UDaR on meeting numero uno

Una Donna a Roma has been updated with details, most notably pertaining to visas and plans for other Europe excursions, from the first pre-departure program meeting yesterday afternoon. Enjoy!

Schedules 'n things

Many people who read this blog actually care very little about A Song of Ice and Fire or HBO's Game of Thrones, shockingly. So as to keep this from simply becoming a repository of fan-girling over the latest and greatest in Westeros, here's some news that has everything to do with the real world and nothing to do with George R.R. Martin or HBO, namely: what I'm doing this quarter.

A week in, it's safe to say this is the solidified version of my schedule from now through June. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I have Modern Love in Victorian Poetry and Prose from 11:30-12:20 and then Italian from 1:30-2:20. On Wednesdays I also have my lector (conversation) session for Italian from 10:30-11:20, and on Fridays I have another hour of Italian right after the normal hour, from 2:30-3:20. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have the third quarter of sosc from 1:30-2:50 and The Social Brain and Empathy, a psych class with the renowned empathy pioneer Jean Decety, from 3:00-4:20. (All times central, of course.) All that time on TTh mornings is usually spent getting ready for the gym, from which I actually just returned, while I'm at the gym from 3:15ish to 4:15ish on MW and later than that on Fridays.

The English class is pretty good, although there are actually quite a lot of people in it for a discussion-based class, probably about 25 or so. I'm not crazy about the Victorians, but it fulfills a period requirement for the English major and is kind of hilarious, in both ironic and non-ironic ways, so it's overall good.  Italian is, well, Italian, although it is really quite awkward this quarter since only two people (another girl and I) are in the class; the rest are in the 11:30 section that I used to be in but had to switch out of so that I could take this English class. Our teacher is also kind of awkward, although it's gotten less awkward as time has gone by, so it's okay now. Sosc is sosc, basically the same as ever, although so far it's been a little more interesting this quarter than the last two quarters; we're currently reading Freud, and then we're reading Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Memmi, and some other Freud. Empathy (or, should I say, ze ehm-pat-EE) is pretty entertaining; Decety has probably the thickest French accent I've ever heard, which makes lecture that much more interesting. He's also really nice, which I guess is sort of surprising considering what a bigwig in the field he is, but it's definitely appreciated.

Besides classes, not too much interesting is going on yet. Went to Chinatown on Saturday and had some really delicious food with some housemates. Our house is doing a camping trip at the Indiana Dunes in a week and a half, assuming all the planning comes out okay, which is really exciting. It's spring and the prospies are out everywhere; there's an admitted students overnight this Thursday and next Thursday, so we'll be swamped with eager and awkward high school seniors. The weather's been pretty okay; it was legitimately hot on Sunday, and although it's still very sunny, the temperatures are back down into the 40s and 50s. I think it's supposed to stay there for the next few days, but I guess we'll just end up seeing what happens.

UDaR: in which I can't smile

A new Una Donna a Roma post about the bizarre process of having six pictures of me taken for mysterious study-abroad purposes is up and rockin'.

Jace of Televisionary gets in on the action

One of the better-known internet-based TV/film critics is Jace Lacob of The Daily Beast, Televisionary, etc. His review of what he's seen of Game of Thrones so far (the first 6 episodes that HBO sent to critics) is officially up and viewable here. He has read the books but watched the screeners with his wife, who has never read a word of Martin and was allegedly "entranced" by the visual ride HBO takes us on.

He summarizes the show thusly:

Based on the novel series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones arrives with its brutality and vision very much intact. Adapted by executive producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss, this is a staggering adaptation of a monumental literary achievement, a densely-plotted fusion of fantasy and potboiler political thriller with a deeply cinematic scope. 

Jace is clearly a super-fan, not only of the books but of the show. His language to describe the adaptation includes the words "insanely fantastic":

The first six episodes of Game of Thrones, provided to press in advance, are insanely fantastic, a groundbreaking work of television that's both visually engaging and thematically insightful. This is high fantasy done right, offering a wild and unrelenting plot about the games people play, the thirst for power, the ends men (and women) are willing to go in fulfillment of their own desires, and the things that we do for love. These six installments represent a crowning achievement for serialized television, its taut narrative the launchpad for dynamic conflict, copious bloodshed, and, yes, even a reflection of the mercenary times we live in.

