Rome The Game S23 - Chapter 1

(char-style: via (t8n:'dissolve'))[You open Professor Moro’s email, and after the initial pleasantries, she writes that she has a somewhat unusual request: ] (click: "email")[<iframe src="https://gauchocast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=a2fa6a37-7d84-4fc3-b242-afba014c9ec2&autoplay=true&offerviewer=false&showtitle=false&showbrand=false&captions=false&interactivity=none" height="0" width="0" style="border: 1px solid #464646;" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe>(t8n: "dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/504f0e706892205a61a442363d99b99b/d7cbd2fb9e71c442-92/s1280x1920/16a106f7fa0ac899cd038266ae4dc370091875e6.pnj" style="width:100%;max-width:1024px;">] //Click here to expand the email text for more accessible reading// (click:"Click here to expand the email text for more accessible reading")[ ''Opportunity at the Getty Villa?'' I have something to ask of you. I know that a request coming from your advisor may end up sounding more like a directive, but I think you might find this opportunity intriguing, even though it will take extra time, which I know is in short supply for grad students like yourself. I would very happily do this thing myself if I didn’t have to leave tomorrow, bright and horrifyingly early, for that conference in Palermo. Here’s the situation: I was asked by a curator at the Getty Villa (which, as I think you know, has one of the finest collections of ancient artworks in the US) if I could come down for a visit to help with an investigation of sorts. The curator didn’t provide much detail, but I was given to understand that there’s a curious ancient statue that’s been found in one of the storerooms, and she would like help identifying it. The reason she contacted me is that she believes the statue may have some connection to the archaeological site where we’ll be digging together later this summer. I told her that, since I leave for the conference in Palermo tomorrow, I don’t have time to drive down to the museum now to see the statue. But I added that my best grad student might be able to make time for a visit. I suspect that the Getty will pay generously for your help, and I don’t have to tell you how good working for the Getty Villa — which is, of course, one of the most prestigious museums in the country — will look on your CV. This job could also prove interesting, if my suspicions about the statue are correct. But I’ll keep that to myself, except to say that the curator is probably curious to learn the statue’s history, context, and purpose. She will also likely want to know if you think the statue should be returned to Italy, or if it can remain in the US. You can prepare for your visit to the Getty (I believe you’ll be meeting with the curator’s assistant, who will be reporting back to her boss) by listening to the attached NPR podcast called “A Trove of Stolen Treasure” (there’s a transcript, as well, if you’d prefer to read it). After you finish the podcast, please also read the indicated excerpts from the two articles I’ve attached (see below). If you demonstrate a deep understanding of the issues laid out in the pieces I’ve attached, you’ll inspire confidence in the Getty curator and I think she may hire you, which would be quite a feather in your cap. Good hunting! Best, Professor Moro ] //ATTACHMENTS// ](click:"ATTACHMENTS") [1) Listen to (or read transcript of) the NPR podcast “A Trove of Stolen Treasure” (37-minute listen). <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qm3SOzlL_XbhvUPRuKz4ypHE2u60xO79/preview" style="width:100%;max-width:896px;height:5%;max-height:672px"></iframe> Transcript of podcast (if you’d prefer to read it): <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IRlv-OB2uzgcDFBYUj_MUpEeMJtRIlFC/preview" style="width:100%;max-width:896px;height:672px"></iframe> 2) Please read the following two sections of Patty Gerstenblith’s “The Meaning of 1970 for the Acquisition of Archaeological Objects”: * the Introduction on p. 364 * the beginning portion of the section titled “The 1970 Convention as an Ethical Guideline,” from the middle of p. 365 through p. 367 //To download the PDF, click on the “pop-out” button in the upper right corner of the document. That will open a new window, and from there you can read and/or download the PDF. // <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14q6Q87Z6U_cadFHJrMVz0cJ60t4BYAFn/preview" style="width:100%;max-width:896px;height:672px"></iframe> 3) Please read pp. 185-189 in “Repatriation of Cultural Property–Who Owns the Past?” by Carol A. Roehrenbeck. //To download the PDF, click on the “pop-out” button in the upper right corner of the document. That will open a new window, and from there you can read and/or download the PDF. // <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L8xqpH9r4rzEGOk-ofXsQTEU_oZ8pvcE/preview" style="width:100%;max-width:896px;height:672px"></iframe> After you finish the NPR podcast and the Gerstenblith and Roehrenbeck readings, you [[drive down to the Getty Villa in Malibu.|drive to Getty]] ] (set: $progress to 2) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>') ]

