February 22: The Reinvention of Liberal Learning in America
Faculty Seminar: Donald Levine, former Dean of the College at the University ofChicago will lead a faculty seminar on February 22; discussion willfocus on his book, The Reinvention of Liberal Learning in America,followed by drinks and dinner. This seminar will be open to all OhioUniversity faculty who teach humanities courses. Event Flyer (46 Kilobytes MS Word)

2007

November 17: The Shakespeare Films of Kenneth Branagh

This workshop examined the signature cinematic qualities Kenneth Branagh brings to translating Shakespeare from page to stage to screen. Program-Registration (100 Kbytes PDF).

September 13: Wine and Cheese Social

This workshop closely examined three of Chaucer's tales in order to gain a better understanding of the ways these works represent the social and religious world of the fourteenth century.  Discussion focused on medieval ideas about sexuality and virginity, women's roles, marriage as a sacrament, and other theory issues that engaged Chaucer and his contemporaries.

November 4: Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors

William Condee, director of the School of Interdisciplinary Arts, lead the discussion of the play during the afternoon. In the evening, participants enjoyed a performance of the play presented by the Ohio University School of Theater.

April 22: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: Victorian Literature and the Protestant Work Ethic

This workshop examined the short novel within the framework of Dickens' contemporaries in order to gain a better understanding of how this classic speaks from and to a particular time and place: London in the early years of Victoria's reign. Discussion focused on Dickens' involvement in shaping religious debates about the status of "things" and "worldliness" in an age when Empires and Industry were creating a deluge of exotic products and temptations - not forgetting that literary works were among the most important of those.

2004

November 6: African-American Writers of Ohio

Secondary school teachers attending this workshop learned from presentations and discussions led by Dean McWilliams (J. Richard Hamilton/Baker & Hostetler Professor of Humanities and Professor of English, Ohio University), Crystal Anderson (Assistant Professor of English, Ohio University), and Herbert W.Martin  (Professor Emeritus of English and Poet-in-Residence, University of Dayton). They discussed works by one author each: Charles Chestnut, Toni Morrison, and Paul Laurence Dunbar, respectively.

 
May 1: The Gods Are Not to Blame

This workshop for school teachers surrounded the production of the play by the Ohio University School of Theater. The Gods are Not to Blame was penned by Ola Rotimi, one of Nigeria's leading playwrights. The play is an adaptation of the Oedipus myth to address contemporary issues facing Africa and the world.

 
February 28: Staging Romeo and Juliet

Samuel Crowl, trustee professor in English and author of Shakespeare Observed: Studies in Performance on Stage and Screen, led this afternoon workshop in conjunction with the Ohio University School of Theater production ofthe play.

2003

November 15: John Steinbeck

This workshop for school teachers was conducted by Bob Demott from the Ohio University Department of English.

April 12: Rediscovering Poe

Lois Vines, James S. Reid Professor of Humanities and professor of French, and Paul Jones, assistant professor of English at Ohio University, led presentations and discussions surrounding the works of the late, great American author.
 

2002

November 16: Staging Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis

With presentations and discussions from Thomas Carpenter, Charles J. Ping Professor of Humanities and professor of classics; William Owens, chair of the classics department at Ohio University; and Midori Nohara, director of the Ohio University School of Theater's production of Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis,this day long workshop was followed by a performance of the play.

April 13: Native Americans Studies Initiative

Co-sponsored by the Great Lakes American Studies Association as a part of their 2002 GLASA Annual Conference, this Institute endeavor was comprised of panels on a variety of topics in Native American Studies, including literature and the oral tradition, history, contemporary art, stereotypes and mascots. Panels were also held on methods of teaching Native American Studies, including a range of methodologies and technologies, from interactive software to storytelling. The event brought with it an exhibit of teaching materials, including the Cradleboard Project, Teaching Tolerance and the Smithsonian. The workshop closed with a performance of dancing, singing and drumming by the Shki Bmaadzi Singers, a performance troupe with ties to the Urban Natives of Chicago, a youth organization that promotes community service and leadership among Native American youth.

November 10: Staging As You Like It

Samuel Crowl, trustee professor of English, and Robert Ross Parker, director of the Ohio University School of Theater's production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It, led presentations and discussions surrounding staging this Shakespeare classic. The day long workshop was followed by a performance of the play.
 

2000

November 11: Staging The Glass Menagerie

Culminating in an Ohio University School of Theater production of the play,this one-day workshop included presentations and discussions led by Dean McWilliams, the Baker & Hostetler Professor of Humanities and professor of English; and Robert McMaster, the director of the OU production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

April 6: At the Movies: Teaching Women's History through Feature Films

Katherine Jellison, associate professor of history and specialist in U.S. women's history, led this workshop, which examined film clips and opened discussion on women in films. It was followed by the feature film Hester Street.

March 11: Staging Shakespeare's Dream

Including presentations and discussions with Samuel Crowl, trustee professor in English and author of Shakespeare Observed: Studies in Performance on Stage and Screen, this workshop also offered a viewing of A Midsummer Night's Dream performed by the Ohio University School of Theater.
 

1998