The Renaissance Awaits
Penn Global Seminar: The Functions of Art
Ike, one of the Spring 2026 Penn Global Seminar Correspondents, shares his experience abroad during the Spring Break. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.
Ciao! My name is Ike, and I’m going to Italy. I’m both nervous and excited to travel to Italy as I’ve never been before. I don’t quite know what to expect. Will my experience be like the passionate films The Talented Mr. Ripley and Call Me by Your Name, or like a textbook description? Either way, I’m excited to experience Italy in person.
Before I explain what I’m expecting from the trip, I’ll tell you why I wanted to join in the first place. I enrolled because I thought it was a good intersection of my interests in philosophy and art. I’ve taken many philosophy classes, but never one on art, so I was hoping to learn more about how to appreciate art beyond just looking at it. I’ve also never travelled to Europe, so I thought this class would be a great way to gain exposure to a new continent.
On the trip, I hope to learn about Italian art, such as that of the Renaissance, and get to know my classmates. We are traveling to Rome, Florence, Venice, and Padua. Along the way, we are going to famous churches and museums, like the Uffizi and Pitti Palace. Currently, I don’t know how to analyze art through a philosophical lens, so I’m hoping to obtain this skill.
Growing up in Philadelphia, I am familiar with going through art museums. However, I’ve never known what it’s like to sit with art and engage with it critically. I’m curious to see what a different perspective I will have when I view the art as a simple pleasure, compared to how a philosopher would think about it. Also, engaging with a piece of art in person compared to digitally will definitely be different. I feel like to experience a piece of art fully, you need to see it in a space designed to display art, which means a visit in person.
Seeing my peers in a different setting outside of class will also be a great opportunity to learn more about each other. I’ve travelled with friends before, so I know it can be difficult to manage everyone’s interests and make sure everyone gets to do what they want. However, I think the benefits will outweigh the potential disadvantages. Getting to travel together is such a unique experience that I’ll appreciate for the rest of my life. The class is a mixed bag of seniors and freshmen, so it will be exciting to make new friends who aren’t juniors.
It may be cliché to say, but I can’t wait to try some of the local cuisine of Italy. I can’t wait to try some pizza margarita, creamy risotto alla milanese, and tiramisu. As a Philadelphian, I feel like food is important to the cultural experience and a great way to connect with others. Sharing a meal is a simple yet effective way to get to know each other.
I’m a little worried about the weather because I checked and half of the days are going to be rainy. Even if it rains, I know that I’ll be adaptable and power through.
Overall, I know my time in Italy will be brief, but I’m hoping to learn and enjoy as much as I can in the time I have.