Calendar of Events
Humanities for Everyone
September 2018
The Silent Language of the Soul: The Legacy of Mime Marcel Marceau
Twentieth century mime master Marcel Marceau advanced the art of the ancient Greco-Roman mime storytellers, the improvisational actors of the Commedia dell’Arte, and the pantomime of Charlie Chaplin. in this presentation, Circus Smirkus founder Rob Mermin will explore the metaphors of mime technique—what Marceau called “the silent language of the soul”—and discuss Marceau’s particular influence on the world’s cultural history. Read More »
Soup to Nuts: An Eccentric History of Food
The history of what and how we eat encompasses everything from the prehistoric mammoth luau to the medieval banquet to the modern three squares a day. Presented by writer Rebecca Rupp, this talk lets attendees find out about the rocky evolution of table manners, the not-so-welcome invention of the fork, the awful advent of portable soup, and the surprising benefits of family dinners. Read More »
Vermont’s Historic Theater Curtains
Between 1880 and World War II, painted theater curtains were artistic features of most New England villages and towns. Christine Hadsel, director of Curtains Without Borders, provides a glimpse into the world of talented and often sophisticated artists who were part of the rural cultural scene, illustrating the rich cultural history of small-town Vermont before World War I. Read More »
November 2018
Book Discussion: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
In a short 35 years, the Booker has achieved an air of dignity and respect that rivals even the 86-year-old Pulitzer Prize. Graham Swift, who won the Booker in 1996, singled it out as the finest accolade a writer can receive. "It's the one which, if we're completely honest, we most covet." Read More »