The following list summarizes the programs on Italian American culture organized and sponsored by the Inserra Chair since its inception in the academic year 2010-2011. Numerous topics pertaining to a wide array of disciplines (film/documentary, photography, art, literature) have been addressed in order to provide a dynamic overview of a complex, richly varied culture. Topics have included food practices, religious activities, artistic movements such as futurism, as well as commonalities and discontinuities between old and new migrations.
In several instances, the programs have also been supported by external funding. Special thanks go to UNICO National, the Columbian Foundation, the Calandra Italian American Institute and the Coccia Institute for the Italian American Experience.
Ongoing research project:
Events:
- Screening (at the) Golden Door: Actor Vincenzo Amato Discusses Emanuele Crialese’s Film about Immigration from Italy to the U.S. (Sept. 12, 2019)
- If You Saw What I Saw in Corleone, A Town of Mafia, Anti-Mafia and Mafia-Tourism (March 26, 2019)
- Through the Golden Door Then and Now: A Conversation with Actor Vincenzo Amato (January 29, 2019)
- Built with Faith: Italian American Imagination and Catholic Material Culture in New York City (Feb. 23, 2017)
- From Ethnic to Multi-Cultural Italian Media in the U.S. (April 12, 2016)
- Italians in America: Recent Documentaries and Photographs (February 8, 2016)
- TV documentary Italian Americans of New York and New Jersey featuring the Inserra Chair, Dr. Teresa Fiore. See the Italian Americans of NY and NJ video (2015)
- Film Screening: “The Rule” by Italian American Directors Marylou and Jerome Bongiorno (November 18, 2014)
- Presentation of Two Recent Anthologies of Italian Writings Abroad (October 2, 2014) See Presentation of Two Anthologies video
- The Italian American Table: A Lecture on Food History (November 18, 2013) See The Italian American Table video
- Italian Americans in Independent Film: A Conversation with Filmmakers Nancy Savoca and Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno & Jerome Bongiorno (November 8, 2012) See Italian Americans in Independent Film video
- The Migrant Transatlantic Voyage in Italian Early Silent Films: A Screening with Live Musical Accompaniment (September 27, 2012) See Migrant Transatlantic Voayage video
- Mangia Piano: The Internationalization of Italian Local Foodways (March 6-7, 2012) with a presentation by Donna Gabaccia (Vecoli Endowed Chair, University of Minnesota): “Globalizing and Nationalizing ‘Italian’ Food in the Diaspora.” See Mangia Piano video
- Joseph Stella’s Futurism between Italy and the U.S. (November 10, 2011) See Joseph Stella video
- The Horde: Stories, Songs, and Images of Italian emigration (September 30, 2011) See The Horde video
