New Humanities Center’s activities enhance the humanities in South Florida

Inaugural festivities: November 4-6

Harvard professor Marjorie Garber with her dogs

The Center for Humanities will mark its official dedication on November 4 at Storer Auditorium with a lecture by renowned Harvard professor Marjorie Garber. With an inaugural group of Faculty Fellows, a full slate of events throughout the academic year, and other dynamic programming, the center seeks to become a resource not only for the University but the entire South Florida community.

While the Miami Light Project’s documentary, The Closest Farthest Away, won’t open until next March, the center’s online video series features scholars of Latin American and American Studies discussing the significance and challenges of this collaborative performance project between Cuban and U.S. artists with two of its creators. Another online video series includes a segment by a philosopher discussing his latest book, a work that charts his decade-long relationship with a wolf.

The new Humanities Center plans to continue bringing such programming to the forefront, helping to enrich UM’s intellectual culture.The innovative programs, along with events such as a symposium on John Milton’s 400th birthday, have shone a spotlight on the new endeavor.

FULL SLATE OF EVENTS

The center’s lecture series features timely and interesting topics, including “The Rise of a Superpower China,” “Animal Passions and Wild Justice: The Emotional Lives of Animals and Why They Matter,” and “All in the Cuban-American Sit/Com Family: ‘Que Pasa USA’ (1975-80).” This academic year more than 25 events will be held under the auspices of the Center.

The center’s Interdisciplinary Research Groups—scholarly collaborations between faculty and graduate students in areas such as Atlantic, queer, early modern, hemispheric, and animal studies—are increasing opportunities to pursue joint projects.

Its Henry King Stanford Distinguished Professors in the Humanities will lecture throughout this academic year, while a group of inaugural Faculty and Dissertation Fellows, scholars in disciplines ranging from anthropology and English to history and philosophy, will present work during a year-long research colloquium. And a collaboration with Books and Books Coral Gables will enable UM faculty members to present their recently published books to the Miami community.

FILLING A COMMUNITY NEED

Professor Suzuki is Humanities Center Director

The center, the establishment of which had been identified as a key goal in the College of Arts and Sciences’ strategic plan, “was desperately needed,” Suzuki says. “Scholars here already had been pushing the boundaries of different disciplines.”

The center provides what Patricia Saunders, a Faculty Fellow and associate professor of English, describes as “a shared intellectual space,” bringing together faculty, students, and the greater Miami community “who might otherwise not have the time, the resources, or simply a reason to interact with one another. I think most humanities centers are built very much in the spirit of the ‘If you build it, they will come’ model.’

SETTING ITSELF APART

Examples of online content that will soon be available for viewers and listeners, include dialogue between Associate Professor of Art and Art History Paula Harper and feminist artist Judy Chicago as well as Associate Professor of Italian Maria Galli Stampino’s commentary on an 18th-century Italian play, to be produced by The PlayGround Theatre. Harper’s conversation with Chicago will coincide with the artist’s exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Florida, and Carlo Gozzi’s The Love of Three Oranges will open in April.

The College of Arts and Sciences provided initial funding to establish the Center. Professor Suzuki and Associate Director Kyle Siebrecht know that additional resources will be necessary to continue the work of the center.