President's Showcase
Emma Clark
Supervising Professor: Dr. Irene Zanini-Cordi
Emma Clark is a sophomore from St. Louis, Missouri, who is double majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. Driven by a passion for research, she has pursued several opportunities in her time at FSU thus far. Last year, under Professor Zanini-Cordi’s guidance, she explored topics related to social network theory, eighteenth-century Italian sociability, and salon culture in order to complete a project for the UROP symposium. Her UROP group then expanded the scope of their research by co-authoring a peer-reviewed article accepted for publication in Eighteenth-Century Studies and producing a pedagogical podcast funded by an IDEA Grant. Emma has also been accepted into the Research Intensive Bachelor’s Certification (RIBC) program in Political Science, a program geared towards developing students’ high-caliber research skills while completing research-oriented classes. After graduation, Emma plans to attend law school and will likely pursue family law.
Abstract
A grand tour into the intricate networks of 18th-century sociability reveals the social connections that shaped the modern intellectual and cultural fabric of European society.
This IDEA Grant project expands our UROP research and podcast experience, which focused on how Italian Salonnières contributed to the Enlightenment. By developing the podcast series Sip and Connect: Social Networking Italian Style, we examine cultural components that shaped Italian Sociability during the eighteenth century and consider how they embodied Enlightenment Ideas. Our episodes explore the origins and growth of these innovative technological and cultural developments facilitated by social connections. We discuss topics like coffee culture, journalism, politics, early science, religion, fashion, social etiquette, art, and opera.
We researched these themes, interviewed experts, and drafted and edited scripts, culminating in our production of twelve podcasts over the summer. This series will be an integral part of an undergraduate course on 18th-century Italian Enlightenment and Sociability. In addition to our primary goal of helping students explore Enlightenment culture, we learned how to engage a broad public in scholarly topics in a conversational way and to utilize modern media to disseminate knowledge.
Our peer-reviewed article "Conversations That Shape Identity," slated for publication in Eighteenth-Century Studies, reflects on the overall meaning of our pedagogical experience and these learning outcomes, concluding with the IDEA Grant. By considering the efforts of women artists, writers, and scientists in our research, our contribution aims to reshape the androcentric conversation on Italy's cultural and scientific development during the Enlightenment.
Presentation Materials
Project Materials
