Essere O Non Essere/To be Or Not To Be…. THAT is the question!
Last night Creative Campus’s project “SGE” (Student Generated Event) emerged on the scene of Cinema Alfieri. Over 25 students from 7 different schools… including Universita’ di Firenze…. created photos, artwork, theatre, music and a sound installation in an evening around a theme that has opened a small floodgate of conversation and controversy! STEREOTYPES….. was the theme and over 100 students - Italian and American - were in attendance.
When I was in Syracuse New York working at the university there I had this idea that if we put the students from the school of art together with the community under the theme of “What is Precious” about the city of Syracuse, things could be created and discussed… opened up in a way that only art and communal inquiry could achieve. But for reasons typical of complex relationships within university departments… the idea never took off. But… since we’ve established here in Florence that I am in charge and in control… at least of FITC… (see previous blog entry) I get to do what I want…. and, in all seriousness, the last few days was the beginning of seeing much of it happen.
My passion for Creative Campus – our program to connect the American students who come to Florence with each other, the city and…. I am TRYING …. With Italian students – is because I believe that Florence needs the energy, talent, passion, and intellect of people their age as a way in which to – in essence – have a new renaissance for the city. Which, with all the respect I can offer…. It desperately needs. Just as all cities with problems of violence and segregated populations and immigration issues and poverty and drugs… Florence has the added problem of tourists and thousands of students who come to the city and have their own, particular demands.
What I’ve learned is how complex the issue is…. All interested parties such as governments, business owners and educators aside….. simply the issue of putting together Italian students and American students in an event such as this brought up great possibilities and great challenges.
Language is such an interesting thing. FITC often says we “use English to bring cultures together not separate them” but that’s really not quite as easily said as done. Not when you add into that mix cultural attitudes and perspectives – and youth.
During the curtain call of the SGE I got on stage to thank everyone….. at that moment one of the two Italian student actors walked over to me, interrupted me as I was speaking to the audience and said they had written something that they wanted to use to open a “discussion.” I, in my naïve American “I want to be open to everyone and support intercultural-cross exchange” said “well of course, that’s what this is all about.” But there was something weird about it….. something not quite right. And the event sort of ended on a bit of a softer note onstage…. A bit unsure of what it was. Papers were being handed out to the audience by friends of Francesco and Fabio’s and the band didn’t quite know if they should do a final number or not.
As I was stepping off the stage one of the American girls who directed the pieces came up to me: “Have you read what Francesco and Fabio wrote? It’s pretty…. Harsh.” Still in my stupid open Americana mind I said “well they are allowed to say what they want aren’t they? That’s what this is all about.” And I went to deal with a few things. People were talking, they enjoyed the event, they loved the idea of it. We began cleaning up. Ironically, the man who was in charge of the events in the building was the former Assessore Alla Cultura (Minister of Culture) who knew me from meetings in the early days of FITC (although maybe we’re still in them even though it doesn’t feel like it!). He loved the event, was impressed by the kids and looked forward to more with us. Another student came up to me: “Have you read what Francesco and Fabio wrote? I think it could really damage everything Creative Campus is doing.” I look at the lobby and see Claire – my associate – sitting and reading the paper with a look on her face that’s pretty horrible. So I read it.It pretty much was a manifesto…. A protest statement against the entire event these two boys had participated in for three weeks. Apparently they didn’t think Italy or Italian men should be criticized…. And somehow they didn’t feel empowered enough, or free enough to let us know that - in all the time they were working on the piece - they were against it and felt offended by the inquiries it took. The American students felt angry and betrayed…… and then they felt ashamed as if they did something wrong. That’s when I realized….. creating something to “connect cultures”….. is a much harder enterprise than one would anticipate….so I had them all to dinner to discuss it. One person left slamming a door, others feeling it was a complete waste of time…. me one of them.
But I’m not giving up!
Ciao ragazzi….. sometimes I think I’m either stubborn or just stupid…..
Or very blessed!
Bari