He finishes it off with a sentence that will probably make every A Song of Ice and Fire fan's heart beat just that much more quickly:

This is the type of series that comes around but once in a lifetime, a groundbreaking and absorbing drama that is utterly unlike anything else on television today.

Gore, sex, love, lust, ambition, pride, children, adults, humor, "monsters," dwarves, booze, family, honor, duty, tomfoolery, and, yes, even heart-rending sorrow. Sounds about like the series we all know and love.

14:03 of GAME OF THRONES

It's here. The "exclusive sneak peek" of Game of Thrones premiered about two hours ago on HBO, and it's online for your viewing pleasure. This covers the very beginning, from the wilds beyond the Wall to Winterfell, roughly the prologue and Bran I from the book (minus the direwolves, fellow ASoIaF fans, sorry--that scene is probably right after the cut off).

Warning: This, and all of Game of Thrones, includes direct depiction of intense violence and bloodshed. HBO rates it as Mature Adult, and for quite good reason.





The production value is breathtaking. Looks so much more like film than TV. Also, the bits and pieces of the Stark children are wonderful; the added in bit with Arya (Maisie Williams) is the most impressive and true-to-the-spirit not-from-source-material-but-well-placed bit I've seen in an adaptation in a while. Starting off with a bang and following through; definitely addicting.

Two weeks until the premiere. April 17th, 9pm ET/8pm CT, HBO.

First real mainstream GoT review up

A few bloggers have been giving their impressions of Game of Thrones, but most of them are fantasy-niche and/or fans of the book series already. The Hollywood Reporter is neither niche nor previously familiar with the books, so far as I can tell, but their review (found here) is very positive and makes it sounds like GoT has definitely found the ability to attract the general public. Their remarks on how the immense complexity of ASoIaF translates to a miniseries are especially interesting:

...That kind of start to the 10-part series was essential because Game of Thrones is a complicated story with numerous characters and a dense, interwoven back-story. Though it demands attention, Thrones never once bogs down. It’s the kind of drama where, when the first episode ends, you wish the nine others were immediately available. And that validates HBO’s notion that television is the perfect medium for a fantasy series done right. Getting Martin’s Thrones, the gold-standard, could end up landing HBO its next franchise...What that means, essentially, is that there’s a tight grip on the storytelling and a real understanding of who each person is – traits that make the complexity easier to bear....What we have here is the successful pairing of an acclaimed collection of fantasy books with a television series that illuminates and expands what’s on the page. Worth the wait? Absolutely. And even if you have no idea what all the fuss is about, you should get in from the start absorb Martin’s fantastical tale.

Sounds like this is going to be good. Whether or not you're familiar with the books, definitely give this one a chance, and if you like to read and haven't checked out the books yet, what are you waiting for? Get your hands on the first book, A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, and start reading now--it's a long journey, but one that rewards its readers a thousandfold for the initial investment you make. The other three published books in the series, in order, are A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows, and book five (of a predicted seven), called A Dance with Dragons, hits stores July 12th--now is the best time in ages to get involved.

GoT reminder: Sneak peak tomorrow

Just a reminder on the Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire front that tomorrow, Sunday 4/3, is the date that HBO shows the first 15 minutes of the first episode, directly before the continuation of their current miniseries Mildred Pierce. This sneak peak airs at 9pm eastern/8pm central, and according to HBO it will be made available online "immediately afterward" for those of us who are sans HBO/sans TV in general, presumably to try to get those who can to sign onto HBO. If you're a big ASoIaF fan or just a fantasy/medieval fan in general, I'd recommend getting HBO if you can, just for the next few months (the first season should end sometime in June) to watch the show, as all early reviews from critics (both those familiar and unfamiliar with the books) indicate that it will be splendid watching, and tell HBO why you're subscribing. Those of us who cannot subscribe to HBO (hey, fellow college kids/people sans TV!) can't monetarily support the show, and although we will find ways of watching, some explicit support is always helpful from those of you who can in order to keep HBO invested in continuing to produce the show.