Study Abroad Journal May 15

Can’t come to this site and not think about “bread and circuses”.  I mean this sight for mass entertainment butts up against the government buildings and really brings to mind the idea that the government was paying for the mob to be quiet.

May 15, 2014.  Flavian Ampitheater begun in 64CE by Vespasian and finished in 72 CE by his son, Titus.  This structure is important because of the use of concrete to create a freestanding structure of this magnitude, the idea that the emperor could have the people's entertainment in mind.  I especially like seeing the way that Rome is making it look more like itself with the sand on one side and a new trap door being built to show how it operated in it's heyday.

  I’ve heard people (my husband and something he was reading) talk about how the US is the best at mass entertainment and keeping the masses still.  I’ve been thinking about this concept and I find that we are a pretty apathetic society.  I mean in 2 days in Rome we have passed several demonstrations and marches (one for housing and one for the worker contracts with the city of Rome) and I haven’t seen a demonstration in America since the last bring our troops home one several years ago.  Apparently, if you don’t take out our electricity

May 15, 2014.  Ancient Roman Forum as seen from the Tabularium with the Temple of Saturn on right from 497 BCE and the Arch of Septimus Severus on the left built in 203 CE.  This shows the range of time frames for the buildings in the ancient forum.  This place is important due to the fact that this was the heart of ancient Rome and where most of current western civilization was born.

or something, you’re not going to rouse the American public to much because as long as we can watch TV and check facebook, what’s the big deal?

I’m not absolving myself from complicity in this national program because while there are plenty of things that I feel strongly about and will bitch and gripe about with friends, John, or others, I never get up off my ass and do something about it.  I’ve never stood out in the rain saying that I support or am against something.  I’ve never started a grassroots campaign to help with something that I truly believe in.  So, I guess I’m just as guilty as the next person.  Looking at other revolutions in history like France, Russia, etc, I

May 15, 2014.  Dying Gaul, Ancient Roman copy of Greek original.  Artist unknown, thought to be an original bronze from 3rd century BCE.  Found in the 1600's on the Ludovico estate and thought to be part of Sallust's gardens.  I include this work of the Capitoline when there are many worthy works in there because it is my favorite.  The Hellenistic attention to emotion as the Gaul is dying with his wounds visible, but still in the heroic form because of the dignity of his dying.  This showed respect for vanquished foes who fought valiantly. 

would have to say that starvation seems to be a factor in this driving people to action and I don’t see America starving yet.  I guess we’re still a long way off from getting up off our asses, off our iphones and doing something about anything.  I still think that it wouldn’t have to be starvation for us, it would be knocking out our grid and taking away our modern “bread and circuses”.