September 2018
Passing by Nella Larsen
featuring GerShun Avilez, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 25 "Written by one of the most acclaimed and influential writers of the Harlem Renaissance, Nella Larsen's Passing is a powerful, thrilling, and tragic tale about the fluidity of racial identity that continues to resonate today."—Penguin Random House "The genius of this book is that its protagonists, especially its Anna Karenina-like central figure, Irene Redfield, are complex and fully realized and individually responsible as well. Larsen's…
Find out more »Italian Language Lunch
featuring Amy Chambless, Teaching Associate Professor of Italian Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Foreign Language Lunches take place from 12:00–1:30 pm. Space…
Find out more »The Appeal of Living in a Black Community: From Durham to the Caribbean
featuring Karla Slocum, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director, Institute of African American Research Why does college cost so much? What happens when one’s religion isn’t recognized by the government? Why are college sports often engines for controversy? These are just a few of the thorny questions we will tackle at our Humanities in Actions series this fall. Join us for nine lectures on current issues that call for ongoing dialogues and humanistic perspectives. All programs are held from 4:30 to…
Find out more »North Carolina in Transition
In collaboration with Sampson Community College, Clinton Featuring Jessica Stanford, Demographic Analyst, Carolina Demography, Carolina Population Center and Rachel F. Seidman, Director, Southern Oral History Program This seminar will feature two scholars examining our great state, with a look to the past and the future. Professor Stanford’s lecture explores how North Carolina’s population has changed since 1990 and how it might change in the next 20 years. She’ll compare these results with national trends and provide an overview of how our state…
Find out more »The World of Tomorrow: Benefits, Risks, and Challenges
Our society is experiencing fundamental transformations that affect nearly every aspect of our lives. New technologies and methods in communications, medicine, environmental engineering, robotics, and other spheres of innovation promise great benefits but also pose challenges to traditional ideas about our health, privacy, work, and daily life. This seminar will explore advances in genetics, robotics, and city planning to paint a picture of the future–with all of its promise and potential challenges. TOPICS & SPEAKERS The Wild West of Genetic…
Find out more »October 2018
French Language Lunch
featuring Jessica Tanner, Assistant Professor of French Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Foreign Language Lunches take place from 12:00–1:30 pm. Space is…
Find out more »The Essays: A Selection by Michel de Montaigne (Encore)
featuring Lloyd Kramer, Director, Carolina Public Humanities and Professor of History Meeting Dates: Tuesdays, October 2 & 9 "Michel de Montaigne was one of the most influential figures of the Renaissance, singlehandedly responsible for popularizing the essay as a literary form. The Essays are among the most idiosyncratic and personal works in all literature and provide an engaging insight into a wise Renaissance mind, continuing to give pleasure and enlightenment to modern readers."—Amazon Books "Within a decade of his death,…
Find out more »Are Black Immigrants a Model Minority?
