Professor Jack Lannamann traveled to Italy in June 2007 to discuss a collaborative study program with colleagues at the University of Parma

Lannamann, Jack

English

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Faculty Travel Reports Global Education Center
Fall 2007
Jack Lannamann, Associate Professor of
Communication, travels to Italy
Jack Lannamann
University of New Hampshire - Main Campus, john.lannamann@unh.edu
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel
This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Travel Reports by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Lannamann, Jack, "Jack Lannamann, Associate Professor of Communication, travels to Italy" (2007). Faculty Travel Reports. 25.
https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel/25
UNH Center for International Education Newsletter
http://www.unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2007/fall/faculty_lannamann.html[7/8/2016 1:31:50 PM]
Center for International Education
Professor Lannamann (second from right) with
colleagues in Italy
In this Issue
Featured Stories
Additional Articles
Faculty Travel Reports
Download this
newsletter as a .pdf
Center for International
Education Home
JACK LANNAMANN,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION
Professor Jack Lannamann traveled to Italy in June 2007 to discuss a collaborative study program
with colleagues at the University of Parma.
 
 
"Oh quanto è corto il dire e come fioco
al mio concetto! e questo, a quel ch'i' vidi,
è tanto, che non basta a dicer 'poco'!"
"How incomplete is speech, how weak, when set
against my thought! And this, to what I saw
is such--to call it little is too much."
(From Dante, Divine Comedy, Paradiso,
Canto 33. Mandelbaum, Tr.)
Perhaps only Dante can get away with such a disclaimer, but it is true
that a description of Italy in late spring makes me aware of my limits
with language. The University of Parma, where I met with my
colleagues in the Doctorate of Social Psychology, is located near the
center of the beautiful city of Parma. As a center of learning, the
university has a rich history. When Dante wrote the words in the Divine
Comedy back in the 14th century, the school was already two hundred years older than UNH is now. Over the years, the institution
has weathered the changes brought on by popes, dukes and powerful neighbors. In one phase of that history, the buildings where I
met with my hosts were used as the stables for Napoleon’s horses. This sense of living history surrounds the campus.
As I traversed Via Gramsci and entered the university gates, I was greeted by a brilliant image of the early 20th century Italian
political philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, on a poster announcing a conference to celebrate the legacy of his thought. It turned out
that a friend was organizing the conference, and I returned to UNH with one of the posters. It now hangs in my office where I can
point to it as I try to explain what Gramsci’s idea of hegemony has to do with communication.
UNH Center for International Education Newsletter
http://www.unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2007/fall/faculty_lannamann.html[7/8/2016 1:31:50 PM]
The purpose of my travel to Italy was simple. I went to meet with colleagues at the University of Parma to continue work on a
collaborative study program. The program links the newly developed Doctorate of Social Psychology at Parma with the
Department of Communication here at UNH. As a member of the Graduate Faculty at the University of Parma, I advise Ph.D.
candidates in the Social Psychology program who have specific interests in communication theory. The UNH-Parma collaboration
is still in its early stages of development and it requires the kind of sustained conversation that can only be had in face-to-face
working sessions.
I met with the head of the psychology department, Prof. Laura Fruggeri, and with Profs. Nadia Monacelli, Tiziana Mancini, Luisa
Molinari, and Sergio Manghi. We discussed the initial success of the program and how the link between UNH and the University
of Parma had already resulted in several graduate students traveling to Durham to pursue their research in communication. These
early encounters have been rewarding. While at UNH, one of these students sat in on my undergraduate classes and added a
valuable international component to my senior seminar “Perspectives on Culture and Communication.” She also participated in
departmental colloquia and various scholarly reading groups.
One of the themes that we discussed during our meeting had to do with finding a comfortable balance between maintaining the
flexibility of our existing collaboration on the one hand, and adding structure to what is, after all, an institutional arrangement. As
we discussed this question, it became clear that there are benefits to be gained from a more formal structure. Parma is a highly
ranked Ph.D. program in Italy. The high caliber students in that program have much to offer UNH. Formalizing an exchange
program would benefit both UNH and Parma. We discussed drafting a formal agreement to institutionalize what has been a fruitful
relationship.
During our discussion we also confronted the issue that although the UNH/Parma exchange of faculty has been bi-lateral, the
student exchange has been a one-way street. UNH undergraduates typically do not have a sufficient command of the Italian
language to allow them to benefit from coursework at the University of Parma. We explored several options to resolve this
problem. One of the more intriguing proposals involved using web-based technology to create remotely accessible research
colloquia and semi-regular video-conferences allowing students to collaborate on intercultural research projects without the need
to relocate. Formalizing the institutional link between the two universities might also allow students to access the diverse library
holdings available at each institution.
I am grateful to the Center for International Education for making my trip possible. I am excited about the potential for continued
collaboration with my Italian colleagues and students. I expect that this work (along with my new Gramsci poster) will find its way
into my undergraduate teaching in several forms, including new case study material, readings, and classroom discussions. Thank
you for your support.
  
