Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Lend Me Your Ears!
An Account of Shakespeare in Italy
My fellow hawks, I am writing this article to extend an offer to you. By now, you are all aware of our neighboring institution, the University of Dallas. Our communities benefit in many ways from having one another in such close proximity, but I bet that most of y’all do not know about UD’s summer programs for high school students.
Every summer the university provides opportunities for learning and growth through their high school programs. A few are located right here in Irving, but the one that I would like to highlight is on the other side of the Atlantic.
This past summer I got the privilege of traveling to Rome to take part in “Shakespeare in Italy”. This is a three-week, college level course that explores the Bard’s deep fascination with the Italian Peninsula.
Students live in the University’s Rome campus where they take part in large lectures, discuss topics in small groups, and work on writing skills. The classes are led by brilliant English professors, a few of their graduate students and the masterful Stefan Novinski. I can guarantee that your writing, reading, and acting skills will all greatly improve if you take Shakes
peare in Italy seriously.
This is also an incredible opportunity to see a different part of the world. Students are given lots of time to explore and get lost in Rome, Padua, and Venice. While walking through historic sights and churches, all the stories from Shakespeare and beyond seem to come to life.
For all those interested in literature or drama, or if travel is more of your thing, I cannot recommend this program enough. I expanded my horizons, gained a better grasp of western art, learned more about The Merchant of Venice than I thought possible, and forged friendships that I hope to carry with me for a long time. In addition to these, earning college credit and a potential scholarship to UD are nice bonuses. If you want any more information, come talk to Nicholas and me, watch this video, or click here for the program’s website.
Fielding is a senior and the managing editor (basically the #2 of the paper). He was involved with Reflections, the school literary magazine, before joining...
Jeremy Gregg • Sep 20, 2016 at 3:37 pm
And this, my friends, is why the Informer is now online. #SweptOffMyFeet
Father Gregory Schweers • Sep 15, 2016 at 9:52 am
Dear Esteemed and Darn-Well Educated Readers of the Informer,
I love the article; I love my alma mater’s program in Rome, I love the fact that CPS students find the experience a rewarding and intellectually challenging one – however, one question:
Is the “Abduction of Proserpina” really the best image to be placed here in what is a ‘general readership’ online publication?
As a teacher of Art History, I have no problem with the piece — hey, it’s in the Villa Borghese in Rome, it’s a product of the
workshop of Gian Lorenzo Bernini [can’t get better than that!], it re-enforces our students’ study of mythology
— and yet. . . . . . . . .
Please consider this submission as more of a suggestion than as a critique {which it is not}.
Perhaps Bernini’s ‘David’ ??????
Cisterican Informer • Sep 16, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Fr Gregory,
Thank you very much for your input.
The Informer Staff
(PS, we chose it because Shakespeare in Italy will just SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET 😉 )
Father Gregory Schweers • Sep 17, 2016 at 5:04 pm
Dear INFORMED Friends,
Although the concept of being ‘swept off my feet’ may be an attractive one for most of you, at the age of 62, what this means is:
1. a painful fall on a marble floor;
2. a broken hip, pelvis, or cranium;
3. weeks of recovery and ‘recovery!’
OK – NORMAL people don’t think that way, but, HEY, those of us who can collect Social Security know how to VOTE! Be afraid, be very afraid!
PS: I love the sassy humor!