The drive to the Getty Villa takes some time, which gives you a chance to listen to the NPR podcast “A Trove of Stolen Treasure” again. (char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[//The Getty Villa!// you think. You’ve wanted to go there for a long time, and now, finally, you’ll get to experience the place. You’ve seen pictures, so you know that it’s up on a hill with a beautiful view of the ocean. You also know that the Villa is a re-creation of a large and luxurious ancient Roman country house called the Villa dei Papyri (“Villa of the Papyruses”), which was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius (text-style:"rumble")[(text-style:"sway")[(text-colour:red)[erupted]]] in 79 C.E. You turn on some Italian music to liven up the drive. ] (click: "liven up the drive")[ <iframe src="https://gauchocast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=daff2c9a-22bf-4405-bc28-af3b013313ab&autoplay=true&offerviewer=false&showtitle=false&showbrand=false&captions=false&interactivity=all" height="504" width="896" style="border: 1px solid #464646;" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe> You park at the bottom of the hill and walk up to the Getty Villa to wait for the curator’s assistant, Josie Wan, who is a grad student like yourself...] (click: "to wait")[Please click the green button in the screen below to play the interactive video. <iframe src="https://ucsb.h5p.com/content/1291863004514201738/embed" width="896" height="745" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay *; geolocation *; microphone *; camera *; midi *; encrypted-media *" aria-label="Scene 1"></iframe> After walking around the statue and examining it, you ask Josie if you can take some pictures of the statue so you can look at them later. "Sure,” Josie says. “Just remember, they’re for your eyes only. Don’t post them anywhere or I’ll get in trouble.” She winks at you as she says, “He’s a sweet little guy, isn’t he. I call him Andy.” (text-style:"fidget")[“Andy?”]] (click: "Andy?")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[“I knew a kid who looked like him when I was growing up.” “Makes sense,” you say as you take out your phone and start taking some pictures of the statue from different angles. (click: "angles")[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/289ff0c088b5c771cb9c807f8d02bd00/24de245b6b74eb0d-71/s1280x1920/8c8d85dd2b4a4b579cdf4d6f5c9f8478436147f4.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/d81e7272eab4b7e643e084906ac354b5/a87ce729fd6fbcb6-27/s1280x1920/c8eeb8c805517eacfdfb2ce8e0086d6c8dff8e12.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/21dde4a4152b118553e505522d6f585a/0a3e60db949b5de2-ea/s1280x1920/8652e351b6c986c0d6ebbe27052325b33d02a5a4.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/d516fee6bb834a188f32d375113647c4/1a1fb0719dac88ad-e0/s1280x1920/9623f5d5728383ce1c63d342c2bdd303c5fb9494.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6edd7d2cb966999a38676e19ae3732a4/d3acef13bb06120d-3a/s1280x1920/d97ab8433f877365c3df5b4c35e3442571b66527.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/5263f06f598c42c99d601dec5c3191a8/b96366db0caed720-68/s1280x1920/37a7e26f23cb31785f8d7f68265dc84fb2a1dcb5.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6b47b85c3dc3926a08208f1ca52a2f2d/16304ac4387f059b-fa/s1280x1920/84abca749a6f1ef4ffd6e95bf8d9ad04dcdc4739.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c3809bb9153b76d9758cc6897c65fc54/05a28b0f08e574a9-2d/s1280x1920/91c51b063b67262434a907a7e84b5f3ab3963184.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/cd08f9ab7ac27239432c2137f9ef7e35/30b097d84752aeef-41/s1280x1920/b2e9b55eed4065e2e49d5b237a7094511f26e3eb.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/814f4b613df0caf8540f97a542a4ecd4/bc84ba8b9a9b4583-9b/s1280x1920/69c11c77bb12a905d8a93fd96bf348de7f3a8264.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> “Thanks,” you say. “What do we know about [[him so far?” |drive to Getty pt 2]]]]] (set: $progress to 3) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“The 1970 UNESCO Convention,” you say, “was kinda like the World’s Fair for archaeology, with a display of the coolest archaeological finds from around the world.” Josie squirms uncomfortably. “I don’t think that’s exactly right,” she says. “It’s a treaty, actually — it addresses the horrible problem of the smuggling and selling of looted cultural objects.” “Oh, right,” you say. “That sounds familiar now.” (click: "Oh, right")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[“I’m not trying to be a know-it-all, I swear,” Josie says apologetically. “It’s just that the curator may want to interview you separately. If she does, she might ask you for some details about the 1970 Convention. You could tell her, for instance, that 109 nations have ratified the convention, which has helped them to protect cultural property and prevent the illegal export — smuggling, that is — of objects from source countries into other countries where people buy the objects.” “Got it,” you say. “But what I don’t totally understand yet is this date, 1970. Is it some sort of cut-off?” “Well, technically, it’s the year that the UNESCO convention took place. But the important thing is that many people and museums in the US are using that 1970 date as a sort of ethical standard. So, if a country of origin, like Italy, can prove that a cultural object, like an ancient statue, was illegally excavated and exported from their country after 1970, then it’s supposed to be returned to the country of origin. But if that same object were proven to have been illegally exported in 1969, for example, it might not have to be returned. We also use the word ‘repatriate’ for this kind of thing — do you have a good understanding of what that means?” [[“Yes,” you say. “Repatriation means a cultural object legally needs to be conserved by a certified expert if it has been broken into fragments.”|fragments]] [[“Yes,” you say. “Repatriation means to return a cultural item to its country of origin.”|origin]] ]] (set: $progress to 5) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“The 1970 UNESCO Convention,” you say, “was a treaty designed to stop the illegal trade in cultural items.” “That’s right!” says Josie. “It addresses the disgusting and horrible problem of the smuggling and selling of looted cultural objects.” “How effective is it, though?” you ask. (click: "How effective is it, though?")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[“Somewhat, I think,” answers Josie. “109 nations have ratified the convention, which has helped them to protect cultural property and prevent the illegal export — smuggling, that is — of objects from source countries into other countries where people buy the objects. But truthfully, a //lot// more work needs to be done.” “I bet,” you say. “Another thing I was wondering about is this 1970 date. Is it some sort of cut-off?” “Technically,” Josie says, “it’s the year that the UNESCO convention took place. But the important thing is that many people and museums in the US are using that 1970 date as a sort of ethical standard. If a country of origin, like Italy, can prove that a cultural object, like an ancient statue, was illegally exported from their country after 1970, then it’s supposed to be returned. But if that same object were proven to have been illegally exported in 1969, for example, then it might not have to be returned. We also use the word ‘repatriate’ for this kind of thing — do you have a good understanding of what that means?” [[“Yes,” you say. “Repatriation means a cultural object legally needs to be conserved by a certified expert if it has been broken into fragments.”|fragments]] [[“Yes,” you say. “Repatriation means to return a cultural item to its country of origin.”|origin]] ]] (set: $progress to 5) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“Not much, unfortunately,” says Josie. “In terms of his provenance, I can tell you that he was gifted to the Getty a long time ago — in 1973, to be exact — by a donor who had an extensive private collection. Apparently, she wanted the public to be able to see and experience the sculpture, as opposed to keeping it cloistered in her house where not many people could see it.” “Not many people can see him in storage, either,” you say. Josie laughs. “Right. I’ve been going through the old records, and it looks like he was on display for a while after they first acquired him, but these days, he just keeps people like me company. I come to the storeroom where he's normally kept after hours or on my breaks, you know, to just... hang out with him. And a few of my other favorites.” (click: "favorites")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[You smile. “You’re getting your degree in art history?” “Yeah,” says Josie. “I’ve been on fellowship here this year, but it’s almost over.” Her eyes sweep across the sculptures, vases, and other antiquities set up in the photography studio waiting their turns to be photographed for new catalogues. She sighs. “I’m gonna miss this place.” “I can see why,” you say. “You’re going to Rome to dig, though, right?” You nod. “I’ll be in Rome for a while, but the dig is a little outside the city. An old sanctuary, supposedly.” “Like with a temple and everything?” ]] (click: "temple")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[“That’s what some of the evidence points to so far, as I understand it,” you say. “My advisor thinks there might also be an ancient villa next to the temple, and some tombs, too. I’m looking forward to seeing it all for myself — maybe there are other ways to interpret what’s there.” “Sounds interesting,” Josie says. “You know, my boss thinks Andy might have originally been dug up at your site, or somewhere nearby. That’s why she wants your help — she’s hoping that you can come up with a theory for where Andy was originally placed, what his purpose was, where and when he was dug up, and then, of course, whether you think Andy should stay here at the Getty or be returned to Italy.” “I’ll do my best to help,” you say. “Great! And, uh...” Josie says, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “I hate job interviews, but my boss wanted me to ask you a few questions, you know, just to make sure you’ve got a handle on some of the issues involved.” “No problem,” you say. “What questions do you have?” “Thanks,” Josie says, scrolling through her iPad. “The first question is, uh... What is the 1970 UNESCO Convention, and why is it important?” You pause to think for a moment, and then answer: [[“The 1970 UNESCO Convention was like the World’s Fair for archaeology, with an impressive display of the most recent archaeological finds from all over the world.”|worlds fair]] [[“The 1970 UNESCO Convention was a treaty designed to stop the illegal trade in cultural items.”|1970 true.]] ]] (set: $progress to 4) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

