Lecture exploring fandom as religious experience this week!

This Thursday, March 30, the Sarah Larson Lecture Series will host “Notes from DragonCon: Fandom as Religious Experience” at the Dunwoody campus 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.

Professors are welcome to bring their classes. Space is limited and seats fill quickly so arriving early is advised. 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

Save

Save

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

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.

Guest Speaker: Lauren Cooper

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

 

 

 

Save

Save

Lecture explores “Life After Prison” Feb. 23 @ Dunwoody

American prisoners and the challenges faced once they’re released will be the focus of an upcoming symposium at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College in Dunwoody.

Dr. Peter Lindsay, Georgia State associate professor, and Dr. Danielle Sweat Whylly, United States Attorney’s Office, will lead the lecture “Life After Prison: The Real Truth About Reentry” on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 1-2:15 p.m. on the Dunwoody campus, NC1100.

Despite having 4% of the world’s population, the United States holds 24% of the world’s incarcerated population. Why does the U.S. imprison more of its population than any other nation, and what can be done to help formerly incarcerated people reenter society successfully?

Dr. Danielle Sweat Whylly from the United States Justice Department will discuss how the Justice Department is engaging in successful reentry programs, and Dr. Peter Lindsay from Georgia State University will discuss why humane treatment of the incarcerated makes for a stronger society and how Georgia State is engaging in practices to facilitate successful reentry.

According to Lindsay, one of the most critical issues for inmates and ex-convicts centers on education. “It may be that they go in as criminals, but we need to ensure that while they go in as criminals, they don’t come out that way,” Lindsay said.

He stresses the importance of giving inmates and those formerly incarcerated opportunities to earn college degrees, noting that he and a few other colleagues are in the early stages of initiatives aimed at doing this. “There are concerns, and understandable concerns, so we have to move forward considering many facets,” said Lindsay, who recently taught philosophy for inmates at Georgia’s Phillips State Prison.

“Life After Prison: The Real Truth About Reentry” is part of Georgia State’s Sarah Larson Lecture Series in the Humanities program. The committee welcomes students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of the community to join in the discussion of why we must move past being the world’s leading incarceration nation. A Q&A will follow the presentations.

Faculty are welcome to bring their classes, however, students are encouraged to sign in at the event in addition to any documentation required by their instructors. This will ensure more accurate documentation of event attendance and assist the committee in obtaining grants to fund future events.

The lecture is free and open to the public at the Perimeter College-Dunwoody Campus auditorium, 2101 Womack Road, NC Building, room 1100. Contact Megan Levacy for more information: mlevacy@gsu.edu or 770-274-5583.

Please click here for a good quality PDF of the event flyer.

Save

Save

Save

Inventing Thanksgiving lecture, Nov 2, at Dunwoody

The Sarah Larson Lecture Series fall lecture, Inventing Thanksgiving: Pilgrims, America, and Immigration, with Dr. Kari Miller, will be held this week on Wednesday, November 2nd on the Dunwoody Campus from 1 – 2:15 p.m. in the C auditorium (NC 1100). The lecture will explore the historical development of the story of Thanksgiving and how it informs our views on national identity and immigration.

A printable flyer is available! Click HERE!

Faculty are welcome to bring classes, however, the auditorium fills quickly for these events so early arrival is advised. Please have students sign-in on event attendance sheets (passed around at beginning of the lecture) to ensure that we can continue to receive funding for programs such as this! Email Megan Levacy <mlevacy@gsu.edu> for a PDF copy of sign-in sheets for participation verification.

slls-nov2-email

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Sarah Larson Lecture Series: Inventing Thanksgiving

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.

karimillerAlthough 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.

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save