campaign to liberate Italy was crucial to thinning the German lines and allowing the Allies to advance, we are rarely taught about it. That lack of mainstream awareness of such a major campaign is part of why what the Commission does at our two military cemeteries in Italy is so important. The tour guides and stewards at the site work to maintain both the great
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honor we feel such a place deserves and the humanity that we need to really connect to it. They do this by working to tell the stories of some of the people buried there. On our visit, we learned of three brothers who each fought in various campaigns during the war, including the Italian campaign. Our guide read us the letters they had written between themselves and to their families which highlighted their courage and commitment, yes, but also their youth and anxieties. All three eventually died in the late stages of the war. “I have an older brother and hearing stories of the brothers killed made me think that that could be me next to my brothers,” was the reaction of freshman economics major, Michael Emnett. This personal touch makes the experience of visiting such a place much more concrete. As junior health sciences major, Jessica Hyreman said, “The tour guide did a really good job about giving us background so we could put a face in a story with a grave.” As moving as the memorial itself may be, it truly is the efforts made to create connection to those interred that leaves the most lasting impression. Rows of stone are striking, but stories sink in. With so many buried here, the stories are beyond numbering. As Maryanne Potter, a junior business major, said, “it makes you think about what their lives were and what their family thought.” By building this bridge, we
are able to better understand the cost of military action. We can feel empathy rather than just sympathy for those who gave everything they had half a world away from home. These are not faceless soldiers, they are brothers, daughters, friends, and, most strikingly to us, students. Yet, despite this effort, the graves remain unvisited and the campaign remains primarily a footnote in our national consciousness. Still though, the Commission will continue to tell the stories and maintain the grounds. They will continue to impart the lesson of this place to those few who do cross its gates. Most importantly, they will keep the connection to the human beings buried there alive. With all things considered, perhaps it is not so sad a thing that there are few visitors to the cemetery. It allows a greater peace to reside there, undisturbed by the waves of tourists that wash over more famous military monuments. Even more, it allows the educational message of such a place to be delivered to an audience more dedicated by pure virtue of having to seek it out. Particularly for visiting students like ourselves, the pure impact of walking nearly alone among graves that in another time could be our own is deeply sobering. It is a reminder that we can only aspire to remember the impact of such a place as we take the reigns of the world from the generations before us.
American Cemetery Photo by Erin Simonek
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Inside the Colosseum Photo by Sydney Geller
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Roman Greenery THROUGHOUT ROME, GREEN SPACE COOPERATES WITH RUINS TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL CITY. Words by Kalib Kiser
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reen spaces within urban areas and cities centers are a great benefit to the environment. Natural filters help remedy pollutants and dust from the air, as well as provide shade and lower temperatures. These benefits are being reaped in new and growing cities all over the globe, but one place that has always taken advantage of nature is the Eternal City. Roman gardens have always been a main outlet for public space and public works. According to the Roma Capitale, in 2017 38.9% of Rome was covered in green space, compared to New York City’s 27.0%. One of the older and well known gardens is Giardino degli Aranci, or the Orange Garden. Along with positives of the tall shading orange trees and surrounding shrubs, the garden acts as a great communal area.
The terrace which looks out towards St. Peter’s Basilica is a great backdrop for the many picnickers and musicians relaxing there. Gardens and parks such as these are a great mesh of landscaping and utilizing public space, but the ingrained greenery is what truly makes the city special.
ACCORDING TO THE ROMA CAPITALE, IN 2017 38.9% OF ROME WAS COVERED IN GREEN SPACE. Throughout the city, including heritage foundations such as the Roman Forums, there are impressive
stone pines growing at their own pace unbothered by the human population there. All along rocky slopes and around buildings there are grape vines and miscellaneous underbrush. The Roman way of allowing plants to intertwine with their homes and businesses is unique here. It is a perfect medium between a harsh glass and mental environment and an overrun one. The green space around Rome provides an interesting contrast to that of Florence. In Rome, the greenery interacts with the city, weaving itself throughout. In Florence, green space feels very separate from the city. Although beautiful gardens exist in Florence, in Rome the greenery and city work together to build the truly original city of Rome.
Aventine Hill Photo by Kalib Kiser
A VOI
Nothing Beside Remains
Roman Forum Photo by Sydney Geller
Words by Melanie Talbott
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n a warm fall evening the streetlights dim, and the Forum of Augustus is reborn in light. Where in daylight stands only the bleached and crumbling remains of a once bustling city hub, through projections and sound the colors and life that once filled this place are returned. Still, after about forty minutes the projections fade and the ruins remain.
