Michelle at the Frost Museum / cc 4.0
Michelle Russo is a student at Florida International University Honors College, double majoring in Biochemistry and Natural and Applied Sciences with a minor is Nutrition. She is on the Pre-Med track, in hopes to enter a MD/PhD program when she graduates with her Bachelors in Science. With this education, she aspires to help treat and do research in the neuroscience.
Encounter as Text
by Michelle Russo from Florida International University
Image by Michelle Russo / cc. 4.0
Italy has become the top travel place on my bucket list since my freshman year of high school, when I took Italian. It is an amazing opportunity to be able to go study abroad in Italy with the FIU Honors college. I’m excited not just about seeing the beautiful sights but to learn about its culture. I believe Italy is rich in history and achievements waiting to be uncovered in front of me.
Starting the class, I was nervous and still a bit in disbelief that I will be going to Italy in summer. This is the first time I will be leaving the United States besides Venezuela. I have traveled to a couples of different states in the United States with my old synchronized swimming team where I learned to be independent, but nothing like this experience that is coming up. When I was younger, my dream was to visit the Eiffel Tower, but now that I have learned some of the language and culture from my high school class, Italy has made it to the top of my list. In addition to hearing stories from my uncle these past couple of years,
In the picture above you see my parents above me, my grandma to the right, and my aunt and uncle with their one year old son. My uncle, Giampiero Marini, is Italian and Venezuelan but grew up for part of his life in Italy. I had known he had Italian roots but I really starting hearing about them when I began mentioning this study abroad class in the summer, about his homeland. Since then I have heard all good and beautiful things about Italy. He has recommended me places to visit and eat. His mother has even offered her house, which is near the coast of Camerota, Italy.
There is a lot that has to be prepared ahead of time to get a good experience from studying abroad. The luggage situation in Italy is a nerve-racking topic, not only for me but for most of the class. A great number of students have not traveled to Italy with just a book bag. Even the ones that have traveled there before, have not had as restricted luggage space. Also, planning the itinerary for before, after and on free days of the program are important to get the most out of it.
Based on what John Bailey has spoken to us about the program, I do have high expectations going into it. Not only will he be showing us iconic places, but rural areas not many tourists usually go to. Also, having a professor that knows the area will be of great help in experiencing the food, the community, their way of living, and so much. My friend that is also going on the study abroad program with us, Ashley Lopez, has gone to Italy before. Especially on free days, having a close friend, someone that knows a bit of the area, will be very helpful to not waste as much time looking for something to do.
Ancient Rome as Text
Michelle and Professor Bailly lecturing about Ancient Rome / CC by 4.0
“Rome in America”
by Michelle Russo at Florida International University, February 12, 2023
The more you look into American culture and history, the more you see yourself as a Roman. Ancient Rome is known for its history, culture, architecture, arts, government, and so much more. Many people do not notice how many of these aspects Americans have adopted into our culture.
Starting with the ancient Roman government, many structures and concepts were brought from ancient Rome to the United States of America’s government. The Romans transitioned through three different forms of government, as did America. The government structure is divided into three sections: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. Symbols that were used in ancient Rome also appear in the modern US government. For example, fasces represent how authority is driven by one, but made up of multiple parts. Power and authority are represented by multiple sticks bounded together to form an axe. This symbol is seen multiple times in all three branches of the government and the White House. Specifically, the fasces are used in US symbols and hidden in building structures.
Besides the forms of government, the visual arts are also a Roman strength. Ancient Romans are famous for their sculptures. Many of the Roman styles are seen in the United States today. Many presidential sculptures are in the same position and styles as Roman sculptures. There are sculptures by Benjamin Franklin and George Washington that look more like Roman figures than themselves. Not only their physical attributes, but their clothing and posture are very similar to those of Roman sculptures.
The HBO series Rome gave me an insight into how ancient Romans were in their day-to-day life. Various aspects of culture, government, style, life, morals, and so much more were represented fairly accurately according to how Ancient Rome really was. This helped me see and learn more about Ancient Rome, which made me like it. For the most part, it was an enjoyable film.
