Humanities Center EXHIBITIONS
Events
Due to uncertainties surrounding the global pandemic, the hours the University Galleries will be open are subject to guidance provided by USD’s COVID-19 Action Team. Social distancing and masks are required of all visitors and reduced gallery capacities may also be enforced. Please check the website before visiting.
Screenings 6: Wangechi Mutu October 26, 2020–February 26, 2021 Wangechi Mutu is a leading figure in contemporary art. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Mutu studied art at Cooper Union and Yale University and today lives in New York City. Mutu’s works in a wide variety of media —— collage, sculpture, printmaking and film —— have been shown in major venues throughout the world since the late 1990s. Often, Mutu uses representations of the exoticized female body as “a platform for what we
Courtesy of the Artist, Gladstone Gallery, Victoria Miro Gallery and Susanne Vielmetter, Los Angeles Projects
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
feel about ourselves as humans.” Her intricate work incorporates imagery from contemporary fashion
Welcome back to USD at the start of
and popular music, as well as from traditional African
a new semester. I am delighted to
motifs and, in this way, addresses the complexities
preview here the Humanities Center
and hybridization that distinguish our contemporary
calendar of events for Spring 2021.
moment. Screenings 6 represents the first time that
As you will see, a vibrant program of
San Diego audiences have had the opportunity to see Amazing Grace (2005). This early video features images of a woman —— the artist —— in a gauzy, white dress as she moves from a beach into the roiling surf. The soundtrack is comprised of waves breaking and a voice singing in the background. The song is well-known to American audiences: “Amazing Grace.” Mutu sings the hymn in her native tongue. Exhibitions continued on next page
talks, exhibitions and presentations has been assembled, and we look forward to welcoming you to a great many of these virtual events. All best wishes, Brian R. Clack, PhD A. Vassiliadis Director of the Humanities Center
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SPRING 2021
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Art and Identity March 15–May 28, 2021 What defines who we are? Race? Ethnicity? Gender? Sexuality? Class? Religion? Are these categories fluid or fixed? Singular or plural? These questions animate Art and Identity, an exhibition of modern and contemporary art curated by Zoe Morales Martinez ’21. In recent decades, artists such as Salomón Huerta, Kerry James Marshall and Helen Zughaib have investigated how identity is perceived and experienced. Highlighting works by these artists and others from USD’s growing collection of fine art prints, Art and Identity considers the multiple, intersecting forces that make up who we are and how we are seen.
Diego Romero (Keres | Cochiti), Pueb Fiction, 2020, screenprint, copyright of the artist and Black Rock Editions, LLC
Kerry James Marshall, Untitled (Woman), 2010, hardground etching, copyright of the artist and Paulson Fontaine Press
SPECIAL EVENTS On Race and Philosophy Conference
There’s More Live Series Thursdays | February 11, March 11 and April 15
February 22–23 at 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There’s More Live is a storytelling
The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tamir
event curated around different
Rice and others have given rise to the need for a
themes each month. Storytellers
deeper conversation about race —— a conversation
share meaningful experiences
to which philosophy is well equipped to contribute.
or challenges they’ve overcome,
In contributing to this necessary conversation, two
each providing insight into the
members of the philosophy department present a
human condition. The series highlights USD’s liberal
conference. This conference has the aim of elucidating
arts tradition by exploring the human condition through
positions within academic discussions of, as well as
the practice of Changemaking. Sponsored by the
evoke thought about, race. The conference will engage
Humanities Center and Changemaker Hub.
a broad range of questions from a philosophical perspective, but will do so in a way that can be appreciated by both those interested in disciplines other than philosophy as well as a broader public
FEBRUARY 8 at 4 p.m.: Unexpected Unexpected is cosponsored by the Humanities Center, Changemaker Hub and the Career Development Center.
audience. Sponsored by the Humanities Center and the
MARCH 11 at 4 p.m.: Clash
Values Institute. Coordinated by Corey Barnes, PhD,
APRIL 15 at 4 p.m.: Mirror
and Marilynn Johnson, PhD, from the Department of Philosophy.
GUEST SPEAKER Language, the Liberal Arts and the Challenges of the 21st Century Noam Chomsky, PhD | Knapp Chair of Liberal Arts 2021 Monday, March 22 at 6 p.m. The Humanities Center is proud to welcome Noam Chomsky, PhD, as the Knapp chair of liberal arts 2021. In conversation with Thomas Reifer, PhD, professor of sociology, Chomsky will discuss the question of language as part of the inquiry into what sort of creatures we are and the role of the liberal arts in helping us to confront humanity’s urgent 21st century challenges. Dr. Noam Chomsky is currently laureate professor in the Department of Linguistics in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Agnese Nelms Haury chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona and institute professor and professor of linguistics and philosophy, emeritus, in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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ILLUME SPEAKER SERIES KNAPP CHAIR LECTURE
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DISCUSSION SERIES Souls of Black Folks: Poetry, Essays and Readings
Baked In: Systemic Racism Around and Within Us
Wednesdays at 4 p.m. PT | February–May February 3, March 3, April 28, May 5
To think of racism as systemic is to understand how
Join the Humanities Center’s monthly series, which
of talks by USD professors explores some of the
highlights Black identity, culture and voices of literary authors, writers and artists. Faculty and staff members
Tuesdays at 4 p.m. PT | February 2– March 9 deeply embedded it is in our own lives. This series fundamental areas in which racism has taken hold. Coordinated by Fred Robinson, PhD, Department of
from across campus will read essays, poetry and other
English.
literary works that celebrate Black voices. Coordinated
FEBRUARY 2: Embedded Racism in Music: Decentering and
by Jamall Calloway, PhD, Department of Theology and Religious Studies.
