UMSL’s Center for the Humanities presents its 13th annual “What is a City” conference that will examine urban life in contemporary and historical films, fiction, television and photography.
“We want to raise awareness about urban problems and culture,” said Karen Lucus, associated director for UMSL’s Center for the Humanities.
Award-winning speakers from as far as Italy will unite for the two day conference, which is Thursday, Oct. 25 from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 26 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Summitt Lounge on UMSL’s main campus, to showcase urban perspectives through images and words.
Featured cities will include London, Chicago, Paris, Florence, Italy, Sarasota, Fla., Los Angeles and St. Louis.
“We always try to make the conference not just about St. Louis,” Lucas said. “Can we learn from Chicago, Paris or small towns in what we do in common and differently.”
One of the featured speakers is Marco Williams, an award winning documentary and fiction film director.
Williams will show clips from his powerful documentary Banished: The Violent Expulsion of African Americans and the Remaking of the American City.
It is a story of three towns that violently expelled their African-American populations and whose black descendants return to learn their family history.
The film has received rave reviews and has been highlighted at the Sundance Film Festival, PBS, the Oprah Winfrey show and Nightline with Ted Koppel.
Anand Prahlad, English professor at UM-Columbia, will also be on hand to share his expertise on urban life as it relates to African-American folklore.
His previous books include African-American Proverbs in Context and Reggae Wisdom: Proverbs in Jamaican Music. He also edited the Greenwood Encyclopedia of African-American Folklore.
St. Louis Post Dispacth film critic Joe Williams will too be there to present his topic of civic progress and urban decay in movies.
Conference events include an exhibit Thursday afternoon and a reception in Gallery 210 from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is requested at 314-516-5972 or online. A parking permit will be mailed to those who preregister.
Attendees are encouraged to bring canned food donations, which will be delivered to a hunger-relief organization.
For a complete itinerary and to register for the “What is a City,” conference go to http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/conted/conferences/city.html or call