Rome is a city of infinite complexity. It is big and loud and intimate and quiet. It contains multitudes of living people and the traces of multitudes long since passed. It is often called “the Eternal City� because of its thousands of years of history, but one of the most striking things about Rome is how thoroughly it puts truth to the lie of its immortality.
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In truth, Rome has been many cities. The town of the Etruscans was replaced by the early Kingdom was replaced by the Republic was replaced by the Empire. Once the Empire crumbled and retreated east, the city itself fell into decay. Eventually, Papal power and shifting tides in Europe started to pull the city back and transform it yet again. With the creation of a unified Italy, the city was remade as the capitol before changing again under the rule of fascism. All of this is to say that the Rome of today is not the Rome of our popular imagination, but perhaps something more interesting altogether. To look down from the Palatine Hill is to see the constant reshaping of the city almost as a diorama. Facing the forums of Augustus and Julius
Caesar, to your right stands the monumental Altar of Fatherland. A truly massive structure in white marble, it is visible from most areas of the city. Its construction saw the destruction of a large portion of the Capitoline Hill. Straight ahead, running through the forums, is the Via dei Fori Imperiali. This grand boulevard was built by order of Mussolini and buried huge portions of the Forums in the process. At the end of the road to your left stands the Colosseum. One of the most famous landmarks in the world, the quintessential Roman amphitheater was built over a remarkable artificial lake built by Nero on the remains of a burned neighborhood.
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Everything in Rome is subject to revision and replacement, but one work of Nero represents an interesting exception to the rule. The artificial lake was just one small piece of the massive pleasure palace Nero built for himself and called the Domus Aurea, or Golden House. A huge, lavish complex of impressive art, architecture, and landscaping, the Domus Aurea was Nero’s decadent gift to himself. He is said to have described its excess as the thing which allowed him to finally “live as a human.” Given the massive expense and indulgence of the place, it is little surprise that it became an object of resentment.
TO LOOK DOWN FROM THE PALATINE HILL IS TO SEE THE CONSTANT RESHAPING OF THE CITY ALMOST AS A DIORAMA.
structure and colors that time and the sun have stripped from so much of the city. In one room though, you can experience a glimpse of what the height of its glory must have looked like. Through virtual reality technology, the splendor and riches of the palace are returned. Even a small glimpse of its full beauty is enough to inspire tears and anger at the people who saw fit to destroy its wonder. Ultimately though, it would have been destroyed by time with or without their help. It is only through their efforts to bury it that we can even grasp at what it once was. Technological recreations like this and the light show mentioned at the beginning are a huge step forward in our ability to understand what has been left in the city and the world at large. We now have a chance to rebuild the past without destroying what is left of it. They let us walk the same halls and marvel at the same wonder as the ancients did. In a sense, these temporary digital reconstructions do well to acknowledge the everlasting truth of Rome: in the Eternal City, nothing lasts forever.
In the wake of Nero’s death, his successors did their best to wipe his memory from history. This of course included his palace. In the process, they striped it of its jewels, tapestries, and marble before burying it in a dense layer of earth. Ironically, it is this last step that saved it. By burying the Golden House, its architecture and art were kept safe from the elements that decayed its neighbors. Nearly fifteen hundred years later it was rediscovered and the frescos inside inspired a whole generation of artists. Today, excavation and restoration efforts allow you to enter and explore one of the most well-preserved imperial sites in the city. It does not match its greatest moments to be sure, but it has the Colosseum Photo by Sydney Geller
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Capital of Catholicism Words by Erin Simonek
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hile Rome is an ancient city filled with history, architecture and life, it is also the home of the capital of Catholicism- Vatican City. Located north west of Rome’s city center is Vatican City, where the grand Saint Peter’s Basilica can be found. The center of Catholicism holds not only Saint Peter’s Basilica, but one can also find the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museo and it is the residence of the head of the church, Pope Francis. Millions of tourists, including abroad students, travel to Vatican City every year to see the famous city. A variety of religions and beliefs in abroad students contribute to the visitors of Vatican Vatican City Photo by Erin Simonek
City. One may want to see the city for its historic beauty while others would like to fulfill their religious meaning seeing the beauty through a religious aspect. Megan Donnelly, junior fashion merchandising student, toured Vatican City with her parents on a guided tour. “I didn’t have a lot of expectations and after going into the city I didn’t realize how big it was,” Donnelly said. “As a Catholic, it was very eye-opening because it made me feel more connected with my faith.” The Vatican’s history dates to the 4th century A.D., when construction of the basilica began over St. Peter’s grave, the first Pope of the
Catholic Church. The 39-foot-tall walls surrounding the city limits were constructed under the reign of Pope Leo IV. A new construction to the basilica and a new rise of Catholicism in the late 1300’s led to the creation of the sacred Sistine Chapel in the late 1400’s under the reign of Sixtus IV. In 1503, Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to painted the Sistine chapel’s ceiling and it is now one of the most holy place in all Vatican City. Fashion merchandising junior, Cheyenne Battle, visited the Vatican as a Christian. “Touring the center of Catholicism was a very positive experience,” Battle said.
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“I loved being in a community of a mix of people with different backgrounds and they were respectful of the Catholic faith.” Battle said aside from the religious aspect, she could appreciate the art of all aspects as a fashion major.
AS A CATHOLIC, IT WAS VERY EYE-OPENING BECAUSE IT MADE ME FEEL MORE CONNECTED WITH MY FAITH. Today’s Vatican has an abundance of historical artworks, and the variety of art found within the city can please almost anyone. From legendary works of art such as School of Athens, Creation of Adam, Laocoön and his Sons and Belvedere Torso, the artwork in the city provides a visual connection to the story of the Catholic church. Battle said aside from the religious aspect, she could appreciate the art of all aspects as a fashion major. Ian Schemm, senior construction management major said, “Seeing the Vatican’s artwork gave me a better understanding of my religion.” Schemm, who was raised Catholic, said putting a picture or a stature to what he learned about his faith growing up was an unforgettable experience While those who visit the Vatican have a variety of reasons to see the religious city, those who visited all agreed the experience was worth visiting. “You could tell there were different religions and people from all types of backgrounds but I could see the appreciation of other cultures
and religions that they had for the chapel,” Donnelly said. “It was incredible as a Catholic to be able to sit, pray and appreciate my faith I was raised on.”
Inside Vatican City Photo by Sydney Geller
Saint Peter’s Basilica is free to enter along with the Blessing of the Pope and attending mass. Tickets for the Vatican Museo and Sistine Chapel go for around 30 euro. 13
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Abroad LIFE IS TOUGH ENOUGH WHEN YOU’RE NERVOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING. STUDYING ABROAD HELPS TO BURST THAT BUBBLE, EVEN JUST A LITTLE.
Words by Sydney Geller
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eaving behind home and comfort is never an easy feat; especially if it’s to a country on the other side of the world. Even if it’s only for four short months (that will definitely speed by as soon as you step into the foreign country), the anxiety is still very real and can sometimes take over your time. It’s completely normal to be nervous about upcoming travels or studying abroad in itself. However, it’s important to not let the uneasy feeling get you down or prevent you from fulfilling any of your dreams for Florence. The first few weeks will most likely be hard to adjust to. But, it’s important to still force yourself out of bed and experience your new Italian home. Every now and then it’s expected to have an “off-day” and be totally content just chilling in your apartment, but the city has so much to show you so make sure you aren’t only seeing the ceiling of your bedroom. I struggled with this from my bed while texting my mom to give me motivation to go outside into a city I knew little about, least of all directions. In weekend one, it was a huge success that I made it outside to study in a cafe. Just going to a cafe was starting small. A solo trip is a great way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Even if you’re like me and claim that you don’t have a comfort zone because everything makes you uncomfortable, going somewhere new on your own brings about an amazing sense of freedom and maturity.
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As terrifying as that may sound, it is a positive way to expand your world view. For a weekend in October, I visited Amsterdam on my own and had the time of my life. I was able to do everything I wanted to do and see everything on my own terms. It also helps that Amsterdam is a fairly safe city and I felt confident that I probably wouldn’t get stabbed in the street.
GOING SOMEWHERE NEW ON YOUR OWN BRINGS ABOUT AN AMAZING SENSE OF FREEDOM AND MATURITY. Despite all the fear brought on from travel, studying in Florence has been the best decision I ever made. After all, I’d much rather have a panic attack while seeing Botticelli’s Birth of Venus in the city of the Renaissance than at home, alone, under the covers.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
The Change of Me STUDYING ABROAD IS A MINI RESOCIALIZATION IN YOUR LIFE. EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS ALTERED AND EVERYONE RESPONDS TO THIS DIFFERENTLY. Words by Erin Simonek
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aking the first step of deciding you are going to live in a different country for 4 months is half the battle. I had my doubts on why I should study abroad but I knew my love of traveling and experiencing new surroundings would get me through the semester. Going in with an open mind is so crucial to studying abroad and I can’t emphasize this enough. My outlook on how I want to live my life changed so much after my semester. Through my time of studying in Florence, I started appreciating what I had more and saw a clearer vision of how I wanted my life to unravel. Seeing a variety of cultures allowed me to compare my own culture and learn even more about my raising roots. So much has changed within myself I wouldn’t even think is possible. When you are abroad, you realize your positives in your life that you want to maintain or improve and you realize some negatives that you want to alter within yourself or get rid of in your life. People often ask how a semester of traveling can ‘change’ you, and I believe you must go through an abroad experience to answer that question on your own. My attitude along with my confidence has sky-rocketed during my time in Europe. I often think that if I can handle traveling through a variety of European countries with my friends, I can take
YOUR MEMORIES ARE WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON AND THIS EXPERIENCE ALLOWED ME TO BE THE CLOSEST I HAVE EVER BEEN IN BECOMING WHO I WANT TO BE. on life even more confidently back in the United States. Some aspects of my political beliefs even changed after educating myself on Italian politics and again, comparing them to the culture of American politics. I am a quote lover because anyone can choose to have their personal relation to the quote. I really found that the famous saying “stop and smell the roses” relates so much to the experience of studying abroad. It was about 40 days until my return to the U.S. when I hit the stage in my roller coaster of realization that I wanted to enjoy this experience forever and I need to utilize every day doing so. Sure, while away you miss your roots, but after that 20-minute FaceTime with your family you go and walk the streets and find a café you haven’t seen yet, a church you haven’t been in, a street you haven’t
walked down, and it’s almost a natural push to experience anything and everything different from what you are used to. I always thought moving myself to Italy or the U.K. or anywhere in Europe for my career was out of the question, but now I could confidently start a life in Europe if the opportunity hit and my life took me in that direction. During all my weekend trips, I often felt as if I was experiencing a true moment in time. Each memory shapes you into a better mold of yourself. Your memories are who you are as a person and this experience allowed me to be the closest I have ever been in becoming who I want to be. Studying abroad in the city of Florence, Italy allowed me to be internally grateful and learn from my past and present and push me into my future’s success.
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Fashion & Gender AS CONTEMPORARY OPENMINDEDNESS BECOMES MORE POPULAR AND NORMALIZED IN SOCIETY IT ALLOWS FOR MORE FLEXIBLE INTERPRETATIONS OF GENDER, AND WHAT “GENDER NORMS” ARE. Words by Kalib Kiser
PRESENCE IN POP CULTURE
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ilan has been a center for fashion since the early 20th century, drawing in designers from around the globe. Often considered one of the most prominent, Giorgio Armani founded his fashion house in the city in 1975. Ever the trendsetter, he was one of the first designers to devote a line to the promotion of androgynous fashion. This should come as no surprise, as Milan has always been a place that sought to be at the forefront of the next big thing in fashion and design. As androgynous design has only continued to become more prominent in an age of increasingly blurred lines of identity and gender, the city has remained key to the conversation. Contrary to popular misconception, Androgynous Fashion is not clothing with a lack of gender based characteristics, but rather a combination of masculine and feminine qualities. This
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Androgyny Photos by Kalib Kiser
style of expression has been evolving since the early 20th century with humble beginnings, and now with the rise in popularity through male celebrities it is finally starting to reach the other side of the aisle. The idea of what a man “should” be has long been an inhibitor of expression for half of the world’s’ population, and in many places still is. The root idea of gender identity has always been tied to biological sex, but what it means to identify as one or another is more or less a deeply held feeling. People of different genders typically have varying behaviors, but these differences are less often because of biological differences, and more commonly because of societal casings. Whether or not these predisposed social norms are right or wrong is arguable. But, it is clear that it has made a barrier that is difficult to cross.
