DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Oct. 28, 2009) - A colloquium, presented by the Center for Interdisciplinary Writing and Research (CIWR) at Daytona State College, on the topic of "Frederick II of Hohenstaufen - Medieval Emperor, Modern Mind - The Norman Kingdom of Sicily," will take place Friday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in the Madorsky Theater located in the Mori Hosseini Center (Bldg. 1200) on the Daytona Beach Campus at 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.
Presented by Vincenzo Piazza, assistant professor, School of Humanities and Communication, the colloquium centers on High Medieval Europe in general, and on Emperor Frederick II in particular. Piazza will briefly introduce the Middle Ages as an era that has produced some of the most astonishing and productive accomplishments in the formation of western values, with great emphasis on the High Medieval Revolution: Crusades, Universities, Middle Class, Capitalism, Rise of Nations, Dante Alighieri’s modern vision, and the great Arabic-Muslim influence that contributed so greatly to the West’s intellectual and artistic revival. In fact, it is in this milieu of these ecumenical ideas that the mind of Frederick II matured. Holy Roman Emperor, as well as King of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily during early twelve- hundreds, he remains the most astonishing and remarkable Medieval ruler. Norman Sicily - a progressive political phenomena - under his rule became the Medieval navel of the Western World, the arts, architecture, literature, as well as political innovations anticipating our modern governments. Piazza concludes by identifying Frederick II as one of the first heroic figures for the evolution of modern Italy; and the middle Ages as being far from dark. The colloquium is free and open to the public.
Mark your calendar for upcoming colloquiums:
Friday, Nov. 6, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. “America on the Economic Decline? And other Useful Topics for Integrating International Business into the Curriculum symposium Panel,” with Fred Block, UC Davis (Keynote Speaker); Eric Breitenbach, senior professor, School of Photography, Daytona State College; Julian Chambliss, Rollins College; Renata Serra, University of Florida.
Friday, Nov. 20, 11 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. – “The Feminine Gaze and the Other in Victorian Travel Writing,” presented by Dr. Casey Blanton, professor of English, School of Humanities and Communication.
Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. – “In Defense of Deconstruction,” presented by Harun Thomas, assistant professor, School of Humanities and Communication.
Colloquiums are co-sponsored by the Southeast Museum of Photography and the Office of Leadership Development. For more information call Dr. Richard Grego, associate professor, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, at (386) 506-3342.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Glyn Johnston, Vice President - Marketing, Communications & Events, (386) 506-4499, johnstg@DaytonaState.edu
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