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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Bella Figura: Understanding Italian Communication In Local And Transatlantic Contexts, Denise Scannell Guida
Bella Figura: Understanding Italian Communication In Local And Transatlantic Contexts, Denise Scannell Guida
Publications and Research
Bella figura—beautiful figure—is an idiomatic expression used to reflect every part of Italian life. The phrase appears in travel books and in transnational business guides to describe Italian customs, in sociological research to describe the national characteristics of Italians, and in popular culture to depict thematic constructs and stereotypes, such as the Mafia, romance, and la dolce vita. Scholarly research on bella figura indicates its significance in Italian civilization, yet it remains one of the most elusive concepts to translate. Among the various interpretations and references from foreigners and Italians there is not a single definition that captures the …
Excavating A Future Vision Past: Mike Davis’ City Of Quartz, William Blick
Excavating A Future Vision Past: Mike Davis’ City Of Quartz, William Blick
Publications and Research
When Mike Davis published City of Quartz in 1990, his work was widely praised by many and dismissed as liberalist hysteria by others. The reflections it contains on architectural design as a reflection of sociopolitical tumult still strike chords today. This article sets out a reexamination of the text through hindsight, using contemporary and subsequent reviews to consider how the book was relevant at the time of its publication, how it may be relevant today and how it has had a profound impact on sociological and cultural studies.