On Wednesday, September 28, at 6.00 pm, the Auriana Auditorium hosted presentations by AUR’s Professor of Archeology and Classics, Dr. Paul Gwynne and AUR’s Film and Digital Media Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication and English, Paul Zinder. The presentations were warmly received by a large audience, including the Chair of AUR’s Board of Trustees, Joseph Del Raso, Esquire, several Trustees and their spouses.
Prof. Paul Gwynne presented his latest book, Poets and Princes, the first volume of a new series on Medieval and Renaissance Court Cultures, where he traces the importance of the oeuvre by the Italian itinerant ‘poet laureate’ Johannes Michael Nagonius (c.1450-c.1510). Using literary, codicological, historical and art historical analysis, this sumptuously illustrated volume presents the poet in the larger context of the turbulent politics of fifteenth-century Europe.
Prof. Paul Zinder, presented his trilogy of short documentaries. Robot e Pinocchi (Robots and Pinocchios) offers a portrait of Ferdinando Codognotto, a sculptor whose philosophical musings about the environmental impact of technology shape his intricate wood pieces. Benedizione delle Bestie (Benediction of the Beasts), a quirky look at an annual Italian feast day, follows animal lovers who take their pets to church. And Uno degli Ultimi (One of the Last) examines Mauro Selvetti, an Italian farmer who picks olives, grapes, and cherries, and wonders why anybody would want to do anything else. Over the last three years, Prof. Zinder’s work has screened at over 40 international film festivals, including the Los Angeles Film Festival, and has won eight awards.
For more information please contact Maurizia Garzia, E-mail: m.garzia@aur.edu, tel. 06 5833 0919.