featuring Most Ifatunji, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Faculty Fellow, Carolina Population Center Why does college cost so much? What happens when one’s religion isn’t recognized by the government? Why are college sports often engines for controversy? These are just a few of the thorny questions we will tackle at our Humanities in Actions series this fall. Join us for nine lectures on current issues that call for ongoing dialogues and humanistic perspectives. All programs are held from 4:30 to 6:00 pm…
Find out more »1968: A Global Revolution That Changed the World
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of 1968, a year of turmoil, violence, and social change whose legacies still inform our contemporary cultures and lives. What happened in 1968? Why was it a global phenomenon? How are the events of that pivotal year remembered, and what do they mean? This seminar will look broadly at 1968, revealing shared themes that shaped the famous protests of that year and crossed national boundaries, giving voice to women, inspiring musicians and composers to…
Find out more »The Essays: A Selection by Michel de Montaigne (Encore)
featuring Lloyd Kramer, Director, Carolina Public Humanities and Professor of History Meeting Dates: Tuesdays, October 2 & 9 "Michel de Montaigne was one of the most influential figures of the Renaissance, singlehandedly responsible for popularizing the essay as a literary form. The Essays are among the most idiosyncratic and personal works in all literature and provide an engaging insight into a wise Renaissance mind, continuing to give pleasure and enlightenment to modern readers."—Amazon Books "Within a decade of his death,…
Find out more »Big Money College Sports: University Responses and Faculty Roles & Rights
featuring Jay Smith, Professor of History Why does college cost so much? What happens when one’s religion isn’t recognized by the government? Why are college sports often engines for controversy? These are just a few of the thorny questions we will tackle at our Humanities in Actions series this fall. Join us for nine lectures on current issues that call for ongoing dialogues and humanistic perspectives. All programs are held from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill. Advance…
Find out more »Mornings at the Movies – The Grand Illusion
Cinema School's "Morning at the Movies" is in session! Join our guest speaker at the beloved Chelsea Theater in Chapel Hill for a screening and discussion of the classic film, The Grand Illusion. "Two French soldiers work together to escape from a World War I prison camp In Jean Renoir's anti-war masterpiece 'La Grande Illusion' (1937). They said there was no escape, but two soldiers, one from the aristocracy and one from the working class, join forces to prove them wrong.…
Find out more »Changes and Continuities in Modern Russian Culture
Modern Russian culture has both fascinated and baffled Americans who want to understand the complex history of this vast, constantly evolving nation.This seminar will explore the cultural and social dimensions of modern Russia, with particular attention to its creative films and literary legacy and the social experiences of its most recent generations.What makes Russian culture and society both distinctive and representative of the wider currents of modernity? We’ll look for answers to this question with the insights of four outstanding…
Find out more »Spanish Language Lunch
Featuring Cristina Carrasco, Teaching Associate Professor of Spanish Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Language Lunches take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Seats are limited,…
Find out more »Hip Hop and Diplomacy: An Unlikely Partnership
In collaboration with Wayne Community College, Goldsboro Featuring Mark Katz, Ruel W. Tyson, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Humanities and Director, Institute for the Arts and Humanities Professor Katz will speak about the State Department-funded program he directs that sends hip hop artists abroad to foster cultural exchange in underserved communities.This unlikely partnership of music and diplomacy makes a fascinating story. This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’Connor
featuring Patrick Horn, Adjunct Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature and Associate Director, Center for the Study of the American South Meeting Dates: Tuesdays, October 16 & 23 "Tempering satire with compassion, underscoring pathos with humor, O'Connor lays bare the lives of a Southern family―three generations of men obsessed by guilt and driven to violence."—The New American Library "This novel--an exercise in the macabre--can be read as an allegory: a struggle for a soul, a conflict between evils."—Kirkus Review…
Find out more »Tuesday French Language Lunch
featuring Emma Monroy, PhD Student in French Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Foreign Language Lunches take place from 12:00–1:30 pm. Space is…
Find out more »The Curious Costs of College: Cost Drivers and Lessons
featuring Steven W. Hemelt, Assistant Professor of Public Policy Why does college cost so much? What happens when one’s religion isn’t recognized by the government? Why are college sports often engines for controversy? These are just a few of the thorny questions we will tackle at our Humanities in Actions series this fall. Join us for nine lectures on current issues that call for ongoing dialogues and humanistic perspectives. All programs are held from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Flyleaf Books…
Find out more »Humanities Happy Hour: 2018 Midterm Election Preview
Still undecided for the 2018 midterms? Come to Top of the Hill's BackBar for our Humanities Happy Hour: 2018 Election Preview with UNC Political Science Professors Sarah Treul Roberts and Jason Roberts. Complimentary snacks will be provided by the UNC Institute for Arts & Humanities. Share with your friends and RSVP via Facebook.
