Escape! Imaginary Lands and Magical Reality

The tedium of daily work and the obstacles that block our aspirations have always led people into the fantasy worlds of literature, theater, film, and imaginary journeys, but the confinement and isolation during the COVID pandemic have deepened this long-existing desire for escapism. Fantasies about alternative worlds or magical powers become all the more attractive when travel becomes impossible and even the local theater has to close its doors. This seminar will explore our fascination with imaginary places and with characters who use magic to change their own lives and the world that surrounds them. Join us for a conversation with experts on the fiction, film, and magical stories that human beings have created to escape the boundaries of their own lives and the limits of the human condition.

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS & SPEAKERS

Thursday, February 11 at 5:00 pm

The Magic Behind Escape: Immersion in Narrative Worlds
Brian Sturm, Associate Dean and Professor of Information and Library Science

Thursday, February 11 at 6:45 pm

Charting the Inland Sea: Ursula K. Le Guin and the Ethics of Imagining Worlds
Eliza Rose, Assistant Professor of Central European Studies

Friday, February 12 at 5:00 pm

Dramatic Distractions: How We Use Fantasy Films to Escape Reality
Rachel Schaevitz, Film Scholar and Former CPH Colleague

Friday, February 12 at 6:30 pm

How Do Magic and Escapism Free Us from Our Everyday Lives?
A panel discussion with our speakers

TUITION

This webinar is a virtual event. Tuition is $50, which includes “admission” to the webinar in real time (with live Q&A) as well as access to the recorded talks to watch at your leisure for up to 2 weeks after posting. Registrants will receive instructions for accessing the event online the morning of February 11.

**Save money by purchasing a season pass to all 5 spring webinars for only $175 ($150 for GAA members).**

Register here or call us at 919.962.1544.

Online registration closes at midnight the night before the event. For same-day registration, please call our office at 919.962.1544.

Co-Sponsored by the General Alumni Association.

For information about GAA discounts and other scholarships available to Humanities Program participants, click here.

Tuition is complimentary for any currently teaching, full time K-12 teachers. If you are eligible, click here to register. Complimentary teacher registration closes one hour before the start of the event.