January 2019
Cities of European Art: Florence and Paris
In collaboration with the Center for European Studies Creative artwork emerges in every human culture and historical era, but certain places have become especially influential centers of artistic work. This Dialogues seminar will focus on the influential development of new artwork and artistic institutions in two of the most important centers of European art: Florence and Paris. Two art historians will analyze the distinctive artistic creativity in these cities and note how the early modern cultural context influenced the lives…
Find out more »February 2019
Four Great Controversies in Early Christianity
A Distinguished Scholar Seminar Featuring Bart D. Ehrman The growth of the Christian church from being a tiny sect of Jesus’ close followers to becoming a major world religion was not smooth and seamless. Christians faced controversy on every front—externally with both pagans and Jews and internally with various Christian groups holding diverse theological views struggling for dominance. This seminar will consider four major controversies in the early history of Christianity and examine how each controversy helped to shape the…
Find out more »How Long Can a Truth Be Denied? The Life, Ideas, and Memory of Galileo
In collaboration with PlayMakers Repertory Company The Italian scientist Galileo Galilei was condemned by the Roman Catholic Church in the 17th century when he asserted that the earth was not the center of the universe. The German playwright Bertolt Brecht, who saw Galileo’s story as part of an enduring struggle between dogmatic faith and scientific reason, transformed this cultural clash into Life of Galileo (1938)—which PlayMakers Repertory Theater will present as a musical drama in March 2019. This seminar will…
Find out more »Art Beyond Hostilities: Music and Film in Israel/Palestine
In collaboration with the Center for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations Often described as the “world’s most intractable conflict,” the crisis embroiling Israel and Palestine has been making headlines for more than 70 years. But behind the violence and deep political and religious divisions lie human stories, told through artistic interventions into the conflict that reflect the possibilities for, and limitations of, Israeli- Palestinian collaboration.This Dialogues seminar will focus on cinema and music as examples of…
Find out more »March 2019
Re-Reading The Catcher in the Rye: A Mental Health Perspective
J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye (1951) introduced America to Holden Caulfield, the cynical teen, a character type common in literature and film ever since. Half lecture, half book discussion, this seminar will examine the American literary classic with the insights of professionals in the fields of psychology and psychiatry. Drawing on recent research in psychology, neuroscience, and adolescent mental health, the discussion will focus on issues such as self-perception, the desire for popularity, and Salinger’s own mental…
Find out more »Anxious Eras: Conflicts and Creativity in Uncertain Times
Feeling uneasy lately? It may comfort you to know that people in the past have also suffered through periods of deep personal and collective anxiety—and managed to survive them. In fact, they often responded creatively to challenging circumstances, developing new ideas to under- stand and confront the problems of their time.This seminar begins with a review of Classical Greek playwrights and their depictions of a society under stress, noting how social tensions worked as a dramatic device. We’ll then turn…
Find out more »April 2019
The Versailles Treaty and Its Legacies
The enormous human and financial costs of the First World War created the emotionally charged context for the 1919 Versailles peace conference. The victorious Allies wanted to hold their enemies responsible for the conflict, but they also sought to create a “world safe for democracy.” These divergent aims led to recriminations, unfulfilled promises, and anger. Recognizing the complex legacy of the Versailles Treaty on its 100th anniversary, this seminar will explore how the peace treaty reshaped national politics in postwar…
Find out more »Cities of Cinema: Hollywood and Bollywood
Located on opposite sides of the globe, the cities of Los Angeles and Mumbai are homes to thriving international film industries known as Hollywood and Bollywood. This Dialogues seminar will compare and contrast these two industries and the cinematic traditions that have grown out of each. What has been the economic and cultural impact of these industries on their home countries, and how have their exported films influenced cultures all around the world? We’ll explore the types of films produced…
Find out more »May 2019
The Battle of Normandy and the End of World War II: Reflections on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day
A Distinguished Scholar Seminar featuring Gerhard Weinberg The D-Day landings on the Normandy Beaches on June 6, 1944, marked a turning point in World War II, yet the meaning of this event was shaped by other strategic actions before and after the D-Day assault.This seminar, which comes on the eve of the D-Day anniversary of the Normandy campaign, offers the unique perspectives of UNC-Chapel Hill’s distinguished emeritus historian Gerhard Weinberg. Professor Weinberg will use this 75th anniversary of D-Day to…
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