I think some course text defined "sprezzatura" in the notes as "with
careless ease." Of course, careless can mean a variety of things. There
certainly is an emphasis on class!
On Tue, 3 Jun 2003, Michael Saenger wrote:
> 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
>
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