(char-style: via (t8n:'dissolve'))[WATCH OUT! This class is different from every class you've ever taken. There are no lectures to attend. There are no textbooks to buy. This class is a story that features YOU as the main character. There are adventures, choices, and consequences. You must use what you learn to make choices that will determine the fate of priceless artifacts, and of friends and enemies you meet in Rome. Choose wisely! Click on the highlighted blue text to continue.] (click: "continue")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[''You can make any choice you want in the interactive story — choices you make in the story will NOT affect your grade.'' Graded portions include your midterm exam, weekly writing assignments, the final presentation & paper, and participation in Zoom sections. (Please see the course syllabus for more details on grading.) You can go back and play through the chapters of the interactive story as many times as you’d like, making whatever choices you’d like. However, you cannot go back to try out different choices while moving through a chapter. Also, please be aware that the interactive story includes sounds and videos, so if you're in a public place while playing, you may want to use headphones. ]] (click: "headphones")[(char-style: via (t8n-delay:pos*0)+(t8n:'dissolve'))[In the interactive story, which begins below, you play a character who is a graduate student in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at UC Santa Barbara. In the story, for summer break, which is almost here, you’re planning to go to Rome to work on an archaeological dig. ]] (click: "dig")[(char-style: via (t8n-delay:pos*0)+(t8n:'dissolve'))[You’re excited and maybe a little nervous to visit Rome and work at a dig site for the first time. To ask for advice on how to prepare for your upcoming trip, you decide to email your advisor. (Graduate students always work closely with faculty advisors; in the story, yours is Professor Valeria Moro.) When you open your computer and go into your email account, you see that, coincidentally, Professor Moro has just sent you a [[message.|Moro Email]] ]]  (set: $typewriterText to "Readings and weekly writing assignments for this course are embedded in each chapter. Assignment due dates are clearly marked in GauchoSpace. ''You can make any choice you want in the interactive story — choices you make in the story will NOT affect your grade.'' Graded portions include your midterm exam, weekly writing assignments, the final presentation & paper, and participation in Zoom sections. (Please see the course syllabus for more details on grading.) You can go back and play through the chapters of the interactive story as many times as you’d like, making whatever choices you’d like. However, you cannot go back to try out different choices while moving through a chapter. In the interactive story, which begins below, you play a character who is a graduate student in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at UC Santa Barbara. In the story, for summer break, which is almost here, you’re planning to go to Rome to work on an archaeological dig. You’re excited and maybe a little nervous to visit Rome and work at a dig site for the first time. To ask for advice on how to prepare for your upcoming trip, you decide to email your advisor. (Graduate students always work closely with faculty advisors; in the story, yours is Professor Valeria Moro.) When you open your computer and go into your email account, you see that, coincidentally, Professor Moro has just sent you a message")  |typewriterOutput>[]  (live: 20ms)[  (append: ?typewriterOutput)[(print: $typewriterText's $typewriterPos)]  (set: $typewriterPos to it + 1)  (if: $typewriterPos is $typewriterText's length + 1)[ (stop:) (replace: "message")[[[message.|Moro Email]]] ] ] } --> (set: $progress to 1) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>') ]

“Sure,” you say. “It means a cultural object legally has to be conserved by an expert if it’s been broken up into pieces.” Josie grimaces. “Ah, well... no,” she says. “Repatriation refers to the return of a cultural item to its country of origin.” “Really?” you say. “Does that happen often?” Josie sighs. “It happens more than it used to, which makes me a little hopeful. For example, there have been a number of recent examples where museums, like ours here, have repatriated ancient objects, returning them to places like Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cambodia...” “But how does that work?” you ask. “Don’t the museums own the objects?” (click: "work?")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[“It’s complicated,” Josie says. “In many cases of repatriation, museums had acquired ancient objects, often by paying high prices for them — so at first glance you’d think, yes, they own those objects — but then it turned out that the items had questionable provenance. Do you know what ‘provenance’ means?” “It has to do with ownership, right?” “Yeah,” Josie says. “Provenance refers to the life history of an object. Everything from where and when it was excavated, who had it originally and when it changed hands over the years, to where it is now — in which current collection. There has been a lot of ongoing work here at the Getty with provenance research — we’re eager to find out as much as we can about objects that appear to have no known provenance, because if we don’t know the history, then it means the object could have been illegally excavated, then smuggled out of its country of origin and sold.” Josie puts on a latex glove and places her hand on the statue of the sleeping boy to stroke his hair. “Take little Andy here. We don’t know who originally dug him up, or where or when that happened. We don’t know how he got out of Italy and into the US. Somehow, he ended up in a private American collection and was later donated to us — in 1973. We //do// know that Andy is similar in style to statues found near the site where you and your advisor will soon be digging. But depending on what you find out — if you’re able to discover more about Andy, that is — he may have to be repatriated to Italy. Or maybe there’s a strong case to be made that he should stay here at the museum. What you come up with will help determine what happens to Andy. He’s quite valuable, you know.” “Is he?” you ask. “Yes,” says Josie somberly. “And not just for his companionship,” she adds with a wink. After you and Josie talk a little more, she begins to walk you out of the photography studio and back into the main, public part of the museum. (click: "part of the museum")[<iframe src="https://ucsb.h5p.com/content/1291863028152992098/embed" width="896" height="745" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay *; geolocation *; microphone *; camera *; midi *; encrypted-media *"aria-label="Scene 2"></iframe> After exiting the museum, you get back into your car and look up directions back to Santa Barbara along the Pacific Coast Highway. As you drive home, you think about all the statues you saw today, and you wonder where Andy might originally have been displayed. When you finally arrive at your house, you cook yourself a nice pasta dinner — one your grandmother taught you how to make, called //pasta con le sarde//. It has salty sardines, fresh fennel, currants, and breadcrumbs, as well as a few other ingredients — and it tastes delicious after your long day. You check your email in between bites of pasta and see that your advisor, Professor Moro, has written you again: ]]] (click: "your email")[<iframe src="https://gauchocast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=a2fa6a37-7d84-4fc3-b242-afba014c9ec2&autoplay=true&offerviewer=false&showtitle=false&showbrand=false&captions=false&interactivity=none" height="0" width="0" style="border: 1px solid #464646;" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe>(t8n: "dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/8e076b14c36c6c08e0a221632c615e21/9e36b510c1f06339-f0/s1280x1920/e8a333fd47b46a37eb3c28f7cca42f73bbdb74b7.pnj" style="width:100%;max-width:1024px"> //Click here to expand the email text for more accessible reading//] (click:"Click here to expand the email text for more accessible reading")[ ''Congrats! Blog Opportunity?'' I just heard from the curator at the Getty: you got the job! This will look great on your CV and should be a big help to you in your career once you finish your PhD. The curator said she also plans to send you a “substantial” check once they receive your final report and presentation on the statue after you return from Rome. On a related note, could I ask another favor? As you know, our department has a new museum studies minor, and we’ve been trying to get the word out about important museum-related issues that undergrads and grad students are addressing in their work. Could you please write a blog post for our department’s social media? I’ve pasted some guidance below on how to write it, which comes directly from our social media manager. Style: Blog posts are usually more successful if they are conversational in style and as engaging for the audience as possible (e.g., make sure to include an attention-grabbing headline!). I think your blog post will be of great interest to students who are in the museum studies minor. You can put this publication on your CV as well, and you’ll be doing the department a valuable service! I know you're going to be in a flurry to pack and get ready for your trip, so I suggest you create a reminder on your phone to write this on the long plane ride when you have some downtime. You can email it to me from Rome! Best, Professor Moro] After reading the email, you set a reminder to do the blog post on the plane. But before closing your computer, you notice that Professor Moro has also forwarded a document from the curator at the Getty Museum, outlining your final presentation and report to the Getty for when you get back from Rome. Even though know you won't have to do this for some time, you read through it so you know exactly what to look for during your time in Rome. You click on it and download it: <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yW3QjZXlfKvJeiJNVTDUm4JsmzzfoUoI/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe> After reading the final report and presentation prompt, you start packing. [Before long, you're [[ready to go!|on the plane]]]] (set: $progress to 6) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“Sure,” you say. “It means to return a cultural item to its country of origin.” Josie smiles brightly. “Right,” she says. “Repatriation refers to the return of a cultural item to its country of origin.” “Good,” you say. “But, uh, does repatriation happen often?” Josie sighs. “It happens more than it used to, which makes me a little hopeful, I suppose. For example, there have been a number of recent examples where museums, like ours here, have repatriated ancient objects, returning them to places like Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cambodia...” “But how does that work?” you ask. “Don’t the museums own the objects?” (click: "work?")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[“It’s complicated,” Josie says. “In many cases of repatriation, museums had acquired ancient objects, often by paying high prices for them — so at first glance you’d think, yes, they own those objects — but then it turned out that the items had questionable provenance. Do you know what ‘provenance’ means?” “It has to do with ownership, right?” “Yeah,” Josie says. “Provenance refers to the life history of an object. Everything from where and when it was excavated, who had it originally and when it changed hands over the years, to where it is now — in which current collection. There has been a lot of ongoing work here at the Getty with provenance research — we’re eager to find out as much as we can about objects that appear to have no known provenance, because if we don’t know the history, then it means the object could have been illegally excavated, then smuggled out of its country of origin and sold.” Josie puts on a latex glove and places her hand on the statue of the sleeping boy to stroke his hair. “Take little Andy here. We don’t know who originally dug him up, or where or when that happened. We don’t know how he got out of Italy and into the US. Somehow, he ended up in a private American collection and was later donated to us — in 1973. We //do// know that Andy is similar in style to statues found near the site where you and your advisor will soon be digging. But depending on what you find out — if you’re able to discover more about Andy, that is — he may have to be repatriated to Italy. Or maybe there’s a strong case to be made that he should stay here at the museum. What you come up with will help determine what happens to Andy. He’s quite valuable, you know.” “Is he?” you ask. “Yes,” says Josie somberly. “And not just for his companionship,” she adds with a wink. After you and Josie talk a little more, she begins to walk you out of the photography studio and back into the main, public part of the museum. (click: "part of the museum")[<iframe src="https://ucsb.h5p.com/content/1291863028152992098/embed" width="896" height="745" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay *; geolocation *; microphone *; camera *; midi *; encrypted-media *"aria-label="Scene 2"></iframe> After exiting the museum, you get back into your car and look up directions back to Santa Barbara along the Pacific Coast Highway. As you drive home, you think about all the statues you saw today, and you wonder where Andy might originally have been displayed. When you finally arrive at your house, you cook yourself a nice pasta dinner — one your grandmother taught you how to make, called //pasta con le sarde//. It has salty sardines, fresh fennel, currants, and breadcrumbs, as well as a few other ingredients — and it tastes delicious after your long day. You check your email in between bites of pasta and see that your advisor, Professor Moro, has written you again: ]]] (click: "your email")[<iframe src="https://gauchocast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=a2fa6a37-7d84-4fc3-b242-afba014c9ec2&autoplay=true&offerviewer=false&showtitle=false&showbrand=false&captions=false&interactivity=none" height="0" width="0" style="border: 1px solid #464646;" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe>(t8n: "dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c30d23953230f9fb2ae4112e2ee3b617/9e36b510c1f06339-c8/s1280x1920/d8d223264e2c3f946e1afd45df2c03de2a510cb0.pnj" style="width:100%;max-width:1024px"> //Click here to expand the email text for more accessible reading//] (click:"Click here to expand the email text for more accessible reading")[ ''Congrats! Blog Opportunity?'' I just heard from the curator at the Getty: you got the job! This will look great on your CV and should be a big help to you in your career once you finish your PhD. The curator said she also plans to send you a “substantial” check once they receive your final report and presentation on the statue after you return from Rome. On a related note, could I ask another favor? As you know, our department has a new museum studies minor, and we’ve been trying to get the word out about important museum-related issues that undergrads and grad students are addressing in their work. Could you please write a blog post for our department’s social media? I’ve pasted some guidance below on how to write it, which comes directly from our social media manager. Style: Blog posts are usually more successful if they are conversational in style and as engaging for the audience as possible (e.g., make sure to include an attention-grabbing headline!). I think your blog post will be of great interest to students who are in the museum studies minor. You can put this publication on your CV as well, and you’ll be doing the department a valuable service! I know you're going to be in a flurry to pack and get ready for your trip, so I suggest you create a reminder on your phone to write this on the long plane ride when you have some downtime. You can email it to me from Rome! Best, Professor Moro] After reading the email, you set a reminder to do the blog post on the plane. But before closing your computer, you notice that Professor Moro has also forwarded a document from the curator at the Getty Museum, outlining your final presentation and report to the Getty for when you get back from Rome. Even though know you won't have to do this for some time, you read through it so you know exactly what to look for during your time in Rome. You click on it and download it: <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yW3QjZXlfKvJeiJNVTDUm4JsmzzfoUoI/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe> After reading the final report and presentation prompt, you start packing. [Before long, you're [[ready to go!|on the plane]]]] (set: $progress to 6) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

