“Afrofuturism” was first coined by author and culture critic Mark Dery in his 1993 essay, “Black to the Future.” Since then, Afrofuturism has grown as an artform, practice, methodology, and area of study. In this Ask the Expert piece, Michigan State University Professor Julian Chambliss delves into what Afrofuturism is as a practice, as well as ways it shows up…
Dionne O’Dell, Academic Specialist in the Department of Theatre at Michigan State University, will lead MSU’s Arts, Cultural Management, and Museum Studies (ACM&MS) program as Interim Director, effective Aug. 16, 2022. Kiersten F. Latham, the current Program Director, has accepted a position as President and CEO of Sauder Village in Ohio. “I am honored to serve as Interim Director for the Arts, Cultural Management,…
After a two-year hiatus, Summer Circle Theatre (SCT) at Michigan State University is back for its 60th anniversary celebration of FREE outdoor theatre for mid-Michigan audiences and a free week-long theatre camp for kids. This season will include four full productions and runs from June 9 through June 26. The season opens on June 9 with the classic musical, Pippin, by Stephen Schwartz…
Religion and sound are tied together in evocative ways. Church bells. Public proselytizing. Calls to prayer. Tantric chanting. What does religion sound like, and how can we learn new truths about the diversity of religion in the United States when we listen? Amy DeRogatis, Professor of Religion and American Culture and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Michigan State…
In this Faculty Voice, Catherine Ryu, Associate Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University, shares how Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is important to recognize and celebrate, but also the need to go beyond public awareness. Ryu says concerted and sustained efforts are needed to create a more inclusive culture for all. At MSU, Ryu also serves as Director of the…
Underneath East Lansing’s Division Street Parking Garage, students, faculty, and alumni of MSU’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) worked together to paint the third installment of the “Life is a Groovy Opportunity” mural with a goal of finishing in time for the 2022 East Lansing Art Festival. Completed on May 21, the first day of the festival, the latest installment of the mural is…
In this Faculty Voice, Rajiv Ranjan, an Assistant Professor of Hindi-Urdu in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University, talks about some of the misperceptions and nuances related to South Asian languages and culture. Ranjan also reflects on why Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month in May is important to recognize and celebrate. At MSU ,…
Behind the scenes of every theatre production there is a stage manager who ensures all the moving parts of the production run smoothly. From running rehearsals to communicating technical needs, stage managers, like Katie McArthur, work out the kinks of a production before and during its big debut. Graduating this spring with a BFA in Stage Management, McArthur never imagined…
This spring, Michigan State University launches the Farmscapes to Forests: Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Artist-in-Residence Program, which will welcome artists from across all mediums to spend a week at the Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners, Michigan, followed by a culminating visit in the fall or winter to share their work. Supported by the National Science Foundation, Gretel Van…
A new collaboration between MSU’s Red Cedar Writing Project and the Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) will reconnect communities to the arts and humanities through a new set of library programs. Pioneering this project is Trixie Smith, Director of the Red Cedar Writing Project, who won the National Writing Project’s (NWP) Building a More Perfect Union National Endowment for the…