A Borderless Renaissance? Multiculturalism in an Expanding World, 1500-1800

30 November, 2018 | 12:00 pm-6:00 pm | 370 Dwinelle

This one-day seminar-style conference seeks to understand, critique, and interpret various ways in which multiculturalism and cultural exchange facilitated the creation of a “borderless” global Renaissance. Our discussions will explore instances and effects of boundary-crossing and borderlessness across genre and form; expressions of gender, racial, and ethnic identity; religious and cultural communities; legal and institutional norms; and geographical or geopolitical spaces.

The two panels feature distinguished speakers across multiple disciplines who will briefly introduce a question and/or interpretation regarding a multicultural Renaissance. The panels aim to generate group discussion: to that end, after each panelist introduces h/er point of entry, the panel’s respondent will draw out major themes to engage the audience and panelists in conversation.

The conference’s round table will address questions of methodology and pedagogy concerning how to bring multiculturalism and cultural exchange into the Renaissance classroom. These questions will include: how can we present Renaissance cultural exchange in an effective way that respects both historical specificity and global historical narrative(s)? How can digital technologies enhance the way we teach texts, discourses, and histories of multiculturalism? How and through what methodological means can we engage with interdisciplinarity in teaching this subject?  How can instructors encourage students in critical conversation that bridges these cross-cultural encounters of the Renaissance and today’s “culture wars”?

Conference schedule:
12:00-1:30 p.m.: Mythologies, Technologies, Ecologies

Paula Findlen, Stanford University
Liesder Mayea, University of Redlands
Sugata Ray, UC Berkeley

2:00-3:30 p.m.: Confessional and Colonial Crossroads
Eric Dursteler, Brigham Young University
David Frick, UC Berkeley
Gitanjali Shahani, San Francisco State

4:00-5:00 p.m.: Panelist Roundtable
How to Teach a Multicultural Renaissance

5:00-6:00 p.m.: Reception

This conference is possible thanks to the generous support of the Designated Emphasis in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies, the Townsend Center for the Humanities, the Center for Race and Gender, the Department of Italian Studies, and the Stoddard Fund in the History of Art Department. 

New Italian Cinema: “As Needed (Quanto Basta)”

Francesco Falaschi, Director

30 November, 2018 | 6:30 pm-8:30 pm | Vogue Theater

The Department of Italian Studies is co-presenting As Needed (Quanto Basta) at New Italian Cinema.

Francesco Falaschi’s delightful comedy takes us on a culinary road trip to Florence, culminating in a contest for young cooks. Arturo (Vinicio Marchioni) is a veteran chef with minor anger management problems who, after a short stint in prison, performs community service at a school for teens with Asperger’s. His students are eager to learn, especially Guido (Luigi Fedele), a young man who remembers every ingredient in every recipe. At first, the jaded Arturo views Guido as an obligation, but the boy’s earnest enthusiasm rubs off on his mentor. Arturo delays his move to Milan to cook in a sleek restaurant when the opportunity arises to accompany Guido to the competition in Tuscany’s capital. Complicating matters is the fact that the president of the jury is Daniel Marinari (Nicola Siri), Arturo’s celebrity chef ex-business partner and the man Arturo considers responsible for his previous troubles. As Arturo confronts his past and Guido faces the pressure of competition, their initially contentious relationship evolves into a friendship that make both question their values. The Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalist awarded the Graziella Bonacchi Award to Luigi Fedele for his exceptional performance in this film that celebrates neurodiversity.

Opening program of the New Italian Cinema film festival. Screening and director discussion are held at the Vogue Theater, 3290 Sacramento Street, San Francisco. Click here for tickets. Click here for festival information.