ENGL 289 - Shakespeare in Italy

FC ARHU CD

4 credits
This June-term faculty-led educational trip will offer an opportunity to study several of Shakespeare’s Italian plays surrounded by the art, history, mythology, and culture that inspired them. In Rome we will visit major sites such as the Forum, the Colosseum, the Capitoline Museum, the Pantheon, and countless galleries, churches, and museums–but not as ordinary tourists. Instead, we will be learning about intellectual, cultural, and literary history at every step of our travels. In Venice, we will think about this crucial early modern port town as a site of cultural complexity and interaction, reflected in plays about Othello “the Moor” and Shylock “the Jew.” In Florence, we will learn about the High Renaissance art, philosophy, architecture, and modern economic practices which so greatly influenced Shakespeare and other authors. A side trip to Padua will bring us to sites of the Scientific Revolution, and a day trip to Pompeii will give a true perspective on the rise and fall of civilizations. Along the way we will take in musical and theatrical experiences, enjoy amazing food and gelato, walk for miles, and enjoy the vibrant, diverse, complex Italy of today. Students are required to apply to be admitted to the course. Fees may apply.