Series kicks off Oct. 12
KINGSTON, R.I.—September 30, 2009—The University of Rhode Island’s Center for Humanities invites the public to its free fall series of lectures, which includes presentations on technology and surveillance, intellectual and cultural relativism, and the philosophical understanding of evil.
The theme for the series, Responsibilities in Public, reflects the current research of recent faculty winners of humanities grants and fellowships and addresses urgent and pressing questions of public ethics.
This fall, the series will host visiting scholar Barbara Hernstein Smith, Braxton Craven Professor of Comparative Literature and English, Duke University, and Distinguished Professor of English at Brown University for 2009-2010. Speakers are also drawn from URI faculty participating in humanities research groups such as the Continental Philosophy Research Group.
Those who attend can expect to hear lively presentations on topical subjects in the contemporary humanities and have the opportunity to ask follow-up questions. The receptions that follow the talks provide another opportunity to interact with the speakers.
URI’s Center for the Humanities is designed to foster intellectual exchange and independent inquiry, analysis, and interpretation of the humanities in research, teaching, and learning. Its activities include a speaker series, research grants, and fellowships for faculty and graduate students.
The schedule follows. For questions, up-to-date information, and directions go to www.uri.edu/artsci/cfh/.
Monday, Oct. 12, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Prof. Hasan Elahi, San Jose State University
Lippitt Hall Auditorium, Room 402
5 Lippitt Road, Kingston, R.I.
“Transient Borders: Indian Art Today”
Co-Sponsored with URI’s Honors Colloquium, Department of Art & Art History
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 4 to 6 p.m.
URI English Prof. Mary Cappello
Swan Hall Auditorium, 60 Upper College Road, Kingston, R.I.
Called Back: My Reply to Cancer, My Return to Life (Alyson Books, 2009)
Reading, with a talk by the author, Q&A, and book signing
Co-Sponsored with URI College of Arts and Sciences, URI Departments of English, Psychology, and Women’s Studies, The Dana Shugar Lecture Series, URI READ/WRITE, URI Bookstore
Thursday, Oct. 29, 4 to 6 p.m.
Prof. Barbara Hernstein Smith, Brown and Duke Universities,
English, Comparative Literature
University Club, 95 Upper College Road, Kingston, R.I.
“Angles on Relativism: Historical, Anthropological, Political, and Philosophical”
Co-Sponsored with URI’s College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English
Special Event: Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Book signing with talks by the authors: Italy’s Eighteenth Century: Gender and Culture in the Age of the Grand Tour (Stanford, 2009). Prof. Catherine Sama, URI, Italian and Film Media, and Prof. Wendy Roworth, URI, Art History
University Club, 95 Upper College Road, Kingston, R.I.
Thursday Dec. 3, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Roundtable on Alain Badiou, Ethics: An Essay on the Understanding of Evil. URI Continental Philosophy Research Group: Profs. Stephen Barber (English), Alain-Philippe Durand (French), Galen Johnson (Philosophy), Naomi Mandel (English), Ric McIntyre (Economics), and Ryan Trimm (English)
University Club, 95 Upper College Road, Kingston, R.I.
Photo courtesy of Professor Barbara Hernstein Smith