Italian Media,
Culture, & Society

Milan, Italy

June 29 - July 27, 2013

"If you don't take this trip now, when will you take it?"

I am thrilled to be offering this amazing trip this summer to Milan, Italy where we will investigate several different aspects of Italian Culture and Society through the lens of media, politics, film/cinema, Renaissance Art, Fashion, and the Performing Arts by visiting the numerous museums, cathedrals, shopping milieu, and cultural highlights of the Lombardy region! Additionally, we will take day-trips to exciting places such as Torino and the beaches of Lake Maggiore! You do not need to know or speak Italian; all lectures will be conducted in English.

I am also thrilled that Prof. Andrew Pyle will accompany us to Milan! He is a very student-oriented leader who is also a lot of fun!

A special thanks to Dr. Gianpietro Mazzoleni from the University of Milan who is helping to organize this trip! Without his help over the past several years, this program would not have been able to run and I am eternally indebted to him.

Please contact me with any questions you may have about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

For more information about how to register for this class, please go to the Global Education website.

Academic Director:  Catherine Wright, PhD
Communication Department, George Mason University
Contact information:  cwright5@gmu.edu

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Course Description:

During this four-week (90 contact-hours) faculty-led course, students will travel to Milan, Italy and will immerse themselves in Italian media, culture and society.  They will experience how it interrelates to culture and society as they have experienced it in the United States.  Students will attend lectures given by Italian faculty on specific topics and will then visit appropriate sights in Italy.  To complete the experience, students will supplement in-class course work with tours to other Italian cities.  Students will learn about and will experience Intercultural Communication, different aspects of Italian Culture and Society through the lens of media, politics, film/cinema, Renaissance Art, Fashion, and the Performing Arts by visiting the numerous museums, cathedrals, shopping milieu, and cultural highlights of the Lombardy region!  Assessment will be determined by daily journal entries, in-class discussions, exams, and papers that more deeply explore the areas of study.

Course Objective/Rationale:

The objective of this six-credit course is to provide students with both lecture and experiential learning outside of the American cultural experience to broaden students’ understanding by immersing them in Intercultural Communication and appreciation of unique cultural experiences including different aspects of Italian Culture and Society through the lens of media, politics, film/cinema, Renaissance Art, Fashion, and the Performing Arts.

Required Textbook(s) and Materials:

Italy Today: Facing the Challenges of the New Millennium, by Mario B. Mignone, Ed. (ISBN: 978-1-4331-0187-8)

Flash/thumb/Key drive for computer work

Italian Cell Phone

Suggested/Recommended:

Italian/English dictionary and phrasebook suggestions (your choice)

Italy Travel Guide (like Fodors, Froemmers, Lonely Planet, etc.)

Paper (loose-leaf, plain, etc)

pens, pencils

Required Clothing:

We will visit many different places outside of class at which shorts, t-shirts, and sleeveless shirts will be unacceptable.  Italians, and especially the Milanese, dress very well. There is no dress code for class; however, you must be aware of the day’s itinerary so that you dress appropriately for any and all excursions we undertake.  Dressing inappropriately and being denied admission means that to fulfill the course requirements you will have to return on your own time, pay for your own entrance fees, and make up the work.

Places where you are expected to dress neatly and conservatively include, but are not limited to:

• The Welcome and Farewell dinners

• Any and all churches or places of worship

• For men and women, this means no bare shoulders, no hats, no shorts above the knees; and in some places, no shorts at all. Also, do not bring in any food or drink items unless you can put and keep them in your backpack/purse.

• Any and all places of business we visit off campus/outside of lecture

If you have any questions, please ask.  I will not be the “fashion police;” however, I do not wish for anyone in our party to be denied entrance due to their improper attire.

Recommended Materials:

Digital Camera
Digital Video Camera
Laptop Computer
Plug Changers/Power Converters


Student Learning Objectives:

• Students will become aware of the importance of fundamental principles of communication as they immerse themselves in an intercultural environment.

• Students will gain insight about the influence of culture in communication and how to cope with cultural differences when interacting with others.

• Students will develop analytical skills and critical thinking skills through the viewing and discussion of Italian media.

• Students will develop analytical skills and critical thinking skills through the viewing and discussion of Italian Renaissance Art.

• Students will develop analytical skills and critical thinking skills by immersing themselves in experiential learning situations where they are able to put the lecture material into practical use.

• Students will gain critical writing and research skills by engaging in experiential learning situations and writing four papers in which they more deeply investigate certain aspects of Italian media, culture, and society. 

• Students will receive reinforcement for effective written communication.

• Students will observe, record, and evaluate various intercultural situations and will compare and contrast those experiences to their worldview.

• Students will engage in observation of unique Intercultural Communication situations and an appreciation of unique cultural experiences including different aspects of Italian Culture and Society through the lens of media, politics, film/cinema, Renaissance Art, Fashion, and other miscellaneous experiences in one of Italy's most modern cities as well as through tours outside of Milan.

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