The time has finally come, and you’re on the plane to Rome, sitting next to a loudly snoring old woman. [[You put on your headphones and cue up some Italian music to get in the mood|piove]] [[You prefer the snoring — it’s relaxing|snoring]]. (set: $progress to 7) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

The sound of thunder at the beginning of the song reminds you of the dramatic lightning storms Rome is supposed to have in summer — so you’ve heard, anyway. And that word //piove// the singer keeps repeating: “rain.” That’s your vague recollection from when you took Italian several years back. You wish, yet again, that you could go back to your undergraduate years so you could keep pursuing Italian. You’d be fluent now if you had! But it’s not too late — you’re sure that during this trip, you’ll pick up more of the language, and you promise yourself that you’ll keep progressing with it when you return home. In the meantime, you’ve got different things to learn. Before you left, your advisor sent you some videos and readings from one of her classes on Rome. She thinks the background information in these materials will help you solve the mystery of the statue from the Getty — your sleeping little boy in marble. You decide to start with [[a video called “Early Rome”|early rome video]] [[a chapter from Fred Kleiner’s book //A History of Roman Art//.|Kleiner reading]] (set: $progress to 8) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')] <audio src="https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/148669_6e4c7b46c9374b3a9822861fe2ebd979.mp3" autoplay>

The snoring of the old woman next to you reminds you of your grandmother, which is comforting. As you open your computer, you remember that before you left, your advisor emailed you some videos and readings from one of her classes on Rome. She thinks the background information in these materials may help you solve the mystery of the statue from the Getty — your sleeping little boy in marble. You decide to start with [[a video called “Early Rome”|early rome video]] [[a chapter from Fred Kleiner’s book //A History of Roman Art//.|Kleiner reading]] (set: $progress to 8) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')] <audio src="https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/148669_3ba017daf72642ed948e2d828da62d3f.mp3"autoplay>

You click on the link to the video and start watching, hoping it will give you a good introduction to the “Eternal City,” which will be your home for the next several weeks. (click: "click on the link")+(t8n:'dissolve')[ <iframe src="https://gauchocast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=6046886a-df42-4c7d-a623-ac4600e6b8fe&autoplay=false&offerviewer=true&showtitle=true&showbrand=true&captions=true&interactivity=all" height="405" width="720" style="border: 1px solid #464646;" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe> Once you’ve finished watching the video, [[you move on to the reading|after early rome video]].] (set: $progress to 9) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

You click on the link to the Kleiner PDF and start reading, hoping it will give you an introduction to the “Eternal City,” which will be your home for the next several weeks. (click: "You click on the link")+(t8n:'dissolve')[ //NOTE: Please read the whole PDF below (it’s relatively short). (To download the PDF, click on the “pop-out” button in the upper right corner of the document. That will open a new window, and from there you can read and/or download the PDF.)// <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tGbTkgK9Q9gJpAP4SpDaHhOsx7txpN6l/preview" style="width:100%;max-width:896px;height:672px"></iframe> Once you’ve finished reading, [[you move on to the video|after Kleiner reading]].] (set: $progress to 9) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