A specific aspect of the Roman culture that I enjoyed learning and found interesting about in the show was their culture and style. Their clothing was very unique and extravagant, at some point. Depending on your class, you should dress accordingly. We saw one of the characters develop and start transitioning to an upper class. It was interesting to see not only the clothing transitions but their way of talking and presenting themselves to other people in that class compared to people of their lower classes.
Ancient Romans had a very strict view on authority compared to Americans. We take pride in our nation, but as seen in the HBO series, ancient Rome had a dying pact with their authorities. Honor and loyalty were very important morals the ancient Romans had. This ironically became a conflict when Pompeii and Julius Caesar went to war. Many Romans were up against a wall when they were put to choose their opinion on what was honor, whether saving the republic or fighting corruption.
Ancient Rome lived a very sexualized life, which I found surprising. I had never thought about how normalized nudity and sex was at that time, which I do not agree with. However, women would dress conservatively for the most part, which was expected for the time period.
Historic Miami as Text
Image by Michelle Russo / cc. 4.0
“Miami from a Different Perspective”
by Michelle Russo at Downtown Miami, February 17, 2023
The historic Miami walk was a run through the Biscayne Bay area. Diving into the history and culture that we have lived in and did not know about. We started off in the government center and worked our way through the Wagner’s home, the county courthouse, a catholic church, and a couple more historical sites. These sites were not only in our famous Miami, but a popular tourist place named Biscayne Bay, which many people come to visit for the beaches and shopping centers, but it is never taken into account how rich in culture Miami is.
It was the first time I had ever visited any of the buildings we learned about on this walk although I work so close to here and drive by these buildings often. Starting off with the government center, I figured there was a central place where many metros departed, but never would I have thought it was the same place where so many government offices were located. Walking out of the government center, we started our first lecture walk and we were stopped by a sculpture that historically represents the growth in Miami. I was glad to learn that, since 1973, every public place in Miami- Dade County places a piece of art (Bailly Lectures, 2023). Being an artist, I really appreciated this gesture from Miami – Dade County. Considering it has a great number of public places, this helps under-represented artists get a shot at being recognized for their art.
The Wagner’s homestead is the oldest Miami structure. The Wagner’s homestead and Fort Dallas were two buildings from the same time period, Professor Bailly dove into its history. The homestead structure was initially built somewhere else but transferred to this location to preserve its history (Bailly Lectures, 2023). The Fort Dalla was first constructed as a “slave quarters,” but later became a barrack during the last Seminole Wars (Bailly Lectures, 2023).
A couple of other sites, like the Henry Flagler Monument and the Major Dade Plaque, located at the Miami- Dade Courthouse, were very eye-opening on how information portrayed can be misleading from the truth. Henry Flagler is portrayed as the founder of Miami, but in reality, he brought the first railroad down to Miami. Although he brought many contributions to the City of Miami, we cannot ignore the negative decisions he took on segregation and on the Tequesta.
Some interesting places that I enjoyed during the lecture walk were the Miami’s Kilometer Zero and the Miami River. The Miami kilometer is an intersection where Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast all come together. Standing in the middle of this intersection is the start of all the divisions. I found it unbelievable how people would be treated differently because they were literally a few feet too far from their side. The Miami River was a bittersweet site because you see the beautiful place we reside in and the water, but learning how the environment has become polluted because of this. However, recent efforts have improved the water quality and manatees and other living organisms have started to return.
Last but not least, the Freedom Tower was a spectacular view and insight into how people immigrated, and what their circumstances were like. Although I am not Cuban, I relate to its history because many Venezuelans are going through this now and the Freedom Tower represents an SOS not just for Cuba but for Venezuelans as well.
Italia as Text
Image by Michelle Russo / cc. 4.0
“American vs. Italian Sculptures”
by Michelle Russo, March 12, 2023
Italy has been a long-standing empire, famous for architecture, literature, art, and much more. Sculptures are an iconic stamp for Italy, with many famous sculptors. Following are a few famous sculptors; Donatello, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Benvenuto Cellini, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and last but not least the famous Michelangelo. America has been influenced greatly by Italian aspects.
