Edward Watson, a principal in the Royal Ballet in London, will speak Feb. 16 at a DePaul University Humanities Center event. (Photo by Charlotte MacMillan)CHICAGO
— Events featuring space exploration,
improv comedy, Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson and the temptations of
Christ are slated for the DePaul University Humanities Center’s 2017 winter
season. Events are free and open to the public.
“We will welcome one of the greatest
dancers in the world, Edward Watson, to discuss how he artistically interprets
one of the most important literary works of the 20th century, Kafka’s
‘Metamorphosis,’” said H. Peter Steeves, center director and professor of
philosophy.
“Every event we are hosting this winter has a mixture of the arts
and the humanities, a mixture of performance and scholarship. Finding ways to
bring together such pursuits, and to delight as well as instruct, is part of
our mission,” added Steeves. Events include:
The
Biblical Humanities: The Temptations of Christ
Jan. 16, St. Vincent de Paul Parish,
1010 W Webster Ave.
Live musical performance and lecture 7-9 p.m. followed by a reception
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke recount the story of Jesus
being tempted by Satan in the desert. Resisting the temptations helped to put
Jesus on the path to becoming a teacher and liberator. This event will include a
live musical performance of Paul Stetsenko’s “Temptation of Christ” and Gustav Gunsenheimer’s
“Die Versuchung Jesu.” Panelists will investigate each of the three temptations
and analyze Dostoevsky’s conception of the critical role of doubt for faith in
the legend of the Grand Inquisitor. Guests include:
- Robert
Beatty, organist and director of music
at St. Vincent de Paul Parish.
- The
Saint Vincent de Paul Chamber Chorale.
- Gary
Saul Morson, professor of Slavic
languages and literatures, Northwestern University.
- Adam
Kotsko, professor of humanities,
Shimer College.
- Dwight
N. Hopkins, professor of theology,
University of Chicago's Divinity School.
The
Humanities in Spaaaace!: Orbits
Jan. 25, DePaul Student
Center, Room 120, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Film screening of “First Orbit” 5:15-7 p.m.
Performances and lectures 7-9 p.m.
The Humanities Center presents
a screening of the film “First Orbit,” which tells the story of Yuri Gagarin’s
flight. The event will also include the world premiere of two musical works inspired
by orbits by Chicago composers Mark Nowakowski and Kurt Westerburg. A
master orbiter will perform on a Cyr wheel. Lecturers will investigate the
future imagined by young Soviet girls who wrote letters to Tereshkova and
explore the importance of ancient Greek cosmological thinking. Guests include:
- The
Bach & Beethoven Ensemble: composers Kurt Westerburg and Mark Nowakowski;
Thomas Alaan as countertenor, Brandi
Berry on baroque violin and Anna
Steinhoff on viola da gamba.
- Roshanna
Sylvester, associate professor of history,
DePaul University.
- Courtney
Giannone, professional dancer,
choreographer, and world champion in competitive wheel gymnastics.
- Sean
Kirkland, associate professor
of philosophy, DePaul University.
“Metamorphosis”
ballet screening and discussion with Edward Watson
Feb. 16, DePaul
Student Center, Room 120, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Film screening and discussion 6:30-9 p.m.
When Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson dances the role of Gregor Samsa in
Arthur Pita’s adaptation of Franz Kafka’s novella, “Metamorphosis,” it is not only a man that transforms into an
insect on stage, but an audience that is transformed in the presence of a
master and a masterpiece. Interpreting choreography that ingeniously reveals
Samsa’s inner experience and intersubjective embodiment, Watson lets Kafka’s
story settle into his flesh in a virtuoso performance, proving why he is one of
the greatest dancers working today. After a screening of the film of the
ballet, Watson joins Steeves on stage for a conversation about the film.
The
Scholar’s Improv 2: Academic Boogaloo
Feb. 22, DePaul Student
Center, Room 120, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Performances and presentations 7-8:30 p.m.
DePaul faculty members and a troupe
of professional Chicago comedians perform improv as the scholars are challenged
to lecture extemporaneously on surprise topics. Led by improv comic Pete
Parsons, comedians Lisa Burton, Tim Dunn, and Alaina Hoffman will present six
improvised scenes, showcasing their talent, quick minds and artistry. These
moments will be interspersed with five mini-lectures by DePaul academics, each
accompanied by a PowerPoint slide presentation in their field but which they
has not seen before. DePaul faculty participating include:
- Anna
Souchuk, associate professor
of German.
- Paul
Booth, associate professor of media and cinema studies.
- Amy
Tyson, associate professor of history.
- Nancy
Grossman, associate director of the Honors
Program.
- Rick Lee, professor of philosophy.
The
DePaul University Humanities Center aims to create visibility of the work in
humanities and foster discussion among the greater community. Learn more about the center and upcoming events at http://bit.ly/DPUHmCtr.
###
Source:
H. Peter Steeves
psteeves@depaul.edu
773-325-7883
Media Contact:
Kristin Claes Mathews
kristin.mathews@depaul.edu
312-362-7735