Category Society & Culture
Beowulf expert says Hollywood makeover may do justice to epic poem
The epic poem "Beowulf" has all the elements for a Hollywood film: action, monsters and classic battles of good vs. evil. But it also features a "monastic" hero with little sex appeal whose story is told in Old English, a combination that wouldn't exactly fill seats with movie fans. Read More
Faculty concert explores movement through dance and music
Dynamic, physical movement accompanied by music ranging from live contemporary to classical will be showcased in the Fall Faculty Dance Concert presented by the Dance Program at 8 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 15–17, in the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall. Read More
Campus explores the art of Japan
The arts of Japan will capture the campus spotlight in exciting and colorful presentations of exhibits, receptions, film screenings and lectures during November. Read More
New classes explore environmental film’s mobilizing power
Gregg Mitman believes in the power of a well-told story. This semester the professor of history of science is teaching two new courses on the environment from a cinematic perspective: a class on environmental film in history and a hands-on production class in documentary storytelling. Read More
A glimpse into Kirk Douglas: Film center shares online collection
Kirk Douglas was Spartacus. But that's not all. The iconic, dimple-chinned movie star was also a powerful producer who blazed a trail and took command of his own acting career in the new era of American filmmaking that followed the demise of the Hollywood studio system. Now, letters, photos and other documents Douglas donated to the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research are available through a new Web site that tells the story of his career both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Read More
Alumni in Residence program launches with visit from ‘Renaissance Man’
A modern-day Renaissance man will present talks and tastes on campus and around Madison during the inaugural Alumni in Residence program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Read More
University Theatre MFA directors journey outside the comfort zone with ‘Yellowman’ and ‘A Nervous Smile’
Two plays dealing with uncomfortable topics, including racial stereotypes, family dysfunction and discrimination against disabled people, mark the University Theatre directorial debuts of Talish Barrow and Sheri Williams-Pannell, second-year University of Wisconsin–Madison MFA directing students. Read More
Professor’s film on Native American soldiers to air on PBS
Patty Loew, a veteran television journalist and an associate professor of life sciences communication, has long wondered what motivated Native American veterans — including her grandfather — to fight for a country that considered them outsiders. Now, she has produced “Way of the Warrior,” a one-hour documentary that will air nationally on the PBS network in November, to explore these motivations. Read More
Public invited to see building plans at Chazen town hall meeting
The Chazen Museum of Art invites the community to a town hall meeting to view plans for the museum’s building expansion. Read More
Festival to showcase environmental films in November
From travelogue-expedition films to the experimental avant-garde and the worlds of Walt Disney and Jacques Cousteau, cinema has been central to how we think about nature and the environment. Read More
Festival showcases ‘print missionaries’ and art departrment
Joseph Velasquez and Greg Nanney been called "print missionaries" by some New York City publishers because the pair - who both received an M.F.A. in art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison last May - travels the country bringing artwork to both schoolchildren and adults with a printing press rigged to the back of a pick-up truck. Read More
Spoken word scholars aim to transform campus
They express themselves and how they feel about the world around them through a powerful mechanism: words. And now the students who have embraced urban art, including “spoken word,” are coming together on campus, playing a leadership role in a national movement and sharing their craft with others. Read More
Saldivar named interim director of UW Arts Institute
Norma Saldivar, who heads the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Directing Program in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Theatre and Drama, has been appointed interim executive director of the UW–Madison Arts Institute. Read More
Stop, look, listen — and make your own art — at 2007 Arts Night Out!
University of Wisconsin–Madison's Arts Night Out! 2007 has something certain to inspire and enchant everyone. Read More
Hip-hop filmmaker weighs in on manhood, sexual violence
Byron Hurt, a filmmaker who loves hip-hop and is the co-founder and former associate director of the United States Marine Corps gender violence prevention program, will address students and community members about sexual violence on Monday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Theater. Read More
Exhibits reveal famous patrons of the arts also loved science
Medici enthusiasm for science as well as art during the three centuries the family reigned over Florence and Tuscany is now on display at UW–Madison. Read More
Photographer links politics, personal experiences
For Michael Kienitz, photography is a portal between the political and the personal. He is interested in the power of an image to create a connection between photographer and subject and then with the viewer, and the possibilities those connections might have to promote change. Read More
Environmental filmmakers Helfand, Siegel are fall guest artists
The Arts Institute is pleased to welcome artist in residence Judith Helfand and guest artist Sarita Siegel to the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Fall 2007. The Arts Institute Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program brings world-class artists to campus to teach semester-long, interdepartmental courses and to publicly present their work for campus and community audiences. Read More
New digital collection ‘Sixty Books, Sixty Libraries’ goes online
Ever dream of having your photos, drawings or stories published online? For a few Wisconsinites, that dream was realized through a collaborative art project digitized by the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center, which goes live this week. Read More
‘World-class’ UW violinist Vartan Manoogian dies
Vartan Manoogian, professor of violin at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Music, died on Thursday, July 12, in Spain. He was 71. Read More