Copyright © 2015, Center for International Education  •  The University of New Hampshire
223 Hood House  •  89 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824
tel: 603-862-2398  •  fax: 603-862-0169
study.abroad@unh.edu  •  international.affairs@unh.edu


Jack Lannamann, Associate Professor of Communication, travels to Italy

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryFaculty Travel Reports Global Education CenterFall 2007Jack Lannamann, Associate Professor ofCommunication, travels to ItalyJack LannamannUniversity of New Hampshire - Main Campus, john.lannamann@unh.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travelThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Faculty Travel Reports by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationLannamann, Jack, "Jack Lannamann, Associate Professor of Communication, travels to Italy" (2007). Faculty Travel Reports. 25.https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel/25UNH Center for International Education Newsletterhttp://www.unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2007/fall/faculty_lannamann.html[7/8/2016 1:31:50 PM]Center for International EducationProfessor Lannamann (second from right) withcolleagues in ItalyIn this IssueFeatured StoriesAdditional ArticlesFaculty Travel ReportsDownload thisnewsletter as a .pdfCenter for InternationalEducation HomeJACK LANNAMANN,ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATIONProfessor Jack Lannamann traveled to Italy in June 2007 to discuss a collaborative study programwith colleagues at the University of Parma.  "Oh quanto è corto il dire e come fiocoal mio concetto! e questo, a quel ch'i' vidi,è tanto, che non basta a dicer 'poco'!""How incomplete is speech, how weak, when setagainst my thought! And this, to what I sawis such--to call it little is too much."(From Dante, Divine Comedy, Paradiso,Canto 33. Mandelbaum, Tr.)Perhaps only Dante can get away with such a disclaimer, but it is truethat a description of Italy in late spring makes me aware of my limitswith language. The University of Parma, where I met with mycolleagues in the Doctorate of Social Psychology, is located near thecenter of the beautiful city of Parma. As a center of learning, theuniversity has a rich history. When Dante wrote the words in the DivineComedy back in the 14th century, the school was already two hundred years older than UNH is now. Over the years, the institutionhas weathered the changes brought on by popes, dukes and powerful neighbors. In one phase of that history, the buildings where Imet with my hosts were used as the stables for Napoleon’s horses. This sense of living history surrounds the campus.As I traversed Via Gramsci and entered the university gates, I was greeted by a brilliant image of the early 20th century Italianpolitical philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, on a poster announcing a conference to celebrate the legacy of his thought. It turned outthat a friend was organizing the conference, and I returned to UNH with one of the posters. It now hangs in my office where I canpoint to it as I try to explain what Gramsci’s idea of hegemony has to do with communication.UNH Center for International Education Newsletterhttp://www.unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2007/fall/faculty_lannamann.html[7/8/2016 1:31:50 PM]The purpose of my travel to Italy was simple. I went to meet with colleagues at the University of Parma to continue work on acollaborative study program. The program links the newly developed Doctorate of Social Psychology at Parma with theDepartment of Communication here at UNH. As a member of the Graduate Faculty at the University of Parma, I advise Ph.D.candidates in the Social Psychology program who have specific interests in communication theory. The UNH-Parma collaborationis still in its early stages of development and it requires the kind of sustained conversation that can only be had in face-to-faceworking sessions.I met with the head of the psychology department, Prof. Laura Fruggeri, and with Profs. Nadia Monacelli, Tiziana Mancini, LuisaMolinari, and Sergio Manghi. We discussed the initial success of the program and how the link between UNH and the Universityof Parma had already resulted in several graduate students traveling to Durham to pursue their research in communication. Theseearly encounters have been rewarding. While at UNH, one of these students sat in on my undergraduate classes and added avaluable international component to my senior seminar “Perspectives on Culture and Communication.” She also participated indepartmental colloquia and various scholarly reading groups.One of the themes that we discussed during our meeting had to do with finding a comfortable balance between maintaining theflexibility of our existing collaboration on the one hand, and adding structure to what is, after all, an institutional arrangement. Aswe discussed this question, it became clear that there are benefits to be gained from a more formal structure. Parma is a highlyranked Ph.D. program in Italy. The high caliber students in that program have much to offer UNH. Formalizing an exchangeprogram would benefit both UNH and Parma. We discussed drafting a formal agreement to institutionalize what has been a fruitfulrelationship.During our discussion we also confronted the issue that although the UNH/Parma exchange of faculty has been bi-lateral, thestudent exchange has been a one-way street. UNH undergraduates typically do not have a sufficient command of the Italianlanguage to allow them to benefit from coursework at the University of Parma. We explored several options to resolve thisproblem. One of the more intriguing proposals involved using web-based technology to create remotely accessible researchcolloquia and semi-regular video-conferences allowing students to collaborate on intercultural research projects without the needto relocate. Formalizing the institutional link between the two universities might also allow students to access the diverse libraryholdings available at each institution.I am grateful to the Center for International Education for making my trip possible. I am excited about the potential for continuedcollaboration with my Italian colleagues and students. I expect that this work (along with my new Gramsci poster) will find its wayinto my undergraduate teaching in several forms, including new case study material, readings, and classroom discussions. Thankyou for your support.  Copyright © 2015, Center for International Education  •  The University of New Hampshire223 Hood House  •  89 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824tel: 603-862-2398  •  fax: 603-862-0169study.abroad@unh.edu  •  international.affairs@unh.edu

https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1024&amp;context=international_travel

Jack Lannamann, Associate Professor of Communication, travels to Italy

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