Calendar of Events
Humanities for Everyone
February 2020
Photography as Social Justice
In conjunction with her retrospective exhibition at Catamount Arts, Dona Ann McAdams sits down with curator John Killacky to discuss her work, and shows her empathetic black-and-white portraits of performing artists, AIDS activists, political protests, people living with schizophrenia, Appalachian farmers, cloistered nuns, and others. Read More »
March 2020
Central Park, the Civil War, and the Creation of the National Parks
The national park idea has been credited to “a wonderful and interesting group of rugged western pioneers.” But as UVM historian Rolf Diamant explains, the inspiration of Central Park, the ending of slavery, and the remaking of government during the Civil War were all critical to the establishment of our first national parks. Read More »
April 2020
“We Are All Fast Food Workers Now”
Labor historian Annelise Orleck provides a close look at globalization and its costs, from the perspective of low-wage workers themselves—berry pickers, fast food servers, garment workers, cashiers, hotel housekeepers, home health care aides, and even adjunct professors—who are fighting for respect, safety, and a living wage. Read More »
May 2020
The Making of Let Us Now Praise Famous Men
Middlebury professor Tim Spears looks at the 1941 publication of "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men." Depicting the lives of southern sharecroppers, writer James Agee and photographer Walker Evans resisted journalistic conventions to produce a book that raises important questions about the nature of documentary work and art. Read More »