English department faculty, students participate in campus-wide Festival of the Creative Arts to highlight interdisciplinary themes
By Emma Jowers
The Florida State University Office of Research’s third-annual Festival of the Creative Arts took place from Jan. 26 to Feb. 23. The program of events was a cross-departmental and interdisciplinary effort to unite the arts, the humanities, and the sciences through symposiums, creative performances, and film showings.
Department of English faculty, graduate students, and alumni took part in four of the events; Magnetic Dances; Shakespeare and the Stars; an Ethics symposium; and a Poetry and Medical Posthumanism discussion. Throughout the four weeks, department representatives provided a wide variety of informative scholarship, provocative poetry, and engaging presentations, each showcasing the participants’ academic excellence and creative abilities.
The campus collaborations that occurred throughout the festival allowed attendees to learn about and explore the intersections between science, literature, ethics, and more, fostering an appreciation for how these different areas of study influence each other.
The English department has been involved in the festival for the past three years and remains dedicated to continuing academic and creative relationships with other colleges and departments. This year’s events:
Poetry and Medical Posthumanism
The Poetry and Medical Posthumanism panel combined the creativity of poetry with the subject of modern healthcare. Caldwell Professor of English and Chair Andrew Epstein and Associate Professor of Medical Humanities Tana Jean Welch discussed the roles English literature and humanities can have in the medical field as well as how different perspectives of posthumanism can change how society and medical professionals view healthcare. Read Daniella DeMauro's article the Poetry and Medical Posthumanism discussion.
Ethics Symposium
The Ethics Symposium provided a forum for three engaging presentations and thought-provoking discussions of modern ethics. Department of English Professor Christopher Okonkwo partnered with FSU Professor of Musicology Frank Gunderson to discuss the principles of ethics regarding musicology research and other interdisciplinary work. Read about the Ethics Symposium.
Magnetic Dances
Magnetic Dances was a night of creativity featuring the poetry of English-Creative Writing graduate students who found inspiration to write after a visit to FSU’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. College of Music students composed pieces and School of Dance students choreographed performances to complement the readings. Distinguished University Scholar of English Barbara Hamby led poets Kyle Flak, Landis Grenville, Chloe Rodriguez, Yusuf Akman, and Haley Laningham through the process of finding inspiration through science and turning it into art. Read Emma Jowers' article about the Magnetic Dances performance.
Shakespeare and the Stars
Shakespeare and the Stars was held at Tallahassee’s Challenger Learning Center, and the program aimed to teach attendees—especially children in grades K-12—about the importance of Shakespeare throughout all disciplines. English-Literature, Media, and Culture doctoral student Caroline Hampshire facilitated a discussion on how Shakespeare’s works influenced not only English and philosophy but fields in astronomy and science as well. Participation from other FSU departments and the FSU Flying High Circus created a well-rounded learning experience. Read Emma Jowers' article about the Shakespeare and the Stars event.