FEBRUARY 3: August Wilson MARCH 3: Audre Lorde
Decolonizing Music Fields n
FEBRUARY 9: Systemic Racism in Law n
APRIL 28: Harlem Renaissance MAY 5: Black Arts Movement
David Harnish, PhD | Department of Music Roy L. Brooks, JD | Warren Distinguished Professor of Law
FEBRUARY 16: Perspectives on Racism and Health Moderator: Jillian Tullis, PhD | Department of Communication Studies PANEL SPEAKERS: n
Rev. Christopher Carter, PhD | Department of Theology and Religious Studies
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Martha Fuller, PhD | School of Nursing
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Kristopher Hall, PhD | Counseling and Marital and Family Therapy, SOLES
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Drew Talley, PhD | Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences
FEBRUARY 23: Systemic Racism in Theatre n
Jesse Perez, PhD | Director of The Old Globe and USD Shiley Graduate Theatre Program
MARCH 2: Living in a Bubble: White Neighborhoods, White
Schools, White Thinking n
Lisa Nunn, PhD | Department of Sociology and Director of the Center for Educational Excellence
MARCH 9: The Facts and Fictions of Systemic Racism n
Carlton Floyd, PhD | Department of English
AI and the Humanities Lecture Series
Wednesdays at 4 p.m. PT | March 10–April 21
This lecture series is part of the Humanities Center’s
What does it mean to practice radical hospitality in
multidisciplinary programming around artificial
this digital age, particularly now as we shelter in place
intelligence and the intellectual and moral challenges it
during a global pandemic? Join us as we reflect on how
poses. International scholars from across disciplines
radical hospitality transcends the traditional limitations
will join us to explore vital questions such as theological
of welcome as we hope to join together in solidarity,
and ethical questions raised by AI, impacts of AI on
justice and equity. Experts will illuminate intersectional
social life, the nature of the mind and of thought itself.
voices and perspectives, with topics including race
Members of the Humanities Center AI Learning Group
and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, national origin,
invite the community, students and faculty members
homelessness and health and ability.
from across all disciplines to attend. These questions
MARCH 10: Welcome and Introduction n
Esteban del Río, PhD | Department of Communication Studies
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Michael Lovette-Colyer, PhD | Assistant Vice President
Mondays | April 12–May 3
are important for scientists, social scientists, artists and humanists alike. Coordinated by Hannah Holtzman, PhD, Keck postdoctoral fellow in critical technology, USD Humanities Center.
and Director, University Ministry n
Lisa Nunn, PhD | Department of Sociology and Director, Center for Educational Excellence
MARCH 17: Homelessness and Housing Insecurity n
Kate DeConinck, PhD | Department of Theology and Religious Studies
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Odilka Santiago, PhD | Department of Sociology
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Mike Williams, PhD, JD | Department of Political Science and International Relations
MARCH 24: Native and Indigenous Peoples n
Angel Hinzo, PhD | Department of Ethnic Studies
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Antonieta Mercado, PhD | Department of Communication Studies
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M. Amanda Moulder, PhD | Department of English and Director, Writing Program
APRIL 7: Race and Ethnicity – Communities of Color n
Corey Barnes, PhD | Philosoph
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Joi Spencer, PhD | Interim Dean and Professor, School
APRIL 12 at 10 a.m.: AI and Ethics Ethics of AI: Narratives and Responsibility n
of Media and Technology at the Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna
of Leadership and Education Sciences n
n
Alberto Pulido, PhD | Department of Ethnic Studies
APRIL 19 at 12 p.m.: AI and Ethics
and Director, The Turning Wheel Project
Should We End the Data Economy?
Josen Diaz, PhD | Department of Ethnic Studies
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a tutorial fellow in Philosophy at Hertford College,
Eileen Frys-Bower, PhD, JD, RN, CPNP, FAAN | Hahn
University of Oxford
School of Nursing and Health Science and Associate n
Provost for Research Administration
APRIL 26 at 12 p.m.: AI and Society
Emily Reimer-Barry, PhD | Department of Theology
Fetishes and Cyborgs: What Does the Racial History of
and Religious Studies n
Carissa Véliz, PhD | Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy and the Institute for Ethics in AI, and
APRIL 14: Health and Ability n
Mark Coeckelbergh, PhD | Professor of Philosophy
Jillian Tullis, PhD | Department of Communication
Capital Tell Us about the Digital Future of Humanity? n
Studies
APRIL 21: Gender and Sexuality n
Peter Mena, PhD | Theology and Religious Studies
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Bradley Bond, PhD | Communication Studies
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Catherine Griffith, PhD | Counseling & Marital and Family Therapy, School of Leadership and Education Sciences
Sylvester A. Johnson, PhD | Professor and Director of the Virginia Tech Center for Humanities
MAY 3 at 12 p.m.: AI and the Mind What Has the Brain Got to Do With Morality? n
Patricia Churchland, PhD | Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego
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Come to the Table: Radical Hospitality and Communities of Belonging
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
For more event details and to register for an event, visit www.sandiego.edu/cas/humanities-center/events.php.
Contact the Humanities Center www.sandiego.edu/humanities-center Facebook: @USDHumanitiesCenter Instagram: @USDHumanities YouTube: @USDHumanitiesCenter
Support Us To support the Humanities Center or be added to our events mailing list, please contact College of Arts and Sciences Director of Development Ericka Swensson at eswensson@sandiego.edu.