Synonymous with scandal and intrigue, the figure of Giacomo Casanova has enthralled, mystified, and positively tickled the imagination of curious lovers of Venice for centuries. In this seminar, participants will delve deeper into the complex and often contradictory elements of Casanova’s fascinating personality to understand more fully his radical literary genius and cultural significance. Using his autobiography as a guide and Venice as his stage, we will trace the contours of his intellectual, moral, and spiritual foundation in order to decipher the myth and comprehend the man. Join Dr. Kristin Stasiowski for an in-depth look at this captivating, essential figure of Italian history!

Kristin Stasiowski, Ph.D is the Assistant Dean of International Programs and Education Abroad for the College of Arts and Sciences and is also an Assistant Professor of Italian Language and Literature in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at Kent State University. She received her Ph.D from Yale University in Italian Language and Literature and has taught Italian language, literature, cinema, history and culture in both Florence, Italy and at Kent State. She recently published a chapter entitled A Divine Comedy for All Time: Dante’s Enduring Relevance for the Contemporary Reader in Italian Pop Culture: Media, Product, Imageries. Rome, Italy: Viella Editrice s.r.. Her current research is focused on Dante, Boccaccio, and the modern poet Clemente Rebora.