You know a little more now about the beginnings of Rome, long before the Colosseum was built. But your understanding is still murky, partly because ancient Rome isn’t what you’ve been focusing on in your graduate studies. Maybe that’s why your advisor sent you this stuff. You click on the reading she sent, from Fred Kleiner’s //A History of Roman Art//. (click: "You click on the reading she sent")+(t8n:'dissolve')[// NOTE: Please read the whole PDF below (it’s relatively short). (To download the PDF, click on the “pop-out” button in the upper right corner of the document. That will open a new window, and from there you can read and/or download the PDF.)// <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tGbTkgK9Q9gJpAP4SpDaHhOsx7txpN6l/preview" style="width:100%;max-width:896px;height:672px"></iframe> Once you’ve finished reading, [[you notice something...|after reading and video]].] (set: $progress to 10) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

You know a little more now about the beginnings of Rome, long before the Colosseum was built. But your understanding is still murky, partly because ancient Rome isn’t what you’ve been focusing on in your graduate studies. Maybe that’s why your advisor sent you this stuff. You decide to move on to the video next: (click: "video next")+(t8n:'dissolve')[<iframe src="https://gauchocast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=6046886a-df42-4c7d-a623-ac4600e6b8fe&autoplay=false&offerviewer=true&showtitle=true&showbrand=true&captions=true&interactivity=all" height="405" width="720" style="border: 1px solid #464646;" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe> Once you’ve finished watching, [[you notice something...|after reading and video]].] (set: $progress to 10) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

Just as you’re finishing the materials sent by your advisor, you notice that the old woman sitting next to you is awake and staring at your screen. She’s talking to you, so you pull your headphones off to hear her. “—was looking over your shoulder,” she says. “I’m so, so sorry! I just couldn’t help it. My ex-husband always said I was nosy, but that was the only thing he was ever right about.” She smiles awkwardly, apparently hoping you’ll accept her apology. You say: [["I'm busy. Don't you have a book to read?"]] [["That's okay. I was just studying up on Rome before we arrive."|that's okay]] (set: $progress to 11) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“I’m busy,” you say flatly. “Don’t you have a book you can read or something?” “I have plenty,” she says sharply, opening a bag at her feet. You peer inside and see that it’s full of books, and that the one on top has a picture of a gladiator on the cover. The woman sighs. “Let me explain,” she says. “I glanced at your computer, and it — it looked like something I could teach my granddaughter about. I’m desperate for something to help me connect with her. She’s coming to meet me in Rome tomorrow... I’m supposed to look after her, show her around Rome while my son and his wife try to save what’s left of their marriage. My granddaughter’s having a... a hard time.” (click: "a hard time.")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[ “Oh,” you say, feeling a little guilty. “That’s nice that you’ll be taking care of her — I bet that will help.” The woman shrugs. “If I can get her mind onto something else, something that interests her, maybe she’ll start to feel like herself again. I don’t know...” “Sounds like a decent plan,” you say. “As far as what you can teach her, well, I’m not sure how much I can help. I don’t know much about Rome yet, either. I was just learning about very early Rome — you know, the origins.” She perks up. “Is it true Rome was founded by a wolf? Or a... werewolf?” She furrows her brow. “No, that doesn’t sound right.” You say: [[“It was a golden eagle, like the ones on the top of the standards the legionnaires carried into battle.”|golden eagle]] [[“Well, it did involve a wolf. She nursed the twins who founded Rome.” |“It was a wolf. She nursed the twins who founded Rome.”]]]] (set: $progress to 12) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