Find out more »Syria in Transition
The Civil War in Syria is one of the most complex conflicts in the Middle East, and few outsiders understand its origins or its wide-ranging effects on the people who live there. This special Dialogues seminar will examine the historical causes of the devastating Syrian violence and give particular attention to the plight of refugees who have fled the country or struggled with the massive internal displacements that have shattered Syrian communities and families. A distinguished historian of the Middle…
Find out more »The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’Connor
featuring Patrick Horn, Adjunct Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature and Associate Director, Center for the Study of the American South Meeting Dates: Tuesdays, October 16 & 23 "Tempering satire with compassion, underscoring pathos with humor, O'Connor lays bare the lives of a Southern family―three generations of men obsessed by guilt and driven to violence."—The New American Library "This novel--an exercise in the macabre--can be read as an allegory: a struggle for a soul, a conflict between evils."—Kirkus Review…
Find out more »The Cultural Politics of Protest During the Trump Presidency
featuring Kenneth (Andy) Andrews, Professor and Chair of Sociology Why does college cost so much? What happens when one’s religion isn’t recognized by the government? Why are college sports often engines for controversy? These are just a few of the thorny questions we will tackle at our Humanities in Actions series this fall. Join us for nine lectures on current issues that call for ongoing dialogues and humanistic perspectives. All programs are held from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Flyleaf Books…
Find out more »Morning at the Movies – A Philadelphia Story
Cinema School is in session! Join Dr. Rachel Schaevitz at the beloved Chelsea Theater in Chapel Hill for a screening and discussion of the classic film, Philadelphia Story. "This classic romantic comedy focuses on Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a Philadelphia socialite who has split from her husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), due both to his drinking and to her overly demanding nature. As Tracy prepares to wed the wealthy George Kittredge (John Howard), she crosses paths with both Dexter and…
Find out more »The French Revolution: Politics, Violence, and Polarization
In collaboration with Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst Featuring Lloyd Kramer, Professor of History and Director, Carolina Public Humanities; Maximilian Owre, Teaching Assistant Professor of History and Executive Director, Carolina Public Humanities; and Rachel Schaevitz, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Public Humanities, Carolina Public Humanities Political polarizations divide Left- and Right-wing groups in all modern democratic societies, but similar emotion-charged political conflicts were already present during and after France’s great Revolution of 1789. Join us to explore how modern political polarization emerged in Revolutionary…
Find out more »Beyond Gatsby and Bathtub Gin: Rethinking the “Roaring ‘20s”
The 1920s are known as the age of flappers, speakeasys, and the new carefree lifestyles of America’s upper classes, but other cultural changes, especially the creative contributions of African-Americans, are often overshadowed. This seminar offers a more nuanced and complicated picture of the era by examining the harsh economic conditions beneath the veneer of prosperity and exploring how African-Americans helped usher in wider American art forms while also developing an empowering aesthetic of their own. TOPICS & SPEAKERS The Not-So-Roaring…
Find out more »Italian Language Lunch
featuring Amy Chambless, Teaching Associate Professor of Italian Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Foreign Language Lunches take place from 12:00–1:30 pm. Space…
Find out more »Arrested Development: How the Criminalization of Schools Hurts Us All
featuring Barbara Fedders, Assistant Professor of Law Why does college cost so much? What happens when one’s religion isn’t recognized by the government? Why are college sports often engines for controversy? These are just a few of the thorny questions we will tackle at our Humanities in Actions series this fall. Join us for nine lectures on current issues that call for ongoing dialogues and humanistic perspectives. All programs are held from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Flyleaf Books in Chapel…
Find out more »The Aeneid by Virgil
featuring James J. O’Hara, George L. Paddison Professor of Latin Meeting Dates: Wednesdays, October 31, November 7, & November 14 "The greatest of Western epic poems...Virgil’s story of the journey of Aeneas has been a part of our cultural heritage for so many centuries that it’s all too easy to lose sight of the poem itself—of its brilliantly cinematic depiction of the sack of Troy; the monstrous hunger of the harpies; the intensity of Dido’s love for the hero, and…
Find out more »November 2018
Movie Night – How Blockbusters Changed Hollywood
In 1975, a relatively unknown filmmaker, Steven Spielberg, shifted the film industry with a sleeper hit about a quiet summer vacation town and a deadly great white shark. With the financial success of Jaws, and Star Wars just two years later, Hollywood began to focus on intentionally producing big budget “event” movies in the hopes of creating even larger box office profits. In collaboration with the UNC General Alumni Association and the Chelsea Theatre, join Dr. Rachel Schaevitz, associate director for state outreach and strategic partnerships, as she discusses…
Find out more »Bodies in Motion: Learning and Growing Through Human Movement
This Dialogues seminar looks at physical movement as a mode of artistic expression, learning, and self-improvement. From dance to informal “parkour,” or the art of moving through our environment, the human body is capable of extraordinary feats of dexterity and strength and demonstrations of beauty. Participants will be introduced to interdisciplinary dance to see how visual and physical learning can be applied to many problems.We will then discuss the history of parkour and its origins in health-conscious movements of the…
Find out more »French Language Lunch
featuring Jessica Tanner, Assistant Professor of French Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Foreign Language Lunches take place from 12:00–1:30 pm. Space is…
Find out more »The 2018 William S. Brettmann Lecture: Is this China’s Century? Reflections on Grand Strategy and Domestic Challenges in the People’s Republic
In collaboration with Wayne Community College, Goldsboro Featuring Sara Castro, Teaching Assistant Professor in the Curriculum on Peace, War, and Defense Leaders in Beijing are steering the implementation of long- term strategic plans that date back decades. As some of these plans come to fruition, it is worth asking what the Chinese Grand Strategy means for Asia, the United States, and the rest of the world.This presentation will examine Chinese strategic decision making from the Chinese perspective and explore its…
Find out more »Election Day: No Humanities in Action So Everyone Can Vote!
We're skipping Humanities In Action this week so you can go out and vote! Check your registration and find your polling place here: https://www.ncsbe.gov/index.html
Find out more »The Aeneid by Virgil
featuring James J. O’Hara, George L. Paddison Professor of Latin Meeting Dates: Wednesdays, October 31, November 7, & November 14 "The greatest of Western epic poems...Virgil’s story of the journey of Aeneas has been a part of our cultural heritage for so many centuries that it’s all too easy to lose sight of the poem itself—of its brilliantly cinematic depiction of the sack of Troy; the monstrous hunger of the harpies; the intensity of Dido’s love for the hero, and…
Find out more »The Children of Harvey Milk
In collaboration with Flyleaf Books Forty years ago, on November 27, 1978, Harvey Milk’s iconic journey was ended by an assassin’s bullet. The generation of out LGBTQ leaders he inspired went on to transform the world we live in. UNC-Chapel Hill Professor of Political Science Andrew Reynolds has documented this history through the epic stories of courageous men and women around the world who came forward to make their voices heard during the struggle for equal rights. Please join us…
Find out more »The Great American Read: Villains & Monsters
This summer and fall, Carolina Public Humanities will team up with the Chapel Hill Public Library, UNC-TV, and Flyleaf Books to present free public forums on the power of reading. Based on the PBS documentary series,The Great American Read explores and celebrates the power of reading. In free public forums at the library, local and national authors, community members, and UNC-Chapel Hill faculty will lead community conversations on how and why writers create their worlds, how readers are affected by…
Find out more »Korean War Legacies in the US & Asia
The Korean War is sometimes called the Forgotten War, but its legacy continues down to the present, influencing current events and political memories in both Asia and America. How do contemporary perceptions of recent conflicts in Korea reflect the contrasting ways in which the Chinese, Koreans, and Americans remember the Korean War? This seminar will focus on the Korean War’s enduring influence in China and Korea, as well as its effects on American war veterans. TOPICS & SPEAKERS The Memory of…
Find out more »Spanish Language Lunch
Featuring Cristina Carrasco, Teaching Associate Professor of Spanish Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Language Lunches take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Seats are limited,…
Find out more »Tuesday French Language Lunch
featuring Emma Monroy, PhD Student in French Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Foreign Language Lunches take place from 12:00–1:30 pm. Space is…
Find out more »The 2018 Elections: What Do They Mean?
