The California Interdisciplinary Consortium of Italian Studies was established in 2002 to bring together faculty, students, and independent scholars to foster interdisciplinary and transnational research related to Italian studies in California. Its 15th annual conference explores the many ways in which Italy has been made or imagined to be borderless, challenging what was or might be meant by ‘Italy’ or ‘Italians’. Among the speakers is writer Amara Lakhous. Born in Algeris, he lives in Rome and is the author of Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio (E/O, 2011) Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio winner of Italy’s prestigious Flaiano prize.www.frit.ucsb.edu