MILANO FASHION
The idea of what a man “should” be has long been an inhibitor of expression. The root idea of gender identity has always been tied to biological sex, but what it means to identify as one or another is more or less a deeply held feeling. People of different genders typically have varying behaviors, but these differences are less often because of biological differences, and more commonly because of societal casings. Whether or not these predisposed social norms are right or wrong is arguable. But, it is clear that it has made a barrier that is difficult to cross. Some of the earliest innovators of this liberating trend have been world famous artists and musicians. In ‘I Would Die 4 U’ Prince sings, “I’m not a woman. I’m not a man. I am something that you’ll never understand.” Through this lyric, he is speaking to the identity Progressions in fashion and pop culture he explored throughout have always mirrored changes in social his career. Because of his borders. Today androgyny is very much on outspokenness, he helped to trend, especially with younger generations deconstruct conventions of in big cities. This movement is sure to continue growing in the future. The only question is how. The true identity of androgyny is one that combines both male and female qualities. However; an increasingly popular approach to androgynous design is to create using neither. In the wake of same sex marriage victories across the globe, the idea and acceptance of genders beyond male and female has loss footing. This topic has become more taboo than it was ten or twenty years ago, as more people become aware, and unsure of it. It is possible that people will refuse to explore the utilization of traditional qualities of the opposite sex because of this awareness, thus making the “neither” approach more appealing. Either way, androgyny as a lifestyle and as a fashion trend are here to stay. Conservative views of gender will always coexist and the exploration of self expression will continue to evolve.
THE FUTURE OF
masculinity, transporting androgyny into mainstream pop culture. His love of loud fashion pieces, highwaisted pants, frills, and his iconic pink shawl helped to popularize these trends farther down the road. Another male icon that accomplished similar feats in the fashion industry is Kurt Cobain—who came from a completely different world of music. On the cover of The Face’s 1993 September issue, he is pictured wearing a simple tea dress and quoted, “There is nothing more comfortable than a cosy flower pattern.” The founding father of grunge was also an outspoken and proud feminist, often wearing ball gowns to award shows and challenging people who took issue with his personal choices. A key difference between the work of Prince and Cobain in regards to fashion is Kurt’s lack of integration. This is not a negative thing, however. Although he lacked true androgynous fashion traits in his style, his bold dresses on top of his hypermasculine attitude and features told an entire generation of people that it’s okay. Okay to dress different, okay to think different, and okay to be different.
I SEE FASHION AS A PROCLAMATION OR MANIFESTATION OF IDENTITY, SO, AS LONG AS IDENTITIES ARE IMPORTANT, FASHION WILL CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT.
From Plato’s Symposium to genderless runways, androgyny has always been part of human nature and it will continue to have an important role in society as it changes and develops. Our cultural approach to gender and sex will always tie into fashion, the only question is: will androgyny eventually become the main norm or will it be one of many rules of style in the future.
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Italian Day Trips WE KNOW TRAVELING CAN GET STRESSFUL. HERE ARE SOME SPOTS AROUND ITALY TO DO IN A DAY. CAPRI Words by Kalib Kiser The scenic views of Tyrrhenian sea are best seen from the winding trails that trace all over Capri’s 7 kilometer long stretch of cliffs and beaches. These paths offer something of interest around every corner from bustling town centers to quiet gardens. Along with the beautiful sights and hiking there are numerous other attractions right from the gate. Getting to the island early in the morning is ideal, as there are not many tourists and the sunrise is visible from all over the island. In the main harbor where the ferry from Naples takes its passengers, there is a convenient tourist office situated on the adjacent street. The office rents storage lockers for bags and also sells tickets for all of the main attractions on Capri. Heading to the top of the summit is a great destination for lunch, and is also the location of the chair lift that gives you a view of the very top of the island where everything is visible from. The amazing views are great from above, but also worth seeing from the waterline. Renting a private boat can be costly, so going on a group excursion may be better suited for the average visitor. Many of these tours take you to see at least a few grottos, and if time and weather allow, to the Blue Grotto. This specific grotto requires you to lay down in a small wooden boat and be carefully pushed through the cliff face. The reflective light paired with the deep blue of the water is a favorite among tourists. Another major sight that
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you will have the opportunity to see is the Faraglioni. With a dramatic set of rock formations that jut out from the sea. A large arch is formed underneath of the center figure, and is commonly referred to as the Love Arch or the Tunnel of Love. The local tradition has it that if two people kiss under the arch, their love and happiness will be eternal. Beyond heartfelt local tradition and scenic views, another grand resource of Capri is the people. The hospitality that is commonly associated with southern Italy is no exception on the island, in fact it may be even more true here. The small number of people that live here working in the large boating community or tourism exhibits are truly some of the most welcoming people you can find in Italy.