featuring William Leuchtenburg, William Rand Kenan, Jr. Professor of Emeritus of History Why does college cost so much? What happens when one’s religion isn’t recognized by the government? Why are college sports often engines for controversy? These are just a few of the thorny questions we will tackle at our Humanities in Actions series this fall. Join us for nine lectures on current issues that call for ongoing dialogues and humanistic perspectives. All programs are held from 4:30 to 6:00 pm…
Find out more »The Aeneid by Virgil
featuring James J. O’Hara, George L. Paddison Professor of Latin Meeting Dates: Wednesdays, October 31, November 7, & November 14 "The greatest of Western epic poems...Virgil’s story of the journey of Aeneas has been a part of our cultural heritage for so many centuries that it’s all too easy to lose sight of the poem itself—of its brilliantly cinematic depiction of the sack of Troy; the monstrous hunger of the harpies; the intensity of Dido’s love for the hero, and…
Find out more »German Language Lunch
Featuring Gabriel Trop, Associate Professor of German Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Language Lunches take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Seats are limited,…
Find out more »Humanities Happy Hour: Reputation Matters in International Politics
Featuring Mark J. C. Crescenzi, Bowman and Gordon Gray Professor and Chair of Political Science Bring your friends, grab your favorite beverage, and join us for a fascinating discussion. Complimentary snacks will be provided by the UNC Institute for Arts & Humanities. Free & open to the public. All are welcome. Invite your friends & RSVP via Facebook.
Find out more »Italian Language Lunch
featuring Amy Chambless, Teaching Associate Professor of Italian Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Foreign Language Lunches take place from 12:00–1:30 pm. Space…
Find out more »Faust: A Tragedy by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
featuring Gabriel Trop, Associate Professor of German Meeting Dates: Wednesdays, November 28 & December 5 "One of the greatest dramatic and poetic masterpieces of European literature"—Oxford World Classics "Hailed as Germany's greatest contribution to world literature, Goethe's Faust drew upon a folktale and Marlowe's Dr. Faustus for inspiration. But in this epic version, Faust sells his soul not for magic powers but for a heightened sense of existence."—Dover Publications "Faust is an exploration of that restless intellectual and emotional urge…
Find out more »December 2018
The Global Crisis of Liberal Democracies
Democratic governments may now be facing more social unrest and populist opposition than at any time since World War II. Political elites are widely condemned as “out of touch” with the problems of ordinary people, unable to solve the economic challenges of globalization, and unresponsive to public concerns. Popular nationalist movements and new social media are disrupting the traditional processes of democratic institutions. Has liberal democracy fallen into a global crisis that resembles or differs from earlier eras of political…
Find out more »French Language Lunch
featuring Jessica Tanner, Assistant Professor of French Interested in polishing or refreshing your foreign language speaking skills in a warm and welcoming environment? Join UNC faculty discussion leaders at Weathervane restaurant in Chapel Hill for a lunch where participants are encouraged to speak only in a foreign language. All participants will receive a short foreign language article prior to the lunch that will serve as the foundation for our discussion. Foreign Language Lunches take place from 12:00–1:30 pm. Space is…
Find out more »Faust: A Tragedy by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
featuring Gabriel Trop, Associate Professor of German Meeting Dates: Wednesdays, November 28 & December 5 "One of the greatest dramatic and poetic masterpieces of European literature"—Oxford World Classics "Hailed as Germany's greatest contribution to world literature, Goethe's Faust drew upon a folktale and Marlowe's Dr. Faustus for inspiration. But in this epic version, Faust sells his soul not for magic powers but for a heightened sense of existence."—Dover Publications "Faust is an exploration of that restless intellectual and emotional urge…
Find out more »