The Renaissance was a prime time for Italian sculptors. Many famous pieces are from this era. Some famous pieces include Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti, David by Michelangelo, Pieta by Michelangelo, and David by Donatello (The Collector, 2023). Romans appreciate the beauty of the human body and say if God created us what is there to be a shamed of? They are not scared to show certain parts like a penis or breasts in their art, especially in sculptors. This is a major difference between American sculpture. Americans are more conservative in that sense. Rarely are sculptors nude or even portray a sexual perspective in America.
A few classes ago, Professor Bailly dove into how Americans are essentially Italian. During this lecture I was stunned to learn how similar American architecture and art are so similar to Italian. A key point we focused on during the class was sculptors. Starting with political figures in the government, Italians have a specific way of portraying them, with power. A famous Italian sculpture is of a general on a horse. The horse is on two legs and set on top of a tall platform above the floor. A very similar statue was also made in America and is set in Washington D.C., including the height and size of the statue. The sense of power the statue portrays was copied by an American sculptor. Another example of Italian style political sculptures are the head to shoulder portraits, bust statues. Professor Bailly showed us two sculptors from Rome and the other from the states. After showing us both, the class was stunned to realize the similarities between them. The American politician did not look like photographs of himself but more of a Roman version of him. The clothes of the statues were the same, the position of the face, the hairstyle, and even physical attributes were all alike.
Another opportunity the class recently had to compare Italian and American sculptors was our trip to Viscaya. The nude sculptors brought from Rome were strategically covered up. The main statue once you walk into Vizcaya is covered up with a leaf. It was interesting to see how Americans are less conservative in showing women’s breasts than other intimate parts. In Italy, showing a breast is justified as motherhood and power, but it is essentially a cover-up story for the most part.
Sculpting in America is not a famous part of our culture. The amount of art in architecture is nowhere near that of Italy. In America, the materials and ideas are all brought from outside. In Vizcaya, most of the sculptures were imported from Italy. The few sculptures done here were mostly with limestone and did not hold up nearly as much as the marble material the Italians used.
Reference:
The Collector Editors. (2022, October 13). What are the most famous Renaissance sculptures? TheCollector. Retrieved 2023, from https://www.thecollector.com/most-famous-renaissance-sculptures/
Vizcaya as Text
Image by Michelle Russo / cc. 4.0
“The Start of Miami…”
Michelle Russo, March 19, 2023
Vizcaya is a well-known place in Miami for its beautiful sightseeing. The house and gardens are visited by many photographers, quinceñeras, couples, and tourists. Every aspect of the house is full of detailed architecture and sites. The view of the bay and gardens are beautiful landscapes that help us appreciate the nature around us.
James Deering built Vizcaya to attract wealthy people to the area around the 20th century. The goal of his property was to tie in everything he thought would represent Miami. This set the basis for how culturally different Miami would be to the states and internationally. He took traditions and architecture from all around the world except from the natives.
James Deering started construction in 1912 with 100 acres, including 100 feet of shoreline, to build his lifework. From before entering the house, the statues and design are based around Miami. For example, the statue outside is a person pointing to a globe. If you look carefully, the part of the globe facing the people and where he is pointing is directly to Miami. The only disappointing part, but which occurs often during this time, is the absence of native recognition. In other words, James Deering uses Bahamian workers in constructing on Tequesta and indigenous people’s soil but does not include them in design. He brought architecture and art from Europe, but does not seem to mind even the slightest bit about adding local culture to his design.
Walking down to the first entrance of the house by land, is a walkway surrounded by trees and nature. The amazing view is all specifically designed to present and welcome you to the house. Walking down the sides there are water fountains that flow in steps all the way down to the entrance. The water flowing, makes you feel like it is leading you down. The way the trees cover the side and all you have to focus on is the house, was an amazing view. The environment around it was tactically made to secure the property. A canal surrounded the property, but it would not sustain water, so they decided to plant cacti throughout the bottom floor. This way, people that tried to trespass on the property would get caught and cut by the cacti.
A piece that marked my visit was the entrance piece to the house. It was a statue of a man holding a jug with grapes on top of a bathtub. Two babies were sitting on top of dog statues. They were placed next to the statue. The man standing was Bacchus, a Roman god of wine and pleasure. Bacchus was holding a jug of grapes, to represent wine. Initially, Bacchus only had a sash covering part of his chest, but the rest was shown to the public. Later on, his lower parts were covered by a leaf. Bacchus, pouring wine into the bathtub as the entrance piece, insinuated the house was like no other, but to party and indulge with pleasure. This set the tone for the rest of Miami.