She sighs and then smiles. “You’re so kind, and that — well, it means a lot to me. People aren’t always nice, you know? They have no idea what you might be going through.” You nod and give her what you hope is a comforting expression. “When I glanced at your computer,” she says, “what you had there looked like something I might be able to teach my granddaughter about. I’m desperate for something to help me connect with her. She’s coming to meet me in Rome tomorrow... I’m supposed to look after her, show her around Rome while my son and his wife try to save what’s left of their marriage. My granddaughter’s having a... a hard time.” (click: "a hard time")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[ “Oh,” you say. “That’s nice that you’ll be taking care of her — I bet that will help.” The woman shrugs. “If I can get her mind onto something else, something that interests her, maybe she’ll start to feel like herself again. I don’t know...” “Sounds like a decent plan,” you say. “As far as what you can teach her, well, I’m not sure how much I can help. I don’t know much about Rome yet, either. I was just learning about very early Rome — you know, the origins.” She perks up. “Is it true Rome was founded by a wolf? Or a... werewolf?” She furrows her brow. “No, that doesn’t sound right.” You say: [[“It was a golden eagle, like the ones on the top of the standards the legionnaires carried into battle.”|golden eagle]] [[“Well, it did involve a wolf. She nursed the twins who founded Rome.” |“It was a wolf. She nursed the twins who founded Rome.”]]]] (set: $progress to 12) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“It was a golden eagle,” you say, “like the ones on the top of the standards the legionnaires carried into battle.” The old woman looks confused. “I’ve seen those eagles in movies, but... wasn’t there a sculpture of a wolf in the article you had on your computer?” “Yes, I remember now,” you say. [[“It did involve a wolf. She nursed the twins who founded Rome.”|“It was a wolf. She nursed the twins who founded Rome.”]] (set: $progress to 13) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“It was a wolf,” you say. “She nursed the twins who founded Rome.” On your computer, you go back into the Kleiner reading and scroll down to the picture of the Capitoline Wolf. (click: "Capitoline Wolf")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/40736ef431045f999fdbef5d299719c2/2510c6ddffc10105-ab/s1280x1920/a41a087dbfacba0fd645eb037e1e80ce51f85a89.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> The woman looks at your screen. “Whoa,” she says. “The idea of a wolf nursing little boys. I don’t know if I should feel amazed or scared.” “Maybe a little of both,” you say. “The boys are Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. According to what I’ve been studying, researchers don’t know much about the context of this statue — they don’t know where it was originally placed, who the sculptor was, or anything like that. Until pretty recently, they even thought the boys were actually additions that were put there during the Renaissance. But they did testing on the bronze from the boys and found that they actually date all the way back to the 6th century BCE — so they’re the same age as the wolf. Apparently bronze work was very popular at that time. The statue doesn’t look all that realistic, I know, but if you look closely, you can see tons of detail on the wolf’s fur. The craftsmanship is impressive for the time, I think, and it fits in with the tradition of other bronzes from that period, too, so it gives a sense of the larger artistic style.” “I’ll try to remember some of that to tell my granddaughter,” she says. “I’m still stuck on this idea of a wolf raising kids, though. What do you think it means?” [[“It’s just a myth from a long time ago. It probably doesn’t really mean anything.”|myth]] [["It promotes the idea that the twins, and the city they founded, had an extraordinary beginning and were destined for great things."|"Maybe it says something about how the Romans thought of themselves."]]]] (set: $progress to 13) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“It’s just a myth from a long time ago,” you say. “It probably doesn’t really mean anything. Sometimes stories are just stories, without any deep meaning.” “Maybe,” she says. “But I think this story must have meant something to the Romans. Otherwise, why would they go to all that trouble to make the statue?” "I guess you could be right," you say.[["Maybe it says something about the importance of the twins and the city they founded — that if the boys had such a wild and extraordinary beginning, they must be destined for greatness."|"Maybe it says something about how the Romans thought of themselves."]] (set: $progress to 13) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“Maybe it says something about the importance of the twins and the city they founded — that if the boys had such a wild and extraordinary beginning, they must be destined for greatness,” you say. “They were sons of the god Mars, they were saved by a wolf—” “You mean Romulus and Remus’s father was Mars?” the woman asks. “Did they know?” “According to the myth, no, they didn’t know that in the beginning,” you answer. “The story says the boys were abandoned to float down the Tiber River, and that’s when the She-Wolf found them and nursed them until a shepherd named Faustulus found the boys and raised them himself. The boys only found out their true, divine heritage much later.” The old woman thinks for a second. “So this statue shows the moment Romulus and Remus first came to Rome, after floating along on the Tiber River? Wouldn’t it have been more impressive to make a statue that showed them as, I don’t know, great conquerors or something?” You say: [["You might have a point there."|"You have a point there."]] [["It shows the myth of Rome's founders, which may be pretty weird, but it has a divine aspect to it, and that seems kind of important."|"But wolves come in packs."]] (set: $progress to 14) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“You’re right,” you say. “Depicting them as conquerors could have shown the strength of the founders. But the wolf myth is a powerful origin story for the city, too, partly because it connects Romulus and Remus with their divine parentage.” You look back at your computer screen. “The article says the Capitoline Wolf was one of the first artistic commissions of the new Roman state, just after it became a republic.” The woman looks confused. “Rome was a republic? I thought they just had emperors.” You say: [["First they had kings."]] [["First came the Republic."|"First came the republic."]] (set: $progress to 15) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“It shows the myth of Rome’s founders, which may be pretty weird, but it has a divine aspect to it, and I think that was important,” you say. You look down again at your computer screen. “The article says the Capitoline Wolf was one of the first artistic commissions of the new Roman state, just after it became a republic.” The woman looks confused. “Rome was a republic? I thought they just had emperors.” You say: [["First they had kings."]] [["First came the Republic."|"First came the republic."]] (set: $progress to 15) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“First they had kings, like Tarquinius Superbus,” you say. “Then, in 509 BCE, they kicked him out and made Rome a republic, where there was a senate and people could vote—” “Wait,” she says, interrupting you. “What’s BCE? Is that like BC?” You say: [["It stands for 'Before Christ the Emperor.'"]] [["It means 'Before the Common Era.'"]] (set: $progress to 16) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“First came the Republic,” you say. “Uh, wait... is that right?” You look down at the reading. “Okay, actually, first they had kings, like Tarquinius Superbus,” you say. “Then, in 509 BCE, they kicked him out and made Rome a republic, where there was a senate and people could vote—” “Wait,” she says, interrupting you. “What’s BCE? Is that like BC?” You say: [["It stands for 'Before Christ the Emperor.'"]] [["It means 'Before the Common Era.'"]] (set: $progress to 16) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“It stands for ‘Before Christ the Emperor,’” you say. The woman purses her lips. “I’ve never heard of that before.” “Hmm,” you say, searching your memory. Then you remember: “Actually, no, that was wrong. BCE means Before the Common Era, and it’s another way to say BC.” “So, BCE is the same as BC. Is CE like AD, then?” she asks. You nod. “Yep. It means ‘Common Era.’” (click: "Common Era.")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[ The old woman points to the image of the statue on your screen. “You said the Capitoline Wolf was made around 509 BCE? So that was, um, during the 6th century BCE? I think I remember reading in one of my novels about how BC works... that 600-501 BC is the 6th century BC, or BCE.” “You’ve got it right,” you say. “It gets a little confusing because with CE, it works in the other direction. For example, the 2nd century CE is the years 101-200 CE, or AD—” “—and the 21st century is the years 2001-2100!” she says excitedly. “Which makes the Capitoline She-Wolf, um... about 2,500 years old?” “Yeah,” you say. “She’s //so// old...” the woman says, “but she looks so alive, and alert. Like she’s on the lookout for anything that might want to hurt the little babies she’s taking care of.” The woman sighs and turns to look at the thick charcoal clouds outside the airplane window. You wonder if she’s thinking about her granddaughter. You decide to try to distract her with a question: [[“How long will you be in Rome for?”|long in Rome]] [[“What kind of fun things are you planning on doing with your granddaughter?”|fun things]]]] (set: $progress to 17) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“It means Before the Common Era,” you say. “It’s another way to say BC.” “So, BCE is the same as BC. Is CE like AD, then?” she asks. You nod. “Yep. It means Common Era.” (click: "Common Era.")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[The old woman points to the image of the statue on your screen. “You said the Capitoline Wolf was made around 509 BCE? So that was, um, during the 6th century BCE? I think I remember reading in one of my novels about how BC works... that 600-501 BC is the 6th century BC, or BCE.” “You’ve got it right,” you say. “It gets a little confusing because with CE, it works in the other direction. For example, the 2nd century CE is the years 101-200 CE, or AD—” “—and the 21st century is the years 2001-2100!” she says excitedly. “Which makes the Capitoline She-Wolf, um... about 2,500 years old?” “Yeah,” you say. “She’s //so// old...” the woman says, “but she looks so alive, and alert. Like she’s on the lookout for anything that might want to hurt the little babies she’s taking care of.” The woman sighs and turns to look at the thick charcoal clouds outside the airplane window. You wonder if she’s thinking about her granddaughter. You decide to try to distract her with a question: [[“How long will you be in Rome for?”|long in Rome]] [[“What kind of fun things are you planning on doing with your granddaughter?”|fun things]]]] (set: $progress to 17) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“How long will you be in Rome for?” you ask, trying to lighten her spirits. “Hmm?” she says, turning away from the window. “Oh, uh, ten days.” She smiles. “My son and his wife had their honeymoon in Rome. It was ten days of love and beauty and delicious food, or so they’ve always said. I guess they’re trying to find some of the magic by coming back.” “Do you think it will work?” She shrugs. “Maybe. But... that was a long time ago.” (click: "long time ago")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[You nod. “Well, I hope it works.” “Me too,” she says. “And if nothing else, at least I get to spend time with Amara. That’s my granddaughter.” She shows you a picture of a skinny, dark-haired girl with intense eyes and a poker face. “You two will have a lot of fun,” you say. “I hope so,” the old woman says nervously. “I don’t know where to take her. Do you have any recommendations?” You say: [[“Start at the beginning, and build on that.”|jupiter]] [[“Start with something you already know.”|jupiter 2]]]] (set: $progress to 18) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“What kinds of fun things are you planning to do with your granddaughter?” you ask, trying to lighten her spirits. “Hmm?” she says, turning away from the window. “Oh, uh, I really don’t know. We’re only going to Rome because my son and his wife had their honeymoon there. It was a magical time for them, and I guess they’re trying to find that again with this one last trip.” “Do you think it will work?” She looks down. “That honeymoon was a long time ago. Things were different then.” (click: "long time ago")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[“Well,” you say, “I hope it works.” “Me too,” she says. “And if nothing else, at least I get to spend time with Amara. That’s my granddaughter’s name.” She scrolls through her phone and shows you a picture of a skinny, dark-haired girl with intense eyes and a poker face. “You two will have a lot of fun,” you say. “I really hope so,” the old woman says nervously. “I don’t know where to take her. Do you have any recommendations?” You say: [[“Start at the beginning, and build on that.”|jupiter]] [[“Start with something you already know.”|jupiter 2]]]] (set: $progress to 18) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“You should start at the beginning, with one of the earliest great buildings — the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus.” “In one of my novels, they talk about Jupiter,” she says. “He was like Zeus, right? King of the gods?” “I think so,” you say. “But what does Optimus Maximus mean?” she asks. “Best and Greatest,” you say. “You already know something about the temple, too.” “I do?” “You know about the time period the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was finished and opened — it’s the same time as when the Capitoline Wolf was made.” “That’s... uh... around 509 BCE, right?” she says hopefully. You nod. “That’s also when the last king was kicked out and the Republic began.” “Okay,” she says. “That sounds like a good place to take Amara first. Where is the temple?” [[“It’s on the Capitoline Hill.”|capitoline]] [[“It’s on the Palatine Hill.”|palatine]] (set: $progress to 19) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“You should start with something you already know a little about,” you say. “But I don’t really know anything yet,” she responds. “You know the context of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus.” “In one of my novels, they talk about Jupiter,” she says. “He was like Zeus, right? King of the gods?” “I think so,” you say. “But what does Optimus Maximus mean?” she asks. “Best and Greatest,” you say. “You already know something about the temple, too.” “I do?” “You know about the time period the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was finished and opened — it’s the same time as when the Capitoline Wolf was made.” “That’s... uh... around 509 BCE, right?” she says hopefully. You nod. “That’s also when the last king was kicked out and the Republic began.” “Okay,” she says. “That sounds like a good place to take Amara first. Where is the temple?” [[“It’s on the Palatine Hill.”|palatine]] [[“It’s on the Capitoline Hill.”|capitoline]] (set: $progress to 19) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

