Ranger Read: Maus II
MAUS II: A Survivor’s Tale and Here My Troubles Began
Fall Events
Beyond Maus II: Exploring the World of the Graphic Novel and Comics
Joseph Pearson, UW-P Philosophy Professor, and Aaron Johnson, graphic artist/animator and creator of What the Duck (W.T. Duck)
The program: Art Spiegelman, the author of Maus II, described a graphic novel as “a comic with a book mark.” In fact, “sequential art,” using art to tell a story through a series of images, dates back to cave paintings and has more recently soared in popularity with a widely diverse audience. Join us as Joseph Pearson and Aaron Johnson each discuss their unique perspective of the world of the graphic novel.
Joseph Pearson, a Senior Lecturer in the UW-P Philosophy Department, has studied the philosophy of science with expertise in Continental philosophy and Aesthetics, and recently taught a summer course entitled “Philosophy and Superheroes.” Joe will discuss the “superhero” graphic novel and some of the ideas that lie behind this genre, including the widely-popular Watchmen and The Dark Knight, which revolutionized the classic idea of the superhero.
Aaron Johnson, creator of What the Duck (W.T. Duck), a comic strip syndicated by Universal Press, is often referred to as the first “real” 21st Century cartoonist. He has created over 800 What the Duck comic strips and recently celebrated his three-year anniversary with the strip. Aaron will discuss the often complex world of an artist/animator, which involves aspects of time management, commerce, law, promotion and publishing. He will describe his unique journey through an industry which has been fundamentally changed by the Internet and his use of the Internet to achieve national recognition. Co- sponsored by the Library and Art Departments.
To be held in the Library Overlook Lounge from noon-1p.m. on September 23, 2009.
How Could This Happen? Historical Background of the Holocaust.
History professor, Laura Gellott, will discuss the timeline of events and contributing factors that led to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and Germany’s responsibility for the Jewish Holocaust.
To be held in the Spruce Room, Student Center from noon-1pm on October 2, 2009.
Open Eyes: Recognizing Global Genocide.
Visit our interactive display to examine the term, GENOCIDE. Various countries where issues of human rights are a concern will be explored.
Come and participate on the Bridge, TBA.
Brighton Beach Memoirs
A Coming of Age Comedy by Neil Simon
Directed by Dean Yohnk
Set in 1937 in the midst of the Great Depression and the beginning of WWII, Neil Simon’s most celebrated comedy is the autobiographical memoir of Eugene Jerome, a young Jewish teen living with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. Dreaming of baseball and girls, Eugene must cope with adolescent “challenges” while also dealing with a family that is fighting hard times and a world that is becoming increasingly less innocent. The play also explores issues of discrimination as Eugene and his American family must deal with the persecution of their Jewish family members in Poland facing the impending holocaust. This bittersweet and humorous story has amazing relevance for today – and offers us an optimistic hope for a better tomorrow. This show contains some adult language.
Oct. 23, 24, 29, 30 & 31 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 23 at 10:00 a.m.; Oct. 25 at 2:00 p.m. Communication Arts Theatre
Bent
A provocative 1979 drama by Martin Sherman, revolves around the historical persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany before and during WWII. Max, the central character, is gay and as such is sent to Dachau concentration camp under the Nazi regime. He tries to deny he is gay and gets a yellow label (the one for Jews) instead of pink (the one for gays). In camp he falls in love with his fellow prisoner Horst, who wears his pink label with pride. This powerful play contains graphic language and situations which depict the realities of life for all those who were forced to live and die in the concentration camps because of who they were and what they believed.
Nov. 16th and 17th at 7:30 p.m.; held in the Old Bookstore, Wyllie D175
All My Sons UW-Parkside Theater Production
Author Miller Directed by Jamie Cheatham
A classic American Drama, Arthur Miller’s play deals with fathers and son’s truth and deception, responsibility and the cost of war. Set shortly after World War II, two families struggle to recover from the loss of loved ones and the guilt of war profiteering. Amidst all this turmoil, two young people try to find hope in a brighter future and move forward with their lives. It seems like the perfect time to revisit this Miller classic
Dec. 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 5 at 2:00 p.m.; Dec. 11 at 10:00 a.m. Augie Wegner Studio Theatre
Jewish Holocaust Survivor Speaker
A survivor of the Jewish Holocaust, whose story is one of "many miracles," will speak about her experiences and answer questions. This is a rare opportunity that all too soon will be gone and one that your children will never have: the chance to learn from someone with direct experience of the Holocaust.
To be held in the MOLN D101 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, October 26.
Specific Courses will require students to use MAUS II in their curriculum.
UW-Parkside Ranger Read Reflection Contest
All first-year students are encouraged to submit either a written or visual project which reflects or responds to any one of the main themes found in MAUS II: A Survivor’s Tale; And Here My Troubles Began . Winners will receive a cash prize.
Contest Description
The FYE Read Committee encourages all first-year students to submit either a written or visual project which reflects or responds to any one of the main themes found in Maus II A Survivor’s Tale: And here my Troubles Began .
You may submit one essay, poem, or artwork which addresses any of these issues or another meaningful element which you feel was in the book. In your project, you do not have to directly quote or paraphrase words or ideas from Maus II, but you can if you want to. Please be clear about what theme you are representing in your project and how it relates to the book.
Possible Projects
Since there are many possible forms for expressing these themes, you can submit a written work of poetry, prose or a visual work such as a photograph, collage, or drawing/painting.
You must choose one category and can only submit one project only. Students may work in groups of two or three to create a joint project, but are asked to clearly identify their work as a joint project, and to include everyone's names and contact information on the cover sheet.
General Guidelines
All projects must be accompanied by a cover sheet with your name, student number, address, phone number, and e-mail address. If you are submitting a group project, please include everyone's names and contact information on the cover sheet. Please do not include your name anywhere else on your written or visual submission, as submissions will be reviewed by a process of blind review.
Projects will be judged by members of the University community who have expertise in essays, poetry, and visual work.
Project and Presentation Guidelines
1. Written Project
You may submit either:
• no more than 2,000 words (Approximately 4 pages)
• double-spaced
• 12-point font
• one-inch margins
A POEM (of any form)
• no more than two pages
• single-spaced
• 12-point font
• one-inch margins.
2. Visual Project
You may submit one visual project which could be a painting, drawing, photograph, mixed media work, cartoon, or Flash animation.
• Paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, and mixed media work should be no larger than 24
inches by 36 inches.
• If you are submitting a piece of digital work, please burn it to a CD.
• Please make sure that no identifying information appears on your work.
Project Submissions
Projects should be turned into FYE office in WYLL D175. They should include a cover sheet with your name, student ID number, phone number and e-mail
address. Do not include your contact information anywhere else on your submission.
Only one submission per student or student group, please.
Deadline for entries: October 9, 2009
Project Winners
Project winners will be notified by November 20th. There will be 2 winners. Each winner will receive $100 and participate in an award ceremony in the spring. The works may also be displayed on campus or reprinted in campus publications.
Questions?
Questions about the contest can be addressed to the contest coordinator, Mary Louise Edwards (marylouise.edwards@uwp.edu) 262-595-2395.
