The Cion Fall Festival of Events kicks off next week with the first of three activities based around this year's common reading for incoming students -- "Cion," a novel by the OHIO English department's own professor of creative writing, Zakes Mda.
"With programming, we try to show people that this book can be accessible in many ways," said Lorraine Wochna, reference and instruction librarian and library liaison for the departments of English, film and theater. The events include short films on themes related to the book, a discussion on teaching "Cion" and an author's reading.
Wochna said the fact that Mda is on campus reinforced the decision to make "Cion" the common reading for the past two academic years. "When you get a common reader, bringing in the author is just a really good thing to do and connects the book with the students a bit more."
The Common Reading Project was established as a way for incoming students to share a common intellectual experience. The selected reading is integrated into all first-year composition courses with research projects, writing activities and in-class discussions.
All events are open to the public.
Wednesday, October 21: "'Cion' Connections in Film" screenings of "Illusions" and "Blue eyed," a two-film back-to-back miniseries, will take place in Alden's Friends of the Libraries Room on the third floor of Alden Library from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Julie Dash directed "Illusions," a 1982 film about how Hollywood filmmaking intersects with race relations (34 minutes); in "Blue eyed," Jane Elliot demonstrates her blue-eyed/brown-eyed exercise in discrimination (30 minutes).
Friday, October 23: "How to Read 'Cion': True Stories from Instructors and Their Classes," part of Alden Library's Brown Bag Lunch Series, takes place from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Friends of the Libraries Room. Join Paul Shovlin and Wendy Vandellon for this entertaining, informative and lively discussion. Bring your lunch -- light refreshments will be served.
Tuesday, October 27: Zakes Mda: A Reading from and Discussion of "Cion," will feature the book's internationally famous author and Ohio University English professor, Zakes Mda, reading excerpts from his book and dialoguing with his audience from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Baker University Center Theatre. Refreshments will be served following Mda's reading and discussion at a book signing and reception just outside the second-floor theater.
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