As soon as you say, “It’s on the Palatine Hill,” you remember that //Palatine// is where the English word “palace” comes from. So, you reason, the Palatine Hill must be where Roman rulers, even starting with Romulus, eventually lived. You tell this to the woman sitting next to you, and she asks, “If the Palatine Hill was for the palace, then does that mean the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus is on the Capitoline Hill?” (click: "on the Capitoline Hill?")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[You search through the Kleiner reading to find out. “Yes,” you eventually say. “The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus is on the Capitoline Hill, but there’s not much left now. Just part of the foundations, which are kind of like the footprint of the building. Those foundations are now in a big museum called the Capitoline Museum. I’ve heard the museum is pretty incredible, but I’m not sure that’s the best and greatest place to bring your granddaughter Amara... unless she likes museums, of course.” The woman smiles. “She loves them! She could spend all day in a museum. Me? I start to feel woozy after an hour.” You laugh and say: [[“I get tired of them after an hour too!”|hour]] [[“I love them as much as your granddaughter.”|love museums]]]] (set: $progress to 20) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“It’s on the Capitoline Hill,” you say, “but there’s not much left now. Just part of the foundations, which are kind of like the footprint of the building. Those foundations are now in a big museum called the Capitoline Museum. I’ve heard the museum is pretty incredible, but I’m not sure if that’s the best and greatest place to take your granddaughter first, unless — does Amara like museums?” The old woman smiles. “She loves them. She can spend entire days in museums. Me? I start to feel woozy after an hour.” You laugh and say: [[“I get tired of them after an hour too!”|hour]] [[“I love them as much as your granddaughter.”|love museums]] (set: $progress to 20) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

"I'm with you," you say. "I start to get cross-eyed after an hour in a museum, so I have to take them in small bites. I wish I had your granddaughter's endurance." "You're right," the woman says. "Amara's sure got plenty of endurance. It's helping her get through the... well, it hasn't been easy for her, lately. Or me." Her eyes meet yours. "Thank you for helping. For taking the time to talk to me." She smiles and adds, "Although getting stuck talking to the crazy old lady next to you probably wasn't how you'd planned to spend your flight!" You start to protest, but she pats your hand. "I'm going to read now." She reaches down and pulls one of the historical novels out of her bag, then leans back in her seat. You consider doing more work but you're tired and think it might be nice to close your eyes for a few minutes, so you close out the article on your computer. Underneath it is one of the images of your mystery statue. (click: "your mystery statue")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/289ff0c088b5c771cb9c807f8d02bd00/24de245b6b74eb0d-71/s1280x1920/8c8d85dd2b4a4b579cdf4d6f5c9f8478436147f4.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> "Isn't he beautiful," the woman says, as she stares at your screen. "Sorry, I just don't seem to be able to help myself." "That's okay," you say. "But he is beautiful, isn't he?" You say, [["He looks so peaceful."|peaceful]] [[“I don’t know how I feel about him yet.”|don’t know]]]] (set: $progress to 21) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“When I’m in a museum,” you say, “I lose track of time. I stand there and stare at at the scupture or painting or whatever it is I’m looking at, and I try to take in all the little details and figure out why it was made that way, what it was for, and, you know, how it makes me //feel//. And I just kind of wade around in that feeling... and suddenly someone’s tapping on my shoulder telling me it’s time to leave, and by then I’m late for my bus.” The woman laughs. “Amara’s exactly like that. Having that kind of focus and giving it to museums and libraries — she loves books as much as the old things you find in museums — well, it hasn’t helped her social life. She’s had trouble making and keeping friends at different times in her life, and I know that’s been hard for her.” “Those kind of qualities will pay off in the future,” you say. “Amara will do just fine, I bet.” “I know you’re right,” the woman says. “I worry about her, especially now, with everything that’s going on. But then, I worry about everything!” You reply: [[“I do too.”|worrier]] [[“I don’t worry too much.”|don't worry]] (set: $progress to 21) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“He looks so peaceful,” you say. “He looks like my son when he was little,” the woman says, pointing at the screen. “He had curls //just// like those, and a plump little belly, too. I used to love to watch him sleep... it always made me feel so calm.” She snorts. “But when he woke up, that was a different story! Still, there’s something magical about babies — all children, really. I always feel lighter and more hopeful when I’m around them. Everything’s so new and exciting to them...” “Like a fresh start,” you say. (click: "fresh start")[She inclines her head. “Like all the mistakes, all those things we get wrong that we’re haunted by, don’t matter so much anymore... because what we see is something that’s always starting new. A new place, a new day, a new life...” You look past the woman and through the window at the mellow setting sun, and you wonder what your life in Rome will be like. <img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/148669_e3233953a89e4ebf98d798fd798bbbe6~mv2.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> Just then your phone buzzes with an alert: ] (click: "alert")[<iframe src="https://gauchocast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=a2fa6a37-7d84-4fc3-b242-afba014c9ec2&autoplay=true&offerviewer=false&showtitle=false&showbrand=false&captions=false&interactivity=none" height="0" width="0" style="border: 1px solid #464646;" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe>(t8n: "dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce3f87e3d2125e5a5e84d0fea0229890/a025b41a4f57a1bd-98/s1280x1920/b41ea23ddce835c816b77444305e2f81a59c84da.jpg" style="width:50%;max-width:896px"> You open a blank Word document and settle into writing the blog post Prof. Moro requested.]] (click: "writing the blog post")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[//To download the writing assignment for Chapter 1, click on the "pop-out" button in the upper right corner of the document. That will open a new window, and from there you can read and/or download the assignment. // <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EjiouVNiIhrlUDxz0D6DkeUOQMMu0_Am/preview" style="width:100%;max-width:896px;height:672px" allow="autoplay"></iframe>]] (set: $progress to 25) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“I’m not totally sure yet — I have to get to know him better,” you say. “I’m hoping to learn more about him in Rome.” “I hope you do, too,” the old woman responds. “To me, well... he looks like my son when he was little.” She points to the screen. “He had curls //just// like those, and a plump little belly, too. I used to love to watch him sleep... it always made me feel so calm.” She snorts. “But when he woke up, that was a different story! Still, there’s something magical about babies — all children, really. I always feel lighter and more hopeful when I’m around them. Everything’s so new and exciting to them...” “Like a fresh start,” you say. (click: "fresh start")[She inclines her head. “Like all the mistakes, all those things we get wrong that we’re haunted by, don’t matter so much anymore... because what we see is something that’s always starting new. A new place, a new day, a new life...” You look past the woman and through the window at the mellow setting sun, and you wonder what your life in Rome will be like. <img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/148669_e3233953a89e4ebf98d798fd798bbbe6~mv2.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> Just then your phone buzzes with an alert: ] (click: "alert")[<iframe src="https://gauchocast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=a2fa6a37-7d84-4fc3-b242-afba014c9ec2&autoplay=true&offerviewer=false&showtitle=false&showbrand=false&captions=false&interactivity=none" height="0" width="0" style="border: 1px solid #464646;" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe>(t8n: "dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ <img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce3f87e3d2125e5a5e84d0fea0229890/a025b41a4f57a1bd-98/s1280x1920/b41ea23ddce835c816b77444305e2f81a59c84da.jpg" style="width:50%;max-width:896px"> You open a blank Word document and settle into writing the blog post Prof. Moro requested.]] (click: "writing the blog post")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[//To download the writing assignment for Chapter 1, click on the "pop-out" button in the upper right corner of the document. That will open a new window, and from there you can read and/or download the assignment. // <iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EjiouVNiIhrlUDxz0D6DkeUOQMMu0_Am/preview" style="width:100%;max-width:896px;height:672px" allow="autoplay"></iframe>]] (set: $progress to 25) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“I worry all the time,” you say, “about pretty much everything. I know I shouldn’t... but I can’t seem to help it.” “Let’s make a pact,” the old woman says. “Let’s hope for the best — let’s imagine good things.” “Okay,” you say. “Are you going to imagine your son and his wife patching things up?” She thinks for a moment. “No,” she says. “Because maybe they’d be better off not being together. In the long run, anyway.” “Oh,” you say, a bit surprised. “But I’m going to imagine my son and my granddaughter happy. Maybe that won’t happen right away, but before //too// long.” She closes her eyes for a long moment... then smiles and opens them. “I just did it — I saw them both happy. I think they will be.” “That’s good,” you say. “Now, how about you?” she asks. “What are you going to imagine?” “Uh,” you say... [[“I’ll imagine myself happy too.”|happy]] [[“I’ll imagine success in Rome.”|success]] (set: $progress to 22) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

