WVU explores new trends in theater and film

Morgantown, W.Va., September 27, 2007:  The Department of Foreign Languages and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences presents the 31st Annual Colloquium on Literature and Film titled “Stage and Screen Today” held Oct. 4-6 in the Mountainlair at West Virginia University.

Scholars from around the country will join with faculty, students and community members to discuss artistic and technical developments in theater and film.  More than 15 discussion panels will be on hand to talk about the contributions of playwrights and directors from all over the nation and screen adaptations of familiar literature such as Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Jane Austen’s romances, Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code and Che Guevera’s diaries.

“The colloquium is an opportunity for the University to focus on the humanities and stimulate a thoughtful exchange of ideas among participants about the dramatic arts,” said Janice Spleth, Colloquium Director and Armand E. and Mary W. Singer Professor of Humanities.

Well-known cultural historian and social critic Morris Berman will serve as keynote speaker and present “Filters and Breaches: On Cultural Norms and Their Violations” on Friday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Gold Ballroom.  

Berman is author of numerous award-winning publications, including The Twilight of American Culture (2000), named a “Notable Book” by the New York Times Book Review, and a trilogy on the evolution of human consciousness: The Reenchantment of the World (1981), Coming to Our Senses (1989) and Wandering God: A Study in Nomadic Spirituality (2000).  Additionally, his Dark Ages America: The Final Phase of Empire (2000), has been called a seminal work of cultural criticism.

Two foreign language films with English subtitles will be shown in the Rhododendron Room on Thursday and Friday at 9 p.m.  The Lives of Others will be presented in German on Oct. 4 and Days of Glory will be screened in French and Arabic on Oct. 5.
  
A memorial service for Dr. Armand E. Singer, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Foreign Languages and editor of the West Virginia University Philological Papers, will take place Saturday, Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. in Brooks Hall Room 202.  

Original founder of the colloquium series, Dr. Singer passed away this summer at the age 93 after planning much of the program for this event.  Family, friends, colleagues and interested members of the community are invited to attend a celebration of his life.

This free event is open to the public and co-sponsored by the College of Creative Arts, the English Department and the Center for Women’s Studies.

For a complete schedule of events or more information about the program, go to http://www.as.wvu.edu/forlang/ or contact Janice Spleth at (304) 293-5121 or wvucoll@mail.wvu.edu.

W-V-U