The First Annual Mary Louise White Symposium sponsored by the English Department will attempt to focus on not only English, but instead bring together people from many different disciplines to create a better understanding about what it really means to be human across many different contexts. The symposium titled, “Being Human: Taking the Humanities Beyond the Classroom,” will feature three keynote speakers, two roundtable discussions with community members and three panel discussions. The complete schedule of events which will take place March 16-17, is listed on the symposium website.
“We’ve worked very hard to make this symposium an interdisciplinary event,” said Dr. Natalie Gerber (English). “We’ve brought together scholars, faculty, staff, and students as well as valued members of the community who engage in the humanities in their everyday efforts to foster a link between these populations, in order to create a more comprehensive understanding of what it means to be human.”
Keynote speakers include Lauren Silberman, professor of English (Baruch College), Marian Bleeke, assistant professor of visual arts and new media, (SUNY Fredonia) and Julie Ellison, professor of American culture, (University of Michigan). Silberman is a renaissance scholar of literature and will be discussing updating and adapting classic texts in order to see ourselves reflected in these works, that many believe are not as important anymore. Bleeke, a medieval art historian will be focusing on the feminist perspective of medieval art and how we should appreciate the differences in humans back then and today by looking at past art work. Ellison a professor of American culture, art and design, will be talking about the institution, Imagining America, which fosters partnerships between academic groups and civic groups. She will focus on community based poets who use their poetry to encourage people of a community to embrace the human resources, strengths and richness their community provides.
The symposium was named after Mary Louise White who is an alumna and a benefactress that has generously endowed the English Department to offer enrichment opportunities to its students and faculty. The symposium received support from the Mary Louise White Fund and is co-sponsored by the College of Education. Also the Fredonia College Foundation’s Carnahan-Jackson Humanities Fund provided additional financial support.
See the Symposium website:
