ITALIA

ITALY IS A DREAM THAT KEEPS RETURNING FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
-ANNA AKHMATOVA, POET

Italy: Welcome

Introduction and Purpose:

I couldn't NOT select Italy for this week's assignment. Three of my four grandparents are full Italian. I'm a second generation American, my grandfather immigrating from Northern Italy when he was four years old.

I've traveled to Italy many times, taking in the tourist destinations as well as venturing into the small Italian towns at the base of the Dolomite mountains and kayaking between the Cinque Terre towns on the coast of the Italian Rivera.

There are so many attributes that define Italy. From food, to fashion, to family values. In this investigation of Italy I'll explore the culture from several dimensions and specifically consider the role of time and non-verbal communication.

All of the photographs on the webpage were shot by me.

Italy: Bio

Italy: The Facts

Italy is located in southern Europe on the Apennine Peninsula. Its distinct shape, resembling a boot, makes it easy to recognize it on maps.

The Adriatic Sea borders the peninsula in the east, the Sea of Sicily in the south, the Ionian Sea in the southeast, the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, all those seas are parts of the Mediterranean Sea. Italy has international borders with Austria, France, Vatican City, San Marino, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Two of the largest Mediterranean islands belong to Italy, Sardinia in the west and Sicily in the south. The country covers an area of 116,340 sq. miles, compared, it is slightly larger than the U.S. state of Arizona. (nationsonline.org, 2021)

Italy has a population of almost 60 million people (in 2020), the capital and largest city is Rome (founded in 753BC). Other major cities are Florence, Milan, Naples, and Venice. The official language is Italian. Italy became a nation-state belatedly - in 1861, when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor Emmanuel. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito Mussolini established a fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946, and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC).

Italy's advanced economy is the 3rd-largest national economy in the European Union. Italy's business model is based on the production of high-quality consumer goods. The most significant industrial sectors in Italy are the automotive industry, textiles, electrical products, office equipment, agriculture, and tourism

Italy: Bio

A Culture Built on Relationships

The colors of the Italian Flag represent three virtues: hope (green), faith (white), and charity (red). (italianbureau.com.au, 2021)

For Italians, the family is very important, and family gatherings are a central part. Family members share important news, gossip, and food during these weekly or monthly reunions. They're usually celebrated at the biggest house of the family, and the women, directed by the Nonna (Grandmother) usually prepare, cook, and serve everything. Seniors are an important part of Italian families, and the older members hold a place of power and respect. The Nonnas are regarded as family matriarchs, and younger members often seek advice from them. (study.com, 2021).

The loyalty amongst family members is paramount for Italians. If faced with a conflicting decision or choice, Italians will most often favor being loyal to the family, even if the downside is great.

Worldwide, Italians are known for their food and big meals, but the reality is that these meals are much more about family and relationships than they are about the food itself. It’s rare to see Italians out for a meal alone. They surround themselves with others and use mealtime to develop and solidify relationships.

Italy: Welcome

Time and Non-Verbal Communication

As a people, Italians clearly align with the concept of flexible time - where they view time flexibly and value relationships over schedules. Italians will ignore the passing of time if it means that conversations will be left unfinished. The conversation and the relationship of those involved in the conversation takes precedent over adherence to a schedule or agenda. For Italians, completing a human transaction is the best way they can invest their time. For an Italian, time considerations will usually be subjected to human feelings (Lewis, 2014).

Italians are traditionally very physically expressive in both their affection and speaking manners. It's been said that "Italians speak with their hands" as hand and arm motions accompany verbal words. Sometimes those gestures by Italians can be misconstrued as anger or frustration by non-Italians. When in reality, the gesture is simply the manifestation of how the person’s cultural background influences how gestures are displayed and understood. Often a gesture that is used to communicate a specific meaning in one culture is different from the gesture used in another culture to convey the same meaning (Salomon, Tuchman, Lev-Tov, & Friedman, 2017).

In a study of online usage of emojis (iconic expressions to share emotion) done by Vogel and Janssen (2009), they found that Italians had the fewest positive emojis and the highest number of negative emojis .

Italy: Bio

Microcultures Abound

Over the centuries, Italy has undergone significant political structure and boundry changes. For example, the Roman empire, which included its headquarters in modern-day Italy was considered the most powerful empire in the world for nearly 500 years! When it fell, change to Italy was inevidiable. Over the centuries, Italy contracted and expanded multiple times. The Franco-Austrian War of 1859 was the agent that began the physical process of Italian unification.

As reminants of changes to Italy, today there are many micocultures to be found in the country. The primary one is the cultural division between Northern Italy and Southern Italy. This is depicted in food, language, and industry focus.

One thing that keeps the Italian microcultures thriving are the various dialects spoken throughout Italy. Though Italian-based, these dialects are so unique that it is not uncommon that a person from one part of Italy cannot understand the language of someone from another part of the country.

Italy: Welcome

Fashion and Fast Cars

For many, Milan Italy is considered the fashion capital of the world. Many of the major Italian fashion brands, such as Valentino, Versace, Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Marni, Iceberg, Missoni, Trussardi, Moschino, and Zegna are currently headquartered in the city.

As far as exotic car brands, Italy is home to Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini - three of the most iconic auto brands in the world.

Why are fashion and fast cars relevant to our investigation? Because these two items help shape the culture of Italy. They are tangible items that Italy uses to stake its place in the world. They create a sense of pride in the people and they influence how Italians interact with the outside world.

Italy: Bio