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Movie Screening: "Island in the Sun"

Join the AMCS Student Association for a screeining of the movie, "Island in the Sun," a film from 1957 dealing with interracial relationships and race relations in post war culture (a review is available here from the NY Times). Prof. Wayne Fields will lead a spirited discussion following the movie. For more information, review the event listing on the student association website or email Caitlin Astrue at cwastrue@wustl.edu.
When: Thursday, November 19th 2009
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Ridgley 219

Tour the Campbell House! Friday, Nov. 20th 2:30pm

This notice is for AMCS majors and minors:

Located in downtown St. Louis, the Campbell House Museum is one of the most accurately restored 19th century buildings in America. The home of wealthy St. Louis fur trader and banker Robert Campbell, the museum has its own archives that document the early fur trade, Western expansion, the development of St. Louis and much more.

Museum Director, Andy Hahn, will lead the tour. Admission is free! Students must RSVP by email to Tameca Millner tmillner@atsci.wustl.edu.

"Democratic Structures, Democratic Culture: The Republic of Georgia in Comparative Perspectives," Friday, Nov. 13

A one day conference on democracy and the Georgian Republic. All events take place in the Danforth University Center (DUC), room 276. Opening remarks by Randy Calvert, the Thomas F. Eagleton University Professor of Public Afairs and Political Science and Director of American Culture Studies. The conference is co-sponsored by AMCS, the Center for Humanities, and the Center for New Institutional Social Sciences.

Gallery Talk at Kemper Art Museum, Nov. 11th at 5pm: A Challenge to Democracy

"Ethnic Profiling of Japanese Americans During World War II" - an art exhibition that will focus on the ethical issues of ethnic profiling in our country. Part of the university's semester-long series, "A Challenge to Democracy".

A Ragtime Colloquium, Tuesday Oct. 20th, 4pm, Edison Theatre

The Performing Arts Department presents a faculty colloquium exploring issues central to the musical, "Ragtime." Gary S. Whil, the Hortense and Tobias Lewin Distinguished Professor in the Humanities and Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences will present, "Doctorow, Civil Disobedience and Unenumerated Rights."

The faculty panel includes Gerald Early, Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters in AFAS and English; Stephan Schindler, professor of German, Comparative Literature, and Film and Media Studies; Ron Himes, the Henry E. Hampton, Jr. Artist in Residence and lecturer in Drama and AFAS; and Robert Henke, professor of Drama and Comparative Literature.

Performing Arts Department Presents "Ragtime," Friday at 8pm, Edison Theatre

We'll be there: join AMCS faculty, students, and staff at Friday night's performance!

Excerpted from the article available from the Record:

Terrence McNally's acclaimed adaptation of the 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, "Ragtime," is a sweeping and ambitious tale of race, class and the promise of America at the dawn of the 20th century. It also is a tremendously demanding theatrical production, requiring almost 50 actors and at least a dozen musicians. "Ragtime" is so logistically challenging — more than 150 different costumes must be designed and sewn — that it virtually precludes staging by all but the largest of regional theaters. Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17, The Black Rep will join forces with the Performing Arts Department (PAD) in Arts & Sciences to present this Tony Award-winning musical as the PAD's fall Mainstage production. Performances will take place in Edison Theatre and continue at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18; at 8 p.m. Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31; and at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. Set predominantly in New York, "Ragtime" follows three families — one Jewish immigrant, one upper-class Protestant and one African-American — as their lives intertwine amidst...[read the rest of the article here]

David Kieran appointed Postdoctoral Fellow in American Culture Studies for 2009-2011

Following an extensive search, AmCS has appointed David Kieran to a two-year term as Postdoctoral Fellow in American Culture Studies. Dave has just earned his Ph.D. in American Studies from Georgetown University. His dissertation, "'Sundered by a Memory:' The Legacy of the Vietnam War and the Cultural Memory of Trauma in American Culture, 1975-Present," examines the place of the Vietnam War in American cultural memory, arguing that its subsequent representation has reshaped American memorial practices. He has also written on the cultural memory of lynching, and public memorial practices surrounding the 9/11 crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Dave joins us in August, and this fall he will teach our first general introductory course, AmCS 220: Introduction to American Culture Studies. Over the next two years, in addition to developing his dissertation for publication, Dave will begin work on his next research project on American popular culture and the problem of human rights.

Paul Harvey, friend of AmCS, has died

Paul Harvey, long time commentator and the most familiar voice on American radio, died at the age of ninety. Mr. Harvey was the husband and business partner of Lynne Cooper Harvey, a Washington University alumna of the college and the graduate school. Mrs. Harvey, who died last May, was a generous supporter of Washington University and especially of the American Culture Studies program, providing funding for the Lynne Cooper Harvey Fellows and the Lynne Cooper Harvey Scholars. She also endowed the Lynne Cooper Harvey Distinguished Professorship in English, the department from which she received her Master's degree. The Harveys met while working for radio station KXOK in St. Louis and, together created Paul Harvey News and its popular feature "The Rest of the Story." In recent years Paul Harvey made frequent reference to Washington University on his program. The Harvey's are survived by their son Paul Harvey, Jr. who has been a prize winning writer on their radio team as well as an on air substitute for his father.

The New York Times published this article on Harvey's career.