The other problem with translating sprezzatura is that it encodes the
studied erasure of the external evidence of elaborate patterning
(rhetorical, social, philosophical, poetic, etc.). In our culture we wish
to simplify everything, even when complexity does exist -- and
simplification is certainly not the same thing as the careful concealment
of the evidence of complexity. When I teach the word I emphasize that this
is one reason why we can't translate the word; because as with a number of
other borrowed words -- schadenfreude, savoir faire -- the fact that we
borrow it points the fact that we lack the concept; and missing concepts
point to essential building blocks of imagining cultural alterity.
Michael Saenger
At 12:51 PM 6/3/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>I too have struggled with this. As Jon Quitslund says, the problem with
>"cool," good though it is, is class: Gladys Brooks has a devastating
>little first ironic and then tragic poem about ghetto kids that starts "We
>real cool"--not what Castiglione had in mind, of course, even if one
>eliminates Brooks's irony. My problem with "yuppie" is also class unless
>one thinks of Castiglione's readers as merely *trying* to be
>courtiers--which of course is often the case but only in real life, not in
>the text, or not overtly. I have no word of my own to offer except
>"aplomb," sort of, which isn't even English. I write the Italian on the
>board and at least a few years ago was able to define it by its opposite:
>sprezzatura is *not* having the sound that the then tennis top seeds made
>as they hit the ball (you remember--"UNNGGHH"). Or "never let them see you
>sweat." Anne Prescott
>
> > At times I have used Hemingway's "grace under pressure" as a modern
> > equivalent to 'sprezzatura'. The 'pressure' being one's desire to impress
> > the social group watching the performance, while making them believe that
> > no effort at all was used in making the presentation.
> >
> > To draw upon popular culture, the writers of 'The West Wing' write with
> > this concept in mind. Josh, CJ, and Sam (before he resigned) can
> > extemporize a speech, a news-bite or a quip with apparent aplomb (yuppie,
> > I guess). What makes the ease of response possible (we are meant to
> > believe) is years of education, a native intelligence and a fervently
> > passionate belief in the justness of their cause. All are part of the
> > 'spezzaturian' package; as true for Duke Urbino's court as Jeb Bartlett's
> > (not George W's) White House.
> >
> >
> > Linda Vecchi Dept. of English Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland
> >
> >
> > On Mon, 2 Jun 2003, Charles Butler wrote:
> >
> >> I was asked by a student what the English for 'sprezzatura' is. Having
> >> explained that it was one of those notoriously untranslatable words, it
> >> struck me that 'cool' comes pretty close. It has the same implications
> >> of
> >> effortless accomplishment, unfazedness, caring deeply about impressing
> >> people while affecting not to care, etc. But it seems such a
> >> quintessentially 20th century word that I hesitate to suggest it. Any
> >> thoughts?
> >>
> >> Charlie Butler
> >>
> >> "Run mad as often as you chuse, but do not faint!"
> >>
> >
Michael Baird Saenger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of English
Mood-Bridwell # 212
Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX
(512) 863-1787
Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 4pm - 5pm
|