Renaissance as Text
Image by Michelle Russo / cc. 4.0
“Renaissance in My Life“
Michelle Russo, April 9, 2023
The Renaissance has influenced countless areas of study that we currently have. Besides the sciences, art, architecture, and so many more ideas came from the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, people began to dress in finer clothes, food, and even art was more refined (Ducksters, n.d ). Luxuries like the ones previously mentioned became common for the middle classes. During this time there was an increase in merchants, craftsmen, artisans who reached the middle class. This was the start of these luxuries which have only grown. Nowadays, it is common for artists to earn their living from their art pieces and gain a lot of money from this. This has influenced my life in opening opportunities in this area even as a woman. I have been an artist since I can remember, but I used to make a lot of art during high school and was even given the opportunity to sell one of my pieces, but I did not. That same piece went to be displayed in the U.S Capitol office for a year, won a scholarship, and helped me gain an honorable mention in the Silver Knight Foundation. Without the Renaissance opening opportunities for artisans and later for women to enter this field, I would not have these opportunities.
Besides the influence in art, the Renaissance has also had a great impact on the field of science. During the Renaissance, the study of Alchemy was born, which developed into the chemistry field we have today. Alchemists developed the scientific method by using trial and error in their controlled experiments. They studied how chemicals reacted under various environments and conditions. Learning about these reactions also added to the physics field by creating solids, liquids, and gases that were later studied by physicists in the Age of Enlightenment (Martyn Shuttleworth, 2011). Initially, biblical views were the main belief people had until the Renaissance era, which laid the foundations for thinkers of the Enlightenment into the direction of natural science (Martyn Shuttleworth, 2011). As these ideas arose, art was closely connected to science. Artists and sculptors started to include biology and anatomy in their pieces. This created more realistic and dynamic pieces of art. A famous example of artistic realism is the piece: De Humani Corpis Fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body). With the Renaissance introducing the concept of theories and experiments, medical treatments were tested and improved. Medicine was no longer based on theories but on research. Experimenting beforehand through trial and error helped tremendously in curing diseases and illnesses correctly and efficiently (Oskar Blakstad, 2011).
All these ideas that the Renaissance brought are foundations to what I am studying now. My major is biochemistry on the pre-med track. The study of biology and chemistry are the foundations of biochemistry. The process of the scientific method is why we have research and can improve medications and treatments in the medical field. The anatomy of our bodies was first examined during this time. The foundation of medicine and sciences is thanks to the Renaissance era.
Reference:
Ducksters editors. (n.d.). Renaissance. Ducksters. Retrieved April 2023, from https://www.ducksters.com/history/renaissance/daily_life_in_the_renaissance.php
Martyn Shuttleworth (Nov 19, 2011). Renaissance Alchemy. Retrieved April 2023, from Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/renaissance-alchemy
Martyn Shuttleworth (May 25, 2011). Renaissance Biology. Retrieved April 2023 from Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/renaissance-biology
Oskar Blakstad (May 26, 2011). Renaissance Medicine. Retrieved Apr 13, 2023 from Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/renaissance-medicine
Departure as Text
Image by Michelle Russo / cc. 4.0
“Bye Miami, Ciao Italia”
Michelle Russo, April 23, 2023
Going back to my Encounter as Text for Italy, at the beginning of the spring semester, not much has changed. Italy is still a destination on my bucket list, that I am eager to mark off. Seeing how close our departure to Europe, I am still in disbelief on how I am going to go to Europe for the first time. Learning about Italy’s history and art through lectures and reading have gotten me excited to see them in person. Especially the statues and places that were read about and seen in the movie, it is still unbelievable that I have the opportunity to experience these places for myself in just a couple of days. The preparation for the trip has been coming along. The bags and clothing have almost all been bought. I am only missing some final details like exchanging the euros and deciding what toiletries I will bring. I still have high expectations for this program, maybe even a bit more than from the beginning of the spring considering I finished the first half of the class. Knowing that it is going to be professor Bailly’s last study aboard class in Europe, I know this is going to be a memorable experience.
Miami in Miami 