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Baldassare Castiglione’s “The Book of the Courtier” with Dr. Kristin Stasiowski

Baldassare Castiglione’s “The Book of the Courtier” with Dr. Kristin Stasiowski


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Baldassare Castiglione was a diplomat, soldier, courtier, and humanist philosopher, who was also the author of the well-known treatise on morality and etiquette entitled “The Book of the Courtier” (Il Cortegiano). Perhaps the most entertaining “how-to” guide for those aspiring to build a life at court, Castiglione outlines—with erudition and insight—all of the many ways in which someone could best handle the intricacies and intrigues of palace life in order to become a prince’s most capable and adored admirer. In his book, Castiglione offers a meditation on life in the Renaissance princely court as well as a keen psychological study on human behavior and power dynamics in groups that leads readers through an outline of how to climb the ladder of success both in their personal and lives. 

Led by an expert in Italian literature, Kristin Stasiowski, Ph.D., this seminar will introduce participants to one of the Renaissance’s towering intellectual figures and one of his most important works. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased appreciation of the way that literature shaped the daily lives and habits of everyone in Renaissance courts throughout Italy.  

Kristin Stasiowski, Ph.D. is the Assistant Dean of International Programs and Education Abroad for the College of Arts and Sciences and is also an Assistant Professor of Italian Language and Literature in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at Kent State University. She received her Ph.D. from Yale University in Italian Language and Literature and has taught Italian language, literature, cinema, history, and culture in both Florence, Italy, and at Kent State. She recently published a chapter entitled "A Divine Comedy for All Time: Dante's Enduring Relevance for the Contemporary Reader" in Italian Pop Culture: Media, Product, Imageries. Rome, Italy: Viella Editrice s.r.. Her current research is focused on Dante, Boccaccio, and the modern poet Clemente Rebora.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
67%
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C
C. (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
Very interesting and enjoyable

All of Kristin's conversations are presented in a brilliant and erudite manner, but not without a sprinkle of her lovely humor. In this one we learned about what qualities a Courtier should have in order to be both successful and influential in a Renaissance Court. Fascinating!

A
A. (Porto Alegre, BR)

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T
T.O. (Vancouver, CA)

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Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
67%
(2)
33%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
C
C. (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
Very interesting and enjoyable

All of Kristin's conversations are presented in a brilliant and erudite manner, but not without a sprinkle of her lovely humor. In this one we learned about what qualities a Courtier should have in order to be both successful and influential in a Renaissance Court. Fascinating!

A
A. (Porto Alegre, BR)

Guest did not leave comment

T
T.O. (Vancouver, CA)

Guest did not leave comment