Join us for a coffee and a talk with Bruno Ferraro and Matteo Telara:

 

RENAISSANCE WOMEN POETS

Before Italy was united as the country we know today (1871, with Rome the capital) the cultural and artistic expressions were diverse, following the geographical configuration of the country. As two diametrically opposed representatives of what was known as a “the movement of female poets”; though all influenced by Petrarch’s poetry, both in form and themes, two writers have been selected to highlight variety of themes and conduct of life: Gaspara Stampa and Vittoria Colonna, Michelangelo’s good friend.

 

POETESSE DEL ‘500

L’Italia, come la conosciamo oggi, nasce solo nel 1871 con Roma la capitale; nelle varie regioni, città e province la cultura – dopo la poesia religiosa del secolo precedente di cui si ricorda Santa Caterina da Siena - conosce un nuovo gruppo di scrittrici di varie origini: cortigiane (cioè legate alle corti), donne di estrazione borghese che ha permesso loro un certo livello di istruzione, religiose. In questa presentazione, oltre ad illustrare le condizioni politico-culturali dell’epoca, si verranno a conoscere due rappresentanti di questo momento felice per la produzione letteraria delle donne; la poesia petrarchesca sottende tutta la produzione letteraria ma due rappresentanti sono diametricalmente opposte sia come formazione sia come vita: Gaspara Stampa e Vittoria Colonna, amica di Michelangelo.

 

Saturday 26th August 10am-12pm

Dante Rooms

Freemans Bay Community Centre

52 Hepburn St, Freemans Bay

All Welcome! Vi aspettiamo!

 

Dante. Detail from fresco by Domenico di Michelino, Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

This year marks the 750^th anniversary of the birth of Italian poet Dante Aligheri in Florence. While the exact date of his birth is unknown, it is generally accepted to be around 1265.
To mark this occasion, Faculty of Arts alumnus Dr John Lewis will be offering a public course of reading through the Divine Comedy — widely considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature — in its entirety.
All three books will be read over an impressive schedule of Monday evenings: Hell in the first half of 2015, Purgatory in the second half, and Paradise in the first half of 2016. Sessions will run from 7:30-9:00pm.
Previous knowledge of the poem is not necessary and notes for guidance through each session have been specially prepared. There will also be time for discussion.
In June the anniversary will be marked by two additional lectures on Dante. This course and its associated lectures will be run through the GAPS ARTS program, a tertiary level forum on European art and architecture, poetry and literature, philosophy and theology, medieval heritage, and vernacular building.
Enrolments for the course should be made by 22 February, but can be accepted at the first session on Monday 2 March. To enrol phone +64 9 828 5579 or email jahlewis@clear.net.nz.
The course is free, but donations can be made.

Find out more at GAPS ARTS.