Book Launch: Rome, Postmodern Narratives of a Cityscape

Urban Gardening in Medieval Rome - 28th February 2014

Medieval Rome was like no other city in Europe. It was larger than any of them—in area, in population, and in fame, as its ancient glory was known to nearly everyone in the medieval world. The city was, however, unmistakably changed from its ancient past. Within the walls there were decaying hulks of abandoned ancient buildings, fields and animals in what had been paved courtyards and Fora, and orchards growing where porticated columns had stood.The imperial-period city had pleasure gardens and leafy suburban retreats, and agriculture was relegated to suburban market gardens. By contrast, in the early medieval city houses often had extensive kitchen gardens, vineyards and orchards, and there were fields for wheat and barley within the city walls. From Rome, there is considerable evidence for the practice of urban gardening, a practice long overdue for analysis. This paper will review the recent archaeology of the city and its agriculture as well as the documentary evidence from the age of Gregory the Great to ca 1100, revealing the social and political aspects of urban gardening and assessing their significance for the city, its architecture and urbanism.

IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, PLEASE REGISTER BY FOLLOWING THE LINK BELOW:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rome-lecture-series-urban-gardening-in-medieval-rome-tickets-10410846121?aff=eorg

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SERIES, SEE:

http://romelectureseries.blogspot.co.uk/

Migrant Expression in Multicultural Rome: Music and Stories - 14th March 2013

Alessandro Portelli has recently retired from teaching American Literature at the University of Rome La Sapienza. He is the author of a numer of books and essays in oral history, music and literature (including the recent They Say in Harlan County: An Oral History). A former advisor on public memory to the Mayor of Rome, he is the founder and chairperson of the Circolo Gianni Bosio, an independent research organization on music, oral history and popular cultures.

You might also be interested in a talk by Professor Graziella Parati (Dartmouth College) on 'Affective Citizenship in Igiaba Scego's Definitions of Roman Space' (UCL Italian department 7th March, 5pm). All welcome. 

For further information: f.mazzara@ucl.ac.uk

Migrant Expression in Multicultural Rome: Music and Stories

Thursday 14th March, 6pm

Speaker: Professor Sandro Portelli (University of Rome, La Sapienza)

Title: 'Migrant Expression in Multicultural Rome: Music and Stories'

Location: Christopher Ingold G21 Ramsay Lecture Theatre, UCL

Presented in conjunction with the Roman Modernities AHRC Network workshop on Trauma (UCL/Warwick)

This lecture will focus on changes in the demographics and identity of the city of Rome, and how this is reflected in the literature and music of migrants.

Alessandro Portelli has recently retired from teaching American Literature at the University of Rome La Sapienza. He is the author of a numer of books and essays in oral history, music and literature (including the recent They Say in Harlan County: An Oral History). A former advisor on public memory to the Mayor of Rome, he is the founder and chairperson of the Circolo Gianni Bosio, an independent research organization on music, oral history and popular cultures.

'Marginalised People Contemplate Art, Rome 2001' - 29 November 2012

Lala Meredith-Vula is an international exhibiting artist whose work focuses on themes of migration, identity and transition, drawing on her personal background in former Yugoslavia and Britain.  In 1988 she exhibited in Damien Hirst's land mark 'Freeze' exhibition. Since 1990 she has held 18 solo exhibitions and taken part in a further 60 group exhibitions in 16 countries, including two appearances at the prestigious Venice Biennale, and has curated exhibitions in Kosova and Albania.  Her work is held by major art collections in London, Italy, Switzerland and Albania.  She won the Rome Scholarship in 2001. Her work has received extensive media coverage in Europe and the United States, including TV programmes in the UK, Italy, Albania, Kosova and Norway.  Most recently she contributed to Damien Hirst’s film ‘Thought, Works, Life’ shown on Channel 4 and at Tate Modern (April-September 2012). She is a Reader in Art and Photography at De Montfort University.

see www.lalameredithvula.com