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Classics lecture series focuses on African-American art, literature
Amy Patteron-Neubert, Purdue University News Service
Posted on Thursday, September 14 2006

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Classical Studies Program in the College of Liberal Arts is collaborating with the African American Studies and Research Center on a lecture series that explores how African-American artists incorporate the classics into theater and literature.

"Black Ulysses: The Classics in Conversation with African American Studies," is a lecture series that is free and open to the public. The fall events look at topics of black interest in theater and arts, and literature is discussed in the spring.

In addition, students are able to gain one credit for each semester by enrolling in IDIS (Interdisciplinary Studies) 491. Students interested in attending the lecture series for college credit should attend the Oct. 5 call-out and orientation at 3 p.m. in Lawson Computer Science Building, Room B151.

"Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison and Toni Morrison are just some of the legendary names in African-American studies circles who were deeply influenced by the Greco-Roman classics," says Patrice D. Rankine, associate professor in classics and comparative literature. "This series really reinforces that the relationship between the classics and black literature is longstanding."

Venetria K. Patton, associate professor of English and director of African American Studies and Research Center, says that this collaboration with the Classical Studies Program illustrates the richness of interdisciplinary studies.

The schedule for the series is:

• Oct. 12. 3-5 p.m. Lawson Building, Room B151. "Behind the Minstrel Mask: Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake's 'Shuffle Along' and its Images of Blackness." Harry J. Elam Jr., Olive H. Palmer Professor, Ruth Halperin Fellow, and professor and chair of drama at Stanford University.
• Oct. 19. 7 p.m. Lawson Building, Room B155. "From Sophocles to Ray Charles: The Representation of Oedipus in 'The Gospel at Colonus.'" Davina McClain, associate professor and chair of classical studies at Loyola University.
• Oct. 26. 8-10 p.m. Lawson Building, Room B155. Screening of "The Gospel of Colonus."
• March 1. 3-5 p.m. Stewart Center, Rooms 214C and D. "Zora Neale Hurston's Investigation of the Modern-Day 'Achilles.'" James Saunders, professor of English at Purdue.
• March 8. 8-10 p.m. Location to be announced. "Zora Neale Hurston and the Uses of Mythology." Gail T. Smith, associate provost at the City University of New York Graduate Center.
• April 19. 8-10 p.m. Stewart Center, Room 310. "The Role of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Preservation of Black Intellectual Life." Michele V. Ronnick, associate professor of Wayne State University.

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