Culture Talks

Wondering what life would be like in a different country? Join us for a round table study abroad discussion and get the chance to speak to former participants from the study abroad program.

For all UIC Chinese language students!

Want a taste of Italian Cultural and Heritage? If so, join The Italian Club in celebrating Carnevale, one of Italy’s biggest festivals! EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

Italian and American cultures have developed quite different attitudes towards food and sex. This talk examines what those attitudes are and how these two cultures have influenced the creation of Italian American culture. Professor Gardaphe utilizes both popular culture and academic sources for this presentation with particular attention devoted to literature and film.

A Roundtable presentation with: William Biancucci (Italian Club) and Jorgena Kosti (Italian Minor) The Discussion: -How Can Studying Italian at UIC Enrich Your Life? -In What Ways Can Minoring in Italian Help Prepare You For Your Future? -Using Your Italian Minor as Leverage When Finding a JOB!

Arturo Vittori, internationally reknown Italian architect, presents his work and “From Pyramids to Spacecraft": a travelling exhibition displaying selected projects by the design studio Architecture and Vision, founded by Arturo Vittori and Swiss architect Andreas Vogler. Projects shown in the exhibition include MoonBaseTwo, an inflatable space station for conducting experiments on the Moon, First and Business Class for Asiana Airlines, La Macchina di Santa Rosa di Viterbo and the MercuryHouseOne, which was presented at the Biennale in Venice in 2009 as well as many other inspiring projects ranging from product design to architecture.

Constructing the "Citta Aperta:" Architecture and Planning in Modern Rome. From at least the age of Augustus through the Renaissance of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Rome was famous as one of the great cities of the world. Shaped by emperors and popes alike, the city shows innumerable efforts, from the ancient Forum to St. Peters, to transform it into an international capital, what we know today as the “eternal city.” Despite this important legacy, Rome is no longer celebrated as a compelling urban model. Lacking the industrial development that characterized modern metropolises such as Chicago and the advanced service economies that define leading contemporary cities, Rome is regarded today as more a museum than a thriving urban entity. This view, however, does little justice to the recent history of the city. Through a survey of key episodes in the development of modern Rome, this lecture will explore the continuing vitality of the city as a remarkable site of invention and innovation in architectural and urban form.

Tiziano Fratus published several books of poetry both in Italy and abroad. Selections of his poems have been translated into eight languages and published in international journals, reviews and anthologies in several countries. He is the founder of a new drama season in Venice at Teatro Fondamenta Nuove (2005), the Festival Torino Poesia (2006), the publishing house Edizioni Torino Poesia (2007), Poeteca (Poetry Library, 2009). Two anthologies of his poetry will be published in 2010, in Brazil and in the USA. Other two are in preparation in Paris and Berlin. His new book Creaturing will be presented at Chicago (UIC in collaboration with Istituto italiano di cultura) as well as New York, Minneapolis, Detroit, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Crux

Convito Italiano Tasting with Nancy Brussat! Brussat is the founder and moving force behind Convito Café & Market which opened its first location under the name of Convito Italiano in 1980 in Wilmette. A long time interest in Italian food blossomed during a three-year residency in England. Brussat made frequent trips to Italy, becoming increasingly enchanted by the regional wines, cuisine and character of the country. Since its inception, Convito Café & Market’s mission has always been to foster enjoyment of the gourmet foods, wines and spirits of Italy and France. Nancy will discuss her personal journey in learning about Italian Regional foods

Please come and enjoy an afternoon of great soccer with us! We’ll watch two of the best teams in the world competing for the Champions League final and have fun reviewing our knowledge of the most popular sport in the world! Light refreshments will be served.