University Open Air: From Fields to Cities: The Journey of Sayings

Sat, Oct 4 2025
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Prospect Park Boathouse

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This lecture explores the fascinating evolution of popular sayings, tracing their roots in rural communities and examining how they’ve been reshaped in urban environments. We’ll look at how these expressions reflect cultural and social changes as they move from agrarian life into city living.

We’ll begin by discussing the role of oral tradition in preserving cultural wisdom, and how sayings have served as tools for teaching values, caution, and humor. Then, we’ll explore the historical shift during industrialization, when rural populations migrated to cities, bringing their figurative language with them. We’ll see how these sayings adapted to new urban realities and how they continue to bridge generational and cultural divides.

At the end of the lecture, participants will be invited to share rural sayings that are still used today, as well as sayings from their own backgrounds that have had impact on their lives in New York City.

***Marcelo Arroyave will remain at the Park to collect sayings from the public from 2:30 - 3:30.

Marcelo Arroyave is a sociologist and urban anthropologist who has conducted quantitative and qualitative research in Colombia and the US. Since moving to NYC in 2014, he has worked in various urban settings as an after-school teacher, consecutive translator, marketing researcher, and community outreach specialist. Marcelo is also a creator, editor, and producer of fanzines and magazines. He was the founder and publisher of the MusaEnferma fanzine in Cali, Colombia (five editions). He also created Sursystem Magazine, which has eight editions so far. He published the magazine in Cali (3 editions), Bogotá (2 editions), Barcelona (2 editions in Catalan and Spanish), and NYC (1 edition in English and Spanish). The latest edition is The Sound Map of Salsa Music in NYC. Marcelo enjoys dancing to Salsa music and giving lectures whenever possible.

Check out all of this semester's UOA programs here.

*In cases of rain, classes will be either moved to the Prospect Park Boathouse or canceled. Registered patrons will be notified by email on the morning of each course day and are also encouraged to check the UOA webpage for updates.

University Open Air is generously supported by The Morris & Alma Schapiro Fund.

marcelo diminished
Prospect Park Boathouse
101 East Drive
Brooklyn, NY 11225

Add to My Calendar 10/04/2025 01:00 pm 10/04/2025 02:30 pm America/New_York University Open Air: From Fields to Cities: The Journey of Sayings <p>This lecture explores the fascinating evolution of popular sayings, tracing their roots in rural communities and examining how they’ve been reshaped in urban environments. We’ll look at how these expressions reflect cultural and social changes as they move from agrarian life into city living.</p><p>We’ll begin by discussing the role of oral tradition in preserving cultural wisdom, and how sayings have served as tools for teaching values, caution, and humor. Then, we’ll explore the historical shift during industrialization, when rural populations migrated to cities, bringing their figurative language with them. We’ll see how these sayings adapted to new urban realities and how they continue to bridge generational and cultural divides.</p><p>At the end of the lecture, participants will be invited to share rural sayings that are still used today, as well as sayings from their own backgrounds that have had impact on their lives in New York City.</p><p>***Marcelo Arroyave will remain at the Park to collect sayings from the public from 2:30 - 3:30.</p> Prospect Park Boathouse 101 East Drive Brooklyn, NY 11225 MM/DD/YYYY 60
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