Humanities Lecture

The Sarah Larson Lecture Series will host its final event of the spring 2017 term on Thursday, March 30, at the Dunwoody campus. “Notes from DragonCon: Fandom as Religious Experience” will be held in the C Auditorium (NC 1100) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Georgia State University instructor, Lauren Cooper, will discuss how sci-fi and fantasy fandom fulfill important roles related to defining personal identity and values. By comparing how fandom and religion are similar in this aspect, Cooper will explore bigger questions about the concept of entertainment and the perception of reality.

Cooper is a visiting instructor at Georgia State University. She received B.A.s in English, and Religious Studies, as well as an M.A. in Religious Studies from GSU. Her areas of research include religion and popular culture, religion and literature, and new religious movements.

Professors are welcome to bring their classes. Space is limited and seats fill quickly so arriving early is advised. Sign-In sheets will be passed around during the event to collect attendance data that is helpful in obtaining grant funding for the lectureship – copies of these attendance logs may be requested by faculty for course participation verification.

The lecture series is free and open to the public. Parking is available. For more information about this event or to request sign-in sheet PDF following the event, please contact series co-chair, Megan Levacy, at mlevacy@gsu.edu or call 770-274-5583.

A PDF of the flyer pictured below may be downloaded here —> EVENT FLYER

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The Sarah Larson Lecture Series on the Dunwoody campus would like to announce its fall event, Inventing Thanksgiving: Pilgrims, America, and Immigration. The lecture will be given by Kari Miller, Associate Professor of English at Georgia State University, Perimeter College, on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, from 1 – 2:15 p.m. in the C Auditorium (NC 1100) at Dunwoody. This event is free and open to the public. Professors are welcome to bring their class, however early arrival is advised as seats fill quickly.

Every November, Americans around the world gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving, a tradition many believe to be unbroken since the Pilgrim’s first celebration in 1621. But the actual history of the holiday tells a very different story, one that sheds new light on the way that national identity has developed over time. Aspects of American identity and history inform our modern debates about immigration and patriotism, which are growing increasingly polarized. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving again this fall, reflecting on its history helps us to add new meaning to the holiday.

Although a native Floridian, Miller has been obsessed with the New England Pilgrims since she was a little girl. Her dissertation, which she is revising into a book, explores the way that American fiction writers crafted the Pilgrim story. She currently teaches American literature and composition online and tries not to overwhelm her students with talks about Puritanism.

Additional event information, flyers, and event sign-in sheets may be requested by emailing Megan Levacy at mlevacy@gsu.edu or calling 770-274-5583. A digital flyer for the event will be shared online soon.

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Humanities Events

Georgia State University, Perimeter College

Lecture will explore “fandom as religious experience” at Dunwoody on March 30.

Sarah Larson Lecture Series: Inventing Thanksgiving

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