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Locus Amoenus is Latin for Pleasant Place
In Bocaccio's Decameron, seven young members leave behind the city of Florence in order to escape the black death. In pursuance of a haven away from the plague, the young members find a Locus Amoenus, where each take turns governing the group, while also exchanging stories. These stories help the young people pass time and entertain one another. The stories are divergent of many themes that spread across heavy erotica, religion, suffering, and love. The Locus Amoenus gives the brigata freedom to discuss topics that would otherwise be considered shameful and provides the group of young people an escapism in storytelling from the reality of the plague around them.
Scene of the Narration of the Decameron
Art by Salavatore Postiglione
Escapism and Beyond
In similar ways that the Brigata found a home in a locus amoenus and in storytelling from their home in Florence, I was able to find a home at UCI that was beyond my hometown. Meeting new people and growing familiar with an entirely new enviorment has been an entire adventure on its own.
From my interpretation, I consider world-building to also be something highly driven by human interaction and connections. The Brigata were affored the ability to build on eachother's stories and explore topics that would otherwise be considered obscene for their time.
A Locus Amoenus @ UCI
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Aldrich Park is a Locus Amoenus
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Aldrich Park can be many places at once.
A place to study.
A place to debrief after a long day
&
A place to socialize.
I often find it refreshing to step out of class and find myself surrounded by greenery and trees all around me. Aldrich Park is pleasant in the way that it offers a space that feels relaxing and somehow seperate from college life.
UCI Has Become A Home Away from Home.
Coming to UCI, I knew it was an opportunity for me to become independent and explore living life on my own. UCI has given me the opportunity to flourish beyond my home and has allowed me to realize how capable I am of learning new things and meeting new people.
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As The Lumineers Once Said:
'Cause if we don't leave this town
We might never make it out
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While music can be open to interpretation, this particular music video reminds me to be bold and continue seeking adventure.
-ˏˋ Worldbuilding at UCI ˊˎ-
Friendship
Spending time with friends and finding joy in company.
Routine
Finding new paths to class and repeating the cycle everyday.
Habits
Eating out and finding new favorite meals to order.
Exploring
Getting familiar with campus and learning about new places.
-ˏˋ Brief Reflection & Connectionsˊˎ-
Although college may seem like the place someone wants deviate away from after a long day of schoolwork, college is hard to avoid, especially for those who live nearby campus. School has become dominant in all parts of our life, and yet at the same time, it has given us a space to grow and learn in a way that is different from the enviroment we knew before college life. UCI has afforded me an escape from my hometown and given me a space to grow intellectually and independently.
Similarly, the Brigata were able to find solitude and entertainment in storytelling. The locus amoenus they came across was able to give them an escape from the plague, and a refreshing start to a new life filled with stories and adventure--something the young members could no longer find in their home city, Florence.
Citations
Header image features the painting The Enchanted Garden by John William Waterhouse.
Boccaccio, Giovanni. The Decameron. Edited & translated by Wayne A. Rebhorn, WW Norton, 2015.
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