CAPRI AVERAGE TRAVEL TIME FROM FLORENCE: 6 hours (train and ferry)
ROUND-TRIP TRAVEL COST: â‚Ź80.70 = $92
Capri Photo by Kalib Kiser
ITALIAN DAY TRIPS
CASTIGLIONCELLO Words by Sydney Geller Castiglioncello is a small village near the Bay of Quercetano. The village is only 30 km south of Livorno, but feels much farther. Known as “the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea,” the town is (mostly) free from tourists and was a common place for Italian holidays in the 1960s. Now it remains hidden from the common eye. Castiglioncello is built throughout the side of a cliff overlooking the bay. The rocky shore leads into the crystal clear water which is blue, green, and the colors in between. The cliff eventually fades backwards into trees that guide you away from the village. The town feels elegantly simple which made it home to the Macchiaioli art movement in the second half of the 19th century. While the movement began at Cafè Michelangiolo in Florence, Castiglioncello offered picturesque scenes that inspired the artists. The goal of the Macchiaioli was to reinvent Italian art by capturing natural light, shade, and colors of nature. The natural beauty of Castiglioncello feels far away from reality, like a dreamy beach that you would only find in films. Castiglioncello Photo by Sydney Geller
I visited Castiglioncello in early September when the weather was still warm enough to get in the water. I came across few Americans, most likely due to the fact that most American students were probably visiting mort touristic sites. While locations such as Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast may be tempting with the countless tourist traps, Castiglioncello exists as a paradise of relaxation, serenity, and solitude. I spent the weekend with my roommates, relaxing on the beach, getting sunburnt, eating the most incredible seafood, and being entranced by the beauty of the tiny beach town. Visiting Castiglioncello is an excellent way to escape the constant bustling of the city of Florence. Maybe it was being able to escape the neverending movement of life in the city, or maybe it was that I fell asleep listening to the sounds of the ocean, but being in Castiglioncello was the most relaxed I felt in my entire semester abroad.
Castiglioncello Photo by Sydney Geller
CASTIGLIONCELLO AVERAGE TRAVEL TIME FROM FLORENCE: 2 hour train ROUND-TRIP TRAVEL COST: €23.40 = $26.68
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NAPOLI Words by Melanie Talbott Napoli is a city that deserves both your time and the truth. It contains many things, and you can very easily find yourself with the feeling that you have been in two very different cities if you experience the mix of them that my friends and I did. The truth I mentioned is that if you aren’t careful, you could come away with a very negative opinion of a place that dares you to judge it by its worst. With that in mind, there are a few things you can do to make sure it shows you its best. If you are only going for one day, you avoid one of the biggest pitfalls Napoli has to offer: cheap lodgings. If you plan to extend your trip, know that the idea of getting what you pay for is in full force in this city. Stay in a cheap part of town and that is what you’ll think Napoli is: cheap, seedy, even dirty. Save your experience by spending a bit more. Should you plan on making a day trip out of Napoli from Florence, be kind to yourself and book your trip on the Freccia fast-trains. Napoli is far enough away that trying to make a day trip by bus would leave you with essentially no time in the city, so save yourself the headache. The fast train is still a three-hour trip, so plan to leave very early in the morning. One benefit of taking a train into Napoli is that it puts you right where you need to be to get to the region’s most famous destination: Pompeii. Reaching Pompeii is very simple. For about four euro, you can buy a ticket on the Circumvesuviano line to Sorento which runs out of one of the lower levels of the station. Any of the small convenience shops in the station can sell you one. At that point you simply take the train to the Pompei station and the entrance to the ruins is a short walk away. You could easily spend the whole day wandering the site but try to restrain yourself to three or four hours so you have some time left to enjoy Napoli. As an aside, if you’re feeling hungry when you first arrive in Napoli, one of the most popular pizzerias in the city, da Michele, is just a few blocks away. 20
Once back in the city, you can easily reach its beautiful center by taking Line 1 on the subway to the Municipo or Toledo stops. I would recommend Municipo as the walk from the station to the main piazza takes you past the imposing Castel Nuovo and the stately royal palace. The piazza, Piazza del Plebiscito, is truly majestic and also conveniently close to the port and marina. You can treat yourself to a beautiful end to your trip by walking along the waterfront to one of the many restaurants that share a small island with the Castel dell’Ovo. This is far from the only way to enjoy the city, and truthfully seeing its worst helps make its best all the more impressive. With just one day to spend though, you might as well eliminate the risk and treat yourself to history and beauty like nowhere else.
