Study Abroad Blog
Roman Entertainment: Italy Meets America
Jason Raiche
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: Features
At the same time, I luckily get a daily dose of Italian music as I pass a man playing the accordion while walking to class or the man on the tram strumming his guitar to Italian folk songs. It's refreshing to see the juxtapositions between American and Italian culture in these aspects. Hearing traditional Italian music here immerses me in the culture, which you aren't exposed to when you hear the Black Eyed Peas' "Meet Me Halfway" for the umpteenth time.
It is also great to break away from the American pop culture/entertainment scene here and be exposed to actual authentic Italian films. One such movie that must be a huge hit here in Italy based on the media attention it has been getting, along with the innumerable billboards I see advertising it, is called "Baciami Ancora", which literally translates to "Kiss Again." However one does not need to decipher the Italian upon viewing the movie poster, as it is quite obvious from the portrayal of two lovers kissing that the movie is a love drama.
Another movie that is advertised everywhere I turn is called "Io, Loro e Lara", which shows a priest being hugged by a woman with other actors and actresses smiling goofily in the background. Even though the language barrier of the title gets in the way, there is no getting around the fact that it is a comedy.
The point is that even though I have left the United States, it is comforting to see movies advertise and hear music that is familiar to me. At the same time, it is definitely nice to hear authentic Italian music and see advertisements of Italian films so I feel like I am not relying too much on American entertainment and culture. After all, one of the reasons I am studying abroad is to become better acquainted with the culture, and there is no better way to do that than by listening and viewing Italian culture through films and music.
I think it would be a really interesting experience to walk into the movie theater here and see a movie of which I have no idea is about. By seeing the facial expressions of the characters and seeing what happens from frame to frame, I should get a general feel for what I am watching, but half the fun in watching a movie or listening to a movie in the Italian language is trying to figure out what the musical artist or the actor is saying or doing to discern whether they are feeling angry or sad, etc. Doing so is one of the best learning experiences you can have in a foreign country that helps you to get acquainted with the culture.
It is also great to break away from the American pop culture/entertainment scene here and be exposed to actual authentic Italian films. One such movie that must be a huge hit here in Italy based on the media attention it has been getting, along with the innumerable billboards I see advertising it, is called "Baciami Ancora", which literally translates to "Kiss Again." However one does not need to decipher the Italian upon viewing the movie poster, as it is quite obvious from the portrayal of two lovers kissing that the movie is a love drama.
Another movie that is advertised everywhere I turn is called "Io, Loro e Lara", which shows a priest being hugged by a woman with other actors and actresses smiling goofily in the background. Even though the language barrier of the title gets in the way, there is no getting around the fact that it is a comedy.
The point is that even though I have left the United States, it is comforting to see movies advertise and hear music that is familiar to me. At the same time, it is definitely nice to hear authentic Italian music and see advertisements of Italian films so I feel like I am not relying too much on American entertainment and culture. After all, one of the reasons I am studying abroad is to become better acquainted with the culture, and there is no better way to do that than by listening and viewing Italian culture through films and music.
I think it would be a really interesting experience to walk into the movie theater here and see a movie of which I have no idea is about. By seeing the facial expressions of the characters and seeing what happens from frame to frame, I should get a general feel for what I am watching, but half the fun in watching a movie or listening to a movie in the Italian language is trying to figure out what the musical artist or the actor is saying or doing to discern whether they are feeling angry or sad, etc. Doing so is one of the best learning experiences you can have in a foreign country that helps you to get acquainted with the culture.
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