“I try not to worry that much,” you say. “It usually just makes things worse.” “You’re right,” the old woman says. “Let’s hope for the best, no matter what happens.” She reaches down and pulls one of the historical novels out of the bag at her feet, then leans back in her seat and begins reading. You glance at your computer screen; you consider doing more work, but you’re tired and think it might be nice to close your eyes for a few minutes, so you close out the article on your computer. Underneath it is an image of your mystery statue. (click: "your mystery statue")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/289ff0c088b5c771cb9c807f8d02bd00/24de245b6b74eb0d-71/s1280x1920/8c8d85dd2b4a4b579cdf4d6f5c9f8478436147f4.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> “Isn’t he beautiful?” the woman next to you says, looking over your shoulder again. You say: [[“He looks so peaceful.”|peaceful]] [[“I don’t know how I feel about him yet.”|don’t know]]]] (set: $progress to 22) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

You close your eyes: you imagine yourself smiling, feeling good. Then you get more specific: you’re in Rome, learning about the sites, meeting new friends, laughing, eating delicious Italian food, maybe even falling in love. Once you’ve imagined every detail, you take a deep breath and open your eyes. “What did you imagine?” the woman asks. “Good things,” you say, and she nods knowingly. You close the PDF of the Kleiner reading on your computer, and underneath it is an image of your mystery statue. (click: "your mystery statue")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/289ff0c088b5c771cb9c807f8d02bd00/24de245b6b74eb0d-71/s1280x1920/8c8d85dd2b4a4b579cdf4d6f5c9f8478436147f4.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> “Isn’t he beautiful?” the woman says, looking at your screen. You say: [[“He looks so peaceful.”|peaceful]] [[“I don’t know how I feel about him yet.”|don’t know]]]] (set: $progress to 23) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

You close your eyes: you imagine yourself in Rome, learning about the sites, meeting new friends and mentors, finding clues about the sleeping statue — solving the mystery, and coming back home in triumph! Once you’ve imagined every detail, you take a deep breath and open your eyes. The woman is looking at you. “What did you imagine?” she asks. “It has to do with this statue,” you say. You close out the Kleiner PDF on your computer, and underneath it is an image of your mystery statue. (click: "your mystery statue")[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/289ff0c088b5c771cb9c807f8d02bd00/24de245b6b74eb0d-71/s1280x1920/8c8d85dd2b4a4b579cdf4d6f5c9f8478436147f4.jpg" style="width:100%;max-width:896px"> “Isn’t he beautiful?” the woman says, looking at your screen. You say: [[“He looks so peaceful.”|peaceful]] [[“I don’t know how I feel about him yet.”|don’t know]]]] (set: $progress to 23) (float-box:"x====", "Y====")+(css: "font-size: 50%;")[Progress (print: '<progress value="' + (text: $progress) + '" max="25"></progress>')]

[(char-style: (t8n:'dissolve'))[(font: 'Sans Serif')+(b4r:"groove")+(b4r-size:2,1,1)+(b4r-colour:(hsl:0,0,0.5333,0.65),white)[(text-style:"emboss")[(text-colour:#212529)[(bg:(hsl:0,0,1,0.55))[ [(text-style:"bold")+(css: "font-size: 125%;")[  Potential Awkward Ask <span class="material-symbols-outlined"> label&#95important </span>] ==|== <span class="material-symbols-outlined"> account&#95circle </span> ''Professor Moro''(css: "font-size: 75%;")[<[email protected]>                                              Sep 20, 2022, 7:21 PM (3 days ago)<span class="material-symbols-outlined"> star </span> <span class="material-symbols-outlined"> reply </span><span class="material-symbols-outlined"> more&#95vert </span> to me I have something to ask of you, she writes. I know that a request coming from your advisor may end up sounding more like a directive, but I think you might find this opportunity intriguing, even though it will take extra time, which I know is in short supply for grad students like yourself. I would very happily do this thing myself if I didn’t have to leave tomorrow, bright and horrifyingly early, for that conference in Palermo. Here’s the situation: I was asked by a curator at the Getty Villa (which, as I think you know, has one of the finest collections of ancient artworks in the US) if I could come down for a visit to help with an investigation of sorts. The curator didn’t provide much detail, but I was given to understand that there’s a curious ancient statue that’s been found in one of the storerooms, and she would like help identifying it. The reason she contacted me is that she believes the statue may have some connection to the archaeological site where we’ll be digging together later this summer. I told her that, since I leave for the conference in Palermo tomorrow, I don’t have time to drive down to the museum now to see the statue. But I added that my best grad student might be able to make time for a visit. I suspect that the Getty will pay generously for your help, and I don’t have to tell you how good working for the Getty Villa — which is, of course, one of the most prestigious museums in the country — will look on your CV. This job could also prove interesting, if my suspicions about the statue are correct. But I’ll keep that to myself, except to say that the curator is probably curious to learn the statue’s history, context, and purpose. She will also likely want to know if you think the statue should be returned to Italy, or if it can remain in the US. You can prepare for your visit to the Getty (I believe you’ll be meeting with the curator’s assistant, who will be reporting back to her boss) by listening to the attached NPR podcast called “A Trove of Stolen Treasure” (there’s a transcript, as well, if you’d prefer to read it). After you finish the podcast, please also read the indicated excerpts from the two articles I’ve attached (see below). If you demonstrate a deep understanding of the issues laid out in the pieces I’ve attached, you’ll inspire confidence in the Getty curator and I think she may hire you, which would be quite a feather in your cap. Good hunting! Best, Professor Moro //ATTACHMENTS// ]]]]]]]