Style
As our departure approaches my excitement has become overwhelming. When I arrived at Defiance College, I had two travel goals. The first was to travel internationally, which I was able to do last year when I went to Belize. Next I wanted to go to Italy. As we get closer to leaving, my mind is filled with images of all the sites and wonders we will see. Developing a perspective that will anchor my observations while traveling is essential to ward off being overwhelmed by everything around me. I’m going to concentrate on characterizing style.
Style. When I learned that I would be travelling to Italy, my first thought was style. It may be a small word but style has many meanings. Whether discussing a way of doing something, a distinctive appearance, or type of design, style has multiple interpretations. It can be seen from a sculptor’s viewpoint, a designer’s, or an onlooker’s. Style can be seen in a church’s stain glass window or the width of a man’s tie or the manner in which one orders food. No matter the viewpoint or medium, there is not one singular style. Style is a difficult topic to study because it is so broad. It is nearly impossible to narrow my focus to just one or two areas of style, so I’m not. Milan, one of the cities we will visit, is the fashion capital of the world. A brief look at runway fashions provides evidence for Milan’s stature in the world. The style of clothing is very chic, but again, that is on a runway. It will be interesting to see how high-end fashion compares to everyday fashion. Style, however, is not limited to fashion and clothes. I also look forward to seeing various bridges.
I cannot wait to see the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, which is one of many bridges filled with lovelocks; an ancient custom where lovers write their names on a lock and place it on a bridge or gate then throw away the key. This act symbols eternal love. I love ancient customs, particularly those that deal with love and romance. Thus, the opportunity to participate in this tradition with my own lock fills me with excitement. The Ponte Vecchio is just one of the many bridges I hope to see. I am also excited to see the Rialto Bridge, which is one of the oldest to span the Grand Canal in Venice.
Those are just two areas of style that I have started looking at. Italy is a whole new world that is ready for me to explore. My family will visit Italy vicariously through my writing and photos so this experience is not just for me. After this trip I will have many pictures and a new outlook on life and style. Italy is a place full of new ideas, old customs, and numerous styles. These columns will chronicle my quest to understand Italian style.
-Rachel Davis
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