Thursday, February 13, 1997
CULTURE:
Instituto di Cultura hopes to erase negative stereotypesBy
Kathleen Rhames
Daily Bruin Contributor
From food to fashion, Italy’s rich valleys are saturated with
tradition. But now it won’t take an overseas trip to experience all
of Italy’s grandeur.
Thanks to the efforts of UCLA’s Instituto Italiano di Cultura,
the lifestyle, artwork and individuality of this nation are coming
west in an attempt to bridge the gap between Italy and the United
States.
"We believe that culture is the biggest investment a country can
make," says Italian diplomat for cultural affairs Enzo Coniglio.
"Most of our income comes from cultural products such as design,
food, style of dress and so on. The more we can educate people to
love life and maintain a high quality of living, the more income
they can generate."
The institute is currently presenting a free series of films,
concerts and lectures in honor of the American Film Market. Working
to promote a mutual understanding and cooperation of cultures,
Coniglio believes that this entertainment medium will eliminate
some of the traditional stereotypes that Americans associate with
Italy.
"What we want to show through these films is that Italian
culture is not as stereotypical as Americans think," Coniglio says.
"Italy is not just based on art and beauty. Our films are
provocative and reveal the many social and political problems that
exist in our society."
Coniglio is quick to point out the many ways that Italian and
American culture differ. He feels Americans hold back their
feelings and conform to a formula of what is right and wrong.
Italians, on the other hand, thrive on self-expression and
independence of thought, according to Coniglio. Instead of dwelling
on whether an action is right or wrong, they focus on communicating
in different ways that express feelings and issues in a realistic
way. It is what they call "divorcing the brain from the soul."
Consequently, many of the films in the presentation follow
problematic plots and don’t necessarily end happily.
"In American culture there is an assumption that what Americans
say and believe is the right way and the wisest way," Coniglio
says. "We want to react against the predominance of values and
behavior and for Americans to know that if they expect to be a
leader in the world they must understand other languages and
cultures. Our contribution through this program is to create a
movement of opinion."
The Instituto Italiano chose Los Angeles as the center of its
program because of the city’s well-known affiliation with the media
and technology. Operating through UCLA meant exposure to cultural
centers like the Getty Museum, Armand Hammer Museum and the
university itself, enabling the institute to learn a little about
traditional American culture.
Creating a cultural center in Los Angeles is just part of the
Institute’s plan to integrate Italian culture worldwide. Coniglio
states that the Italian government’s objective is to build a global
village in which a myriad cultures can come together and provide a
forum for learning. Coniglio compares the effects of this global
village to the success of the Renaissance in Italy.
"The Renaissance resulted from bringing together the best of the
best," he says. "The best artists came from France, Holland and
Britain to perform together in the same court. Today, Italy must
have cultural centers located in strategic places in order to
create a global village of culture. In our opinion, Westwood is one
of these places."
And as far as diversity goes, Westwood surrounds one of the most
culturally-diverse communities in Los Angeles. Because the films
and lectures are free, students are welcome to stop by whenever
they want and are encouraged to use the Institute’s flexible
environment to explore and share their own culture and ethnicity
with others. All of this adds to the global village atmosphere that
the Institute hopes to establish.
"I believe in the global village," Coniglio says. "When people
understand that the way to create this is through the heart and
that it is culture that brings people together they will begin to
form one community and create understanding."
CULTURE: The Instituto Italiano di Cultura film series runs
through March 6, with a showing of "Pereira" on Friday, Feb. 14.
The Instituto offers musical events as well. Admission is usually
free. RSVP to 443-3250, ext. 114.
INGA DOROSZ
The Instituto Italiano di Cultura opened in Westwood to try to
eradicate American stereotypes about Italian culture.