The fourth edition of the Festival of American Culture opened yesterday evening, November 13, at the American Studies Center in via Michelangelo Caetani 32 in Rome, this year dedicated to the theme “The American Dream: myth, reality and contradictions”.
The inaugural evening, introduced by the director of the Center Roberto Sgalla, had an exciting start with the performance of the Gospel Choir of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, which immediately won over the audience with its energy and intensity.
Speakers included Karen Schinnerer (US Embassy), Federica Di Pillo (American Chamber of Commerce), Daniele Fiorentino (Organization Committee of the Festival of American Culture) and Paolo Gaudenzi (Adviser for Scientific Cooperation at the Consulate General of Italy in Boston). Everyone underlined the importance of the chosen theme and the collaborative relationships that link the Center for American Studies to numerous cultural realities, which will be protagonists during the entire festival.
The evening was enriched by the speech of Monica Maggioni, board member of the Centre, who highlighted how the American Dream is a concept capable of including personalities of different cultural and social origins, underlining that everyone, from their own perspectives, can achieve and live it.
The atmosphere was made even more engaging by the ’40s swing notes of the Smile Orchestra, which accompanied the guests and helped transform the inauguration into a moment of celebration and reflection.
The Festival will continue in the next few days with meetings, debates and events dedicated to exploring the many facets of the American myth, between dreams, contradictions and contemporary realities.