WSU - Humanities

The November 14th, 2003, conference on “Humanities and Social Change” featured keynote addresses by Elaine Scarry and Henry Louis Gates Jr. both of Harvard University.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is one of the most prominent academics in the United States today. Gates is the chair of Harvard’s Afro-American Studies program. He has contributed to the broadening discourse on African American Literature with books like Figures in Black: Words, Signs, and the Racial Self (1987) and The signifying Monkey Towards a Theory of Afro-American Literary Criticism (1988).
Elaine Scarry is the author of the books: The Body in Pain; On Beauty and Being Just; Dreaming by the Book; Resisting Representation and Who defended the Country?

In addition, Mysoon Rizk from the University of Toledo, and Wayne State faculty members Bill Trapani (Communications) Creigs Beverly (Social Work), David Fasenfast (CULMA), Jerry Herron (English), Marc Cogan (Humanities), Margaret Winters (Associate Provost), Ron Aronson (Interdisciplinary Studies), Sandra VanBurkleo (History) and Zanita Fenton (Law School) will be speaking on topics related to social change.

9:30-10:30
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
“W.E.B. Dubois and the Encyclopedia Encarta Africana”
10:35-11:00
Marc Cogan
“The Humanities and Social Change”
11:05-11:30
Ronald Aronson
“Philosophy and Social Change”
11:35-12:00
Bill Trapani
“Strange Angels: Communication and the Politics of Hope”
1:15-2:15
Elaine Scarry
“Beauty and Social Change”
1:20-2:45
Mysoon Rizk
“Art and Social Change”
2:50-3:15
Sandra VanBurkleo
“History and Social Change”
3:20-3:45
David Fasenfast
“Sociology and Social Change”
3:50-4:15
Creigs Beverly
“Community and Social Change”
4:20-4:45
Zanita Fenton
“Law and Social Change: Humpty Dumpty and the Chicken Salad Sandwich”
4:50-5:15
Jerry Herron
“Literature and Social Change”
5:20-5:45
Margaret Winters
“Language and Social Change”

5:45-7:00
Reception
McGregor Hall

Photos (from top, left to right): 1) Humanities Center Director Walter F. Edwards welcomes the audience at the opening reception on November 13, 2003; 2) Diane Sybeldon of University Libraries acted at Mistress of Ceremonies at the reception; 3) Associate Provost Margaret Winters congratulates the Center on its 10 year anniversary; 4) Walter F. Edwards proposes a champagne toast to the Center's success; 5) Mame Jackson, former Chair of the Art & Art History Department and Humanities Center Advisory Board member; 6-8) Chris Collins and his band perform several of his Collins's compositions and the opening reception; 9) Keynote speaker Elaine Scarry of Harvard at the 10th Anniversary conference on November 14, 2003.