Sicilian Global Identities: From Cefalù to New Orleans

An island with a rich culture, Sicily has been varyingly depicted in several works of literature, as well as movies and TV shows. Its rocky cliffs may have inspired some scenes from The Odyssey, while the TV series “White Lotus” has once again brought Taormina into the limelight of Hollywood. Depictions of Sicily vary widely according to the time that produced them, their genre, and the author’s agenda. Together, these works have constructed a specific narrative of Sicily, one which does not always align with the historical realities of the island.

Exploring several portrayals of Sicily and understanding the opposition between real and fictional Sicily was the goal of the Loyola University New Orleans program “Writing About Literature: Global Identities in Sicily.” Under the direction of Loyola professor Emily Capdeville, students spent two weeks in Sicily, visiting several locations connected to their learning goals.

One of the highlights of the program was a visit to Cefalù. A small town east of Palermo, Cefalù was one of the main areas of Sicilian migration during the 1800s and the early 1900s. Several families moved from Cefalù to New Orleans, creating a lively community that still exists to this day. Several program participants could indeed trace their family history back to this very town. The guided tour of Cefalù focused on the history of Italian emigration to the States, and the construction of narratives of Sicily by the Italian American community. The visit was crowned by a group meal— all based on traditional Sicilian recipes, of course.

The program also included visits to several monuments and locations of great cultural relevance throughout Sicily, which have featured prominently in works of fiction. Besides Syracuse, there were the Baroque historical centers of Noto and Modica, and Taormina with its Roman theater. These visits allowed students to place these locations into their proper historical and cultural context, improving their understanding of how these monuments contributed to the construction of a narrative of Sicily.

Accent has extensive experience working with partner universities to develop J-term and Spring Break programs. To start your program development conversations, please reach out to us at development@accentglobal.com