Cultural

Trip Journal
On your cultural trip to Florence, you will keep a journal. One section of it should be used for taking notes for your essay; the other section should be used for this journal. I would expect that you take notes about at least 10 pieces of art. Things to pay attention to are not so much who did what, but why they did what they did, or how they did what they did. How did Ghiberti or Brunelleschi develop linear perspective/Why did Fra. Lippi include certain characters in his works?? Etc. Etc. Do not intersperse sections; use the "front half" for the journal and the "back half" for your essay notes. Your journal will be a place to reflect on your experiences in Florence. The focus will be on how perception, language and emotion contribute to your knowledge of Florence. So, perhaps the light sharpens your sense of sight on a particular day, or perhaps the light casting shadows on a particular building gives you a particular sensation; write about it. It would be wonderful if you sketched it, too! Have fun with this assignment. It is meant to help you to heighten your experience by taking time to reflect; it is not meant to be a burden or "just one more thing you have to do." Each afternoon or evening you will have time to reflect on your day, on the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of the city. You may choose when to do each particular assignment; by the end of the trip, you should have written on 5 of the following:

Each journal entry should be a minimum of one page in length, but more may be necessary to say what you need. Remember this is not simply something you saw, but rather how seeing helped you to know. It is not something you tasted that you should write about, but rather about how tasting led you to understand or know better or differently.

Sight Sound Smell Taste Touch Emotion Reason Language