California Italian Studies ( CIS) grew out of a founding initiative by the University of California Italian Studies Multi-campus Research Group (now Multi-campus Research Program Initiative [MRPI]), headquartered and directed by Jon Snyder at UC Santa Barbara with representation of five UC campuses (Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz). In spring of 2010 the first volume of California Italian Studies, "Italy in the Mediterranean," edited by Claudio Fogu and Lucia Re, managing editor Regina Longo, appeared to considerable acclaim. We now welcome you to this, the second volume of CIS, edited by Albert Russell Ascoli and Randolph Starn, managing editor Marisa Escolar.

California Italian Studies is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed electronic journal run by an executive committee currently representing seven campuses of the University of California system, devoted to publishing innovative and influential research being done in Italian Studies across the world today, in both the Italian and the English languages. As spelled out in the journal’s charter, CIS is guided in its mission by an editorial board, which in turn is assisted by a distinguished international advisory board, and is especially committed to the principles of interdisciplinarity, comparativity, and theoretical-methodological self-scrutiny. The journal is published annually and is made up of two issues. The first issue is on a dedicated topic: volume 1, Italy in the Mediterranean (2009-10); volume 2, Italian Futures (2011); volume 3, The Disciplines of the Arts and Sciences in Naples: Medieval, Modern, Contemporary (2012); volume 4: Italian Sound (2013). The second annual issue is always “Open Theme,” although it may also include work related and/or responding to the topics treated in prior issues. We strongly urge our readers to consider submitting suitable essays, interviews, translations, review essays (no reviews of individual publications) or other appropriate items for either issue. Each annual volume is produced under the guidance of a volume editor or editors and with the technical supervision of a Managing Editor. For a more comprehensive overview of the history and mission of the journal see again the charter. For descriptions of upcoming issues, submission guidelines and deadlines (including the CIS style sheet) and other information pertaining to the journal, see the "Journal Info" menu in the left-hand sidebar. Current and past issues may be accessed through the drop down menu in the small box above this statement.

CIS is supported by the California Digital Library platform and currently has its administrative headquarters at the University of California Berkeley. From 2010 through the present CIS has been funded by substantial grants from the Italian Studies Department at UCB, as well as by important contributions from the Italian Studies MRPI at UCSB, from the participating campuses (UCLA, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz), and from the Cecchetti Chair endowment (held by Barbara Spackman). We would also like to thank the Humanities Research Network of the University of California, and the College of Letters and Sciences at UCB for individual grants that have sustained the journal.

CIS wishes to promote outstanding critical work (on any period from the Middle Ages to today, and on any subject related to Italy) that engages in a theoretical reflection on its own approach, and on its implications within larger disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transnational contexts. The journal aims to foster new dialogues and stimulate intellectual exchanges among a broad spectrum of scholars and students within and outside of Italian Studies. The digital medium, open access, full subject and name searchability, and cross-referencing of our journal are meant to facilitate and enhance this intellectual process. The creative use of the digital platform of CIS is also ideal for enhancing and sharing research in fields such as music, visual culture, and cinema and media studies, which may not be as well served by traditional print journals.