Ruth and Catherine were promoted in the department several years ago , but the evening marked their first opportunity postpandemic to deliver lectures , as tradition dictates . Hosted by Derek Duncan , a former Italian professor at the University of Bristol , Ruth and Catherine sat down in what was dubbed a “ kind of Loose Women format ” to look back on their achievements and the impact of their research .

Ruth joined the University of Bristol in 2000 , marking a sliding doors moment in her career and setting her on track to “ open up ” Italian cultural studies . Her first publication at the university , in 2003 , was Contesting the Monument : The Anti- Illusionist Historical Novel , a subject Ruth admits “ may not appeal to everyone ’ s appetite .”

Ruth ’ s work soon took a new perspective through focus on representations of violence and trauma in Italy ’ s Anni di Piombo (‘ Years of Lead ’), a period of political unrest and terrorism . Ruth noted how representations of the ‘ Years of Lead ’ were “ spectacular ” but often glossed over the theme of repression , an increasingly important consideration in the aftermath of 9 / 11 and terrorism characterising the early 2000s .

While Ruth ’ s interest in the ‘ Years of Lead ’ grew stronger , her research shifted towards the representation of women who played an essential , but previously overlooked , role in that period . In 2013 , Ruth published her

Bloomsbury edition of O ’ Rawe ’ s 2023 publication Source : X @ cathorawe

In response to “ the need to satiate the university ’ s avaricious demands ”, Ruth then swapped Bristol for Naples , unpicking the negative discourse of the Italian city and how its people were viewed in Italy through an unflattering lens . Ruth ’ s project , Naples and the Nation : Image , Media and Culture , was an inspection of the representations of Naples , ranging from television , film , fashion , and popular culture .

Challenging stereotypes has long been at the fore of Ruth ’ s work , not only in this latest project but also in her work shaping the new Italian A-Level syllabus . She noted how stereotypes of Italians and concerning portrayals of the North-South divide had become entrenched in some teaching . Now , in her role as Chair of the Society for Italian Studies , Ruth ’ s work has become a vital part of shaping how we learn about Italy in this country , positioning her amongst a wider community of Italianists .

The evening ’ s second speaker , Catherine O ’ Rawe , is very much part of that same collective . Catherine joined the University of Bristol in 2007 , when her already-extensive research in Italian cinema led her to becoming one of the country ’ s experts . Despite that , Catherine showed a reluctance to look back on her own career : “ It ’ s like I ’ m going to die and I ’ m writing my own obituary !”

Catherine ’ s love for cinema was shaped by her childhood memories of watching black and white films with her grandmother , which led her to take an interest in cinematic stardom . Seeing Greta Garbo in As You Desire Me sparked a curiosity for how performance had been largely overlooked by the research field . It was this interest in stardom which led Catherine to publish her book Stars and Contemporary Masculinities in Contemporary Italian Cinema in 2014 and then , in 2015 , co-authoring Divi : la mascolinità nel cinema italiano .

In 2018 , Catherine became a professor of Italian cinema at the University of Bristol . Her research gradually edged away from stardom to the non-star , citing an interest in Italian non-professional actors inspired by Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette . Researching a topic without such extensive writing to draw on posed its own challenges but eventually resulted in the 2023 publication The Non-Professional Actor . Italian Neorealist Cinema and Beyond .

For both Catherine and Ruth , their achievements have not come without obstacles . Both are female researchers in a male-dominated discipline and their focus on cultural studies post-1945 is something talian academics in this country have traditionally disregarded . In Italy , both have been victims to what they call

‘ Italiansplaining ’, seen as outsiders in the discipline by Italian experts .

But Ruth and Catherine have been pioneers in their own fields – as Derek points out , their work “ has really made a difference .” Their body of work has played a key role in taking research of Italian culture and cinema in new , previously unseen directions , playing a part in changing perceptions .

The success of Ruth and Catherine reflects their expertise , but also the wider triumph of the Italian Department at the University of Bristol . As Catherine and Ruth were presented with bouquets , Ruth ended by quipping “ I ’ ve been at Bristol for 24 years and this is the first time I ’ ve received flowers .” Their research will continue but , for now at least , Catherine and Ruth very much deserve their flowers .

By Bruno Quinney ( He / Him ) // Final Year ; Italian , Portuguese and French

Derek Duncan posing the questions to O ’ Rawe and Glynn ( Source : Stefania Placenti )

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