Comments on: Italia: Initial Reactions http://www.ipandora.net/2008/01/08/italia-initial-reactions/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:15:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: matthew http://www.ipandora.net/2008/01/08/italia-initial-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-7773 matthew Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:43:22 +0000 http://www.ipandora.net/2008/01/08/italia-initial-reactions/#comment-7773 I don't deny the fact that Italia is and has almost always been a standard bearer in design and aesthetic innovation: Milan is the capital of the fashion world, boats built there are considered some of the most beautiful in the world, they've led in music and the arts for centuries. But as any seasoned boatman will tell you, their boats beauty and innovation truly is only skin deep. Mechanically, they are nightmares. And what is fashion but the defining and enhancing of the external beauty. And I would submit that had it been summer, the skin-deep beauty would have been even more apparent. Crowds and crowds milling about visiting historic places with no room to see the "real Italy". Instead, as I visited towards the end of the Christmas rush, through the New Year celebration in Roma, and then for over 2 more weeks into January, I believe I saw a more authentic Italia than most visitors. I did not dig deep, by any means, into the culture. But I left the tourist walk ways and meandered the streets, observing the young and old as they went about their business. They seem locked into a glass box, no real great aspirations. Entertainment is plentiful, but small minded, not inspiring. They excel at the minutiae and forget the vastness of the horizon. I don’t deny the fact that Italia is and has almost always been a standard bearer in design and aesthetic innovation: Milan is the capital of the fashion world, boats built there are considered some of the most beautiful in the world, they’ve led in music and the arts for centuries.

But as any seasoned boatman will tell you, their boats beauty and innovation truly is only skin deep. Mechanically, they are nightmares.

And what is fashion but the defining and enhancing of the external beauty.

And I would submit that had it been summer, the skin-deep beauty would have been even more apparent. Crowds and crowds milling about visiting historic places with no room to see the “real Italy”.

Instead, as I visited towards the end of the Christmas rush, through the New Year celebration in Roma, and then for over 2 more weeks into January, I believe I saw a more authentic Italia than most visitors.

I did not dig deep, by any means, into the culture. But I left the tourist walk ways and meandered the streets, observing the young and old as they went about their business.

They seem locked into a glass box, no real great aspirations. Entertainment is plentiful, but small minded, not inspiring.

They excel at the minutiae and forget the vastness of the horizon.

]]> By: Frank @ 3rings http://www.ipandora.net/2008/01/08/italia-initial-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-7770 Frank @ 3rings Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:29:30 +0000 http://www.ipandora.net/2008/01/08/italia-initial-reactions/#comment-7770 Italia to me is a big design symbol. You can't say it is a country devoted to the past judging by the location, especially in winter, when everything is sleepy. Just check this <a href="http://3rings.designerpages.com/2008/02/22/italian-space-savers-2/" rel="nofollow">Italian design</a> or this <a href="http://3rings.designerpages.com/2008/03/14/ravioli-chair/" rel="nofollow">Design</a>. For many people Italia is symbol of good desing. For me it is a country where I'd definitely want to live. Italia to me is a big design symbol. You can’t say it is a country devoted to the past judging by the location, especially in winter, when everything is sleepy. Just check this Italian design or this Design. For many people Italia is symbol of good desing. For me it is a country where I’d definitely want to live.

]]> By: John http://www.ipandora.net/2008/01/08/italia-initial-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-7368 John Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:23:22 +0000 http://www.ipandora.net/2008/01/08/italia-initial-reactions/#comment-7368 Italy is on my list of places to visit in the coming decade. Italy is on my list of places to visit in the coming decade.

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