Introduction:
The location of interest in which is central to this research project is small section of a city that has a significant cultural impact: Little Italy. Little Italy, or College street West is an lively neighbourhood located in Toronto, Ontario and is best known for it’s countless amount of Italian eateries, cafes, farmer market and little shops. Little Italy is a strip located on College street, that reaches all the way from Ossington Avenue to as far as Bathurst Street. (Seen in Figure 6) For this assignment, I tried to focus my research on a smaller section of little Italy that reached from Palmerston avenue throughout Clinton Street on the main strip of college. As old as the neighbourhood is, Little Italy is
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On this day, I tried to observe the conversations that buzzed around me even though I decided not to use “naturally occurring conversations” as part as my methodology. Since it was a weekend the Italian strip was busier than ever. In this part of my research, I positioned myself on College street, between Euclid Ave and Manning Ave. Since it was a weekend the Italian strip was busier than ever. There were children running up and down sidewalks, Italian music blasting from each restaurant and people outside enjoying a glass of wine on the patios. I first started my research by walking up and down the small section of Little Italy that I chose. I walked up and down this small section to be sure I would not miss any written texts, pictures, or historical artefacts that would be beneficial to my research. By walking around each small area I paid close attention to the conversations that surrounded me. I simply wanted to see how many people spoke fluent Italian in the area. This gave me an idea how Italian this area still was. I was stunned to find that the area was more Portuguese and Japanese than I thought. Around me I heard all types of language in conversations, including Japanese as the more dominant language. I found that fluent Italian was not commonly spoken. I could easily tell who seemed Italian due to their heavy accent, although I only briefly caught one couple speaking Italian throughout this
Life in Italy is much different than life in the United States. Italians live at a much slower pace, than American’s and they have a desire to enjoy life instead of rushing through it as many American lifestyles exhibit (Zimmermann, K. (2015). The extended family is very important in Italy, whereas in the United States, the focus tends to be on the nuclear family, which includes mom, dad, and children (Zimmermann, 2015). The differences in Italian culture and American culture are vast and varied, but with a few comparable components to demonstrate similarities.
Vineland, New Jersey, though I have not lived here that long, I have come to realize that it has a few special things about it. In my essay I hit on points about my neighborhood, the local area, and the regional terrain as well as the landscape. How strong urbanism plays a role in Vineland. If the area I reside in, is formal or functional region or if it is a combination of both. Then, if the boundaries of Vineland are sharply defined or board zones of transition. Also the effects that Hurricane Sandy had on New Jersey and the surrounding states.
In Richard Lederer’s article “All American Dialects”, he states the ironic truth that “most of us are aware that large numbers of people in the U.S. speak very differently than we do.” (152) How is it that one language can have so many speech communities? It is because of the way our nation was developed. Our language is a mixture of culture and lifestyle that has diverted our English dialect, so that each region’s speech is unique. How I speak can define who I am, determine what I do, and locate exactly where I’m from in the U.S. This is the value of my, and my language’s speech communities. If one was to travel to Germany they would be constantly hearing German. What they wouldn’t notice is that each city within Germany tends to have their
In the thirty-five years preceding World War I, the United States was flooded with seventeen million “new” immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. Each group brought their own distinctive food habits from the “old” world. The Italians, a large portion of which came from Southern Italy, were part of th...
In conducting this assignment we visited the neighborhood of Washington Heights. During our visits we interviewed several of the residences; so that we could get a first hand prospective of what it is like living in the community, why they settled in the community and the many changes that they have witness durning their time in the neighborhood.
Only thirty years after the Piedmontese army marched into Rome to unite Italy under one government, the country suddenly found itself on the brink of the twentieth century and a rapidly changing world. The twentieth century would mark the beginning of great changes throughout Europe, and Italy would not be left untouched. What set the stage for these changes, though, were the years just prior to, and directly after 1900.