Napoli Photos by Melanie Talbott
NAPOLI AVERAGE TRAVEL TIME FROM FLORENCE: 3 hour train
ROUND-TRIP TRAVEL COST: €67.70 = $77.07
ITALIAN DAY TRIPS
PERUGIA Words by Erin Simonek Perugia is a small village about 2 hours south of Florence. Myself, like many students, experienced this peaceful city while attending the EuroChocolate festival in October. The festival is the largest chocolate festival in Europe, bringing in around 100,000 visitors to the city each year. Perugia is no stranger to chocolate, as the city is the world producer of the famous Italian chocolate, Baci, produced by the famous Italian chocolate brand, Perugina. The chocolate factory is one of the major contributing sponsors of the EuroChocolate festival. Aside from the city’s sweet sense of chocolate, Perugia also has a popular music festival called the Umbria Jazz Festival. The festival is held in July, bringing in many Europeans, abroad students and music lovers. With so much beauty the city has to offer, my favorite feature of the city I noticed the antique walls surrounding Perugia’s city limits. I later found the walls date back to the Etruscan period, which is even older than the Roman era. Perugia also has its infamous history of Amanda Knox, which is a strange yet exhilarating twist on the quiet, kind town.
Perugia Photo by Erin Simonek
PERUGIA AVERAGE TRAVEL TIME FROM FLORENCE: 2 hour train
ROUND-TRIP TRAVEL COST: €29.30 = $33.36
The city is easily accessible by train from any major city in Italy, making travel into Perugia simple and cheap. A slow train or fast train option is available depending on price range and available time of the traveler. Aside from taking the train, the best options to get into the city would be with a bus or, if you’re close enough, a taxi. The city is perfect for someone who wants to take a day to get out of a major, busy city and experience the tranquil life Perugia offers. While the beautiful city is known for many things, I left Perugia remembering it’s kind people, unique views and small town experience.
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Capri Photo by Kalib Kiser
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A VOI
Dal Nostro Piatto al Tuo GOING OUT TO EAT EVERY NIGHT CAN GET EXPENSIVE. USE THESE CHEAP AND EASY RECIPES TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY. Recipes by Melanie Talbott Photo from Two Peas and Their Pod
BRUSCHETTA This delicious Italian appetizer is technically defined only by the toasted bread with olive oil. This version with tomatoes and onions is particularly suited for American tastes and student wallets.
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
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1/2 onion (any color, white is more visually appealing)
1.
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2-3 average sized tomatoes
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10 leaves of fresh basil
2. Season sparingly with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt to taste.
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1 large baguette
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3 large cloves of garlic (cut in half)
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Olive Oil
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Salt
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Balsamic Vinegar
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Dice the onion and tomato. Chiffonade the basil. Place in bowl.
3. Slice baguette into 0.5 inch thick rounds. 4. Fill plate or flat dish with olive oil and dip each side of bread. 5. Toast bread on baking sheet under broiler until golden brown and crispy on both sides, flipping halfway through.
6. On removing from oven, rub one side of each piece of bread with cloves of garlic. 7. Assemble with a spoonful of tomato mixture on each piece of bread and serve.
COOKING VOCABULARY Chiffonade: Stack all basil leaves together. Roll into long tube. Slice into long strips.
CARBONARA This easy dish, traditionally made with just five ingredients, is one that must be made in Italy. One of the key ingredients, guanciale, is almost impossible to find outside of the country and makes all the difference in the taste.
INGREDIENTS •
1 package of spaghetti
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4 eggs
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1 cup of pecorino romano cheese (You can also add some parmigiano.)
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300g of guanciale
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Black pepper (to taste)
INSTRUCTIONS 1.
Dice guanciale into quarter inch cubes and place in a large unheated skillet. Over mediumlow heat, slowly render the guanciale until it is just starting to turn golden-brown. Remove guanciale from skillet, leaving the fat on heat.
2. Cook spaghetti in as little water as possible to maximize starchiness of the water. Salt water very lightly (as other ingredients are very salty). 3. In a bowl, combine grated cheese and eggs. Mix until it reaches a paste-like consistency. 4. Without draining, transfer cooked spaghetti to skillet. Remove from heat and wait until it has just stopped sizzling. 5. Add cheese/egg mixture and 1 ladle of pasta water. Stir rapidly until the sauce is formed. 6. Add black pepper, stir, and serve.
COOKING VOCABULARY Guanciale: Made from the cured cheek of the pig, this bacon-like product adds an incredible depth of flavor to any dish.
Photo from What’s Gaby Cooking
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CHICKEN SCALOPPINE More commonly made by Italians with veal, this version with chicken is incredibly easy to make as ready-to-bread fillets of chicken are cheaply available at the supermarket.
INGREDIENTS Chicken •
1 package chicken breast fillets
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1 cup of bread crumbs
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1/2 cup of flour
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2 eggs
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Salt and pepper to taste
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Olive oil
Sauce •
1/2 cup of white wine
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juice of 1 1/2 lemons
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75g of butter
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OPTIONAL: 1 tbsp of kapers
INSTRUCTIONS 1.
Create breading station by putting the bread crumbs, flour, and beaten egg each on separate flat plates. Season bread crumbs and flour with salt and pepper.
2. Starting with the flour, dip both sides of the chicken then egg, then bread crumbs. Repeat until all chicken is breaded. 3. In large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chicken (two at a time) in olive oil until lightly golden brown on both sides. Repeat until all is finished and set aside. 4. To make the sauce, pour in lemon juice, wine, and deglaze the pan. Cook for just a moment before adding in the butter and leaving the heat on for a few moments to reduce. (If adding kapers, do so now.)
COOKING VOCABULARY Deglaze: Adding a liquid (usually an acid) to a cooking vessel over heat in order to scrape up the browned bits of food from the bottom to make a simple sauce.
5. When sauce is reduced, add chicken back to skillet and turn to coat before serving.
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Photo from Cafe Delites
ITALIAN FLAVOR
Photo from What’s Gaby Cooking
TIRAMISU The classic Italian dessert is quite simple (as long as you have access to an electric mixer). With just a few ingredients and a refrigerator, this recipe comes together perfectly.
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
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6 eggs
1.
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2/3 cups of sugar
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8 oz of mascarpone cheese
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1 cup of fresh espresso at room temperature
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3-4 dozen ladyfingers (called Savoiardi at the supermarket)
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Cocoa powder for dusting
COOKING VOCABULARY Stiff Peaks: When beater is lifted out of the egg mixture, the egg whites should stick straight up without folding over on themselves. Be careful not to overbeat, as you can easily go too far once this point is reached.
Separate egg whites from egg yolks. Discard 3 egg whites. In separate mixing bowls, add 1/3 cup of sugar to both the yolks and the whites.
2. Beat the whites on medium-high speed until they’ve reached stiff peaks, about 3-5 minutes. 3. Separately, beat the yolks until they have lightened in color and fall from mixer in thick ribbons when lifted. 4. Add mascarpone to yolk mixture and briefly whip until combined.
6. Pour espresso into flat dish and dunk ladyfingers into it for just 1-2 seconds each before placing in the bottom of an 8x8 inch pan. 7. Once you have formed a complete layer, spread half the cheese on top and then repeat with remaining ladyfingers and cheese mixture. 8. Cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 9. Dust with cocoa powder before serving.
5. Carefully fold the egg whites into the yolk and cheese mixture.
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From Us,
A Voi When our small yet mighty fall 2018 College of Communication team of four was asked to create a magazine to sum up our semester abroad in Florence, we were challenged but ready to take on the daunting task. How could we capture fifteen weeks simply with words and pictures? Just as fifteen weeks is not nearly enough time to experience Europe or even Italy, a magazine is not enough to contain our journeys. With that in mind, the four of us have chosen instead to present a set of impressions and thoughts to inspire your own dreams of adventures. We hope that through this collection of images and articles that you too will choose to seek out a view of the world informed by new cultures, languages and locales. Also, a very special thank you to our CCI director, Fabio Corsini. You took us in with an open heart and treated us as your own. Without you, we probably would’ve cried a lot more than we did.
Sincerely,
A VOI
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CLOSING REMARKS
Capri Photo by Kalib Kiser
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