Chattanooga State’s Humanities and Fine Arts Division launches fifth Chautauqua Series

The Humanities and Fine Arts Division of Chattanooga State Community College launches its fifth annual Chautauqua Lecture Series today.

The series is inspired by programs begun in 1874 on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in New York State, where people gathered to enjoy speakers, musicians and specialists who entertained and educated members of the community. Since 2014, Chattanooga State has hosted its own Chautauqua, bringing together faculty, students, staff and the community to explore topics within the humanities.

Chattanooga State’s Chautauqua Series will feature the research of seven Humanities and Fine Arts faculty members, as well as the series finale of Writers@ Work next April with visiting authors Beth Ann Fennelly and Tom Franklin.

Each of the free, hourlong programs will begin at 2 p.m. They will be held in Kolwyck Library and Information Commons on Chattanooga State’s main campus, 4501 Amnicola Highway.

CHAUTAUQUA SCHEDULE

› Sept. 20: Juan Antonio Alonso speaks on “One Mind, Seven Thousand Tongues: Unity and Diversity in World Languages.” He will explore the paradoxical diversity and unity of world languages, advocating for an equal status for all human languages.

› Oct. 18: Mindy Griffin and Mollee Shannon present “Double, Double, Toil and Trouble: The History of Witchcraft and Demonic Women in Literature, Media and Culture,” an exploration of historical and contemporary notions of witches and witchcraft, with a specific emphasis on the 1600s and Salem Witch Trials.

› Nov. 15: Julie Barcroft and Evans Jarnefeldt present “Mobilizing Empathy: The Encounter of ‘Otherness’ Through Art,” which examines how art can help uncover power dynamics, cultural encounters and personal identity.

› Feb. 21, 2019: Katheryn Thompson speaks on “Borderlands: The Land Between and the Finding and Creation of Self,” which connects Gloria Anzaldúa’s concept of the threshold between two worlds with broader literary and educational contexts.

› March 21, 2019: Eric Niemi’s presentation “Playing With Rituals: How Board Games Impact Culture” covers a brief history of board games and discusses how these games impact culture.

› April 11, 2019: In partnership with t he Humanities Department’s Writers@Work program, visiting authors Beth Ann Fennelly and Tom Franklin will discuss their collaborative novel “The Tilted World,” as well as the craft of writing.

For more information: keri. l amb@ chattanoogastate.edu.

CHATTANOOGA STATE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Juan Antonio Alonso will open the Chautauqua Lecture Series at Chattanooga State Community College today at 2 p.m.