Due to its proximity to the docks, North Beach was part of the Barbary Coast, a lawless place that feature saloons, bars, dance halls, jazz clubs and prostitution. After the earthquake and the subsequent fires of 1906, North Beach saw an immense change due to the almost complete destruction of the buildings, a lot of Germans, Russians, Eastern Europeans moved out permanently. However, the Italians continue to move into the district. North Beach rapidly changes, the creation of the Italian characters of the neighborhood by the Italian immigrants began. The Italian influence peaked between the two World Wars, When five different Italian newspapers circulated the neighborhood and over 60,000 of its residents claimed Italian ancestry. (FoundSF) After Word War Two, a large number of Italian families move out of North Beach to Marin and the East Bay. Since 1980, a major demographic shift in people has happened to Little Italy, changing with a mix of young professionals, Chinese and American
It lives on as a fleeting memory in the expansive history that is the city of Chicago, and crosses the minds of few regularly. Stretching roughly a mile in distance, Maxwell Street was once the epicenter of commerce, the birth of culture, and change. From its birth out of the Great Chicago Fire, to the first Jewish immigrants, to it’s final day as a bazaar, it is this rise and decline of Maxwell Street that has aided in cultural differentiation that ultimately gives insight into the urban spacing and transitions in the city of Chicago.
Last but not least, the Italian-American’s contributed greatly to America’s past and left quite an imprint on our ‘melting pot’ culture. The Italian-Americans came to America following a dream; whether it be temporarily ‘escaping’ South Italy or a lifelong aspirations toward music. There perseverance and bravery left an impact stronger than words can express which assisted our future successes. Slowly yet steadily, Italians rose up the social ladder, opening up like a blossoming flower to their fellow Americans. Establishing their roots, then blossoming into a beautiful flower, revealing all beyond everyone’s expectations. Today, Italians have surpassed all the other ethnic groups in average job income and job prestigious, a true example of hard work paying off. As for, “Chi la dura la vince,”-He who perseveres wins at last...
Claris, S. (1998). Italians Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America . October 17, 2004. Boston: Gale Research, Inc., 1995.
There’s a lot more to being Italian than the typical stereotypes that we have come to know from movies, television and books. From the Catholic mobsters who kill during the week but always make it to mass on Sunday, to the “how you doin” views of Joey from the television show “Friends”, people often forget the more important parts of being Italian. It is a culture like no other, full of history, art, and most importantly, their passion for food. Italian food, in my opinion, is the best in the world. Italians put so much into everything they make that the time and effort is tasted with every single bite. One of my favorite dishes would have to be fettuccini alfredo and it just happens to be a fairly easy, but extremely delicious, dish to make. Trust me, if I can make it, you can make it.
...ious environment. It is typical in Chicago for neighborhoods to be referred to by there Church or the cultural environment of the primary language. This is very well linked to the hierarchy of the cities as such in Mesopotamia, and the delegated jobs and status of its people. This is evident in the neighborhood surrounding the museum, as there is diversity on the streets leading through the area. It is apparent that when you arrive to Hyde Park, the affluence is increased, possibly due to the education of the people in the area and direct access to a fabulous university. I am sure as time goes by, I will have much more information after visiting this area, as to where the societal break may have derived from, or not. I am looking forward to the experience of finding out more and why. Which I truly believe this project was all about. Expanding our where and why.
As the world evolves so do the people within it, but without much surprise some things do not change that drastically and one of those things is the culture in which a person was born and raised. Even though ones culture or way of life may progress in some ways, it does not totally change. The topic of discussion for this paper will be that of the Italian culture. Who are they really? What types of challenges do they face? Many other topics will be discussed about the Italian society, but first we begin with the basic facts as to who they were.
In the words of Giuseppe Verdi, “You may have the universe if I may have Italy” (Brainyquote.com). Italy is one of the top hotspots for vacation, and there is a plethora of reasons why. Immediately upon arriving, you can smell the aroma of fresh, home-made foods. The beauty of the architecture in even the average buildings is overwhelming. The culture is unique and fascinating; unlike anything you will ever see anywhere else. There are so many places you could visit in Italy, you could spend a lifetime there, and it would never be enough. Rome, Tuscany, Pompeii, Pisa, Florence, and Venice are must-sees, to name just a handful. (http://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com) Italy is in essence, a paradise unlike any other, that everyone should have the privilege of enjoying. (pathos)
Culture, according to Webster’s is, “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization” defines culture. The world has many diverse cultures spread out through many different countries. The country of Italy has had an impact on the world through its unique geography, culture and history. Italian culture and influences on world economies can be seen everywhere from food to cars and clothes. The impact that Italy has had on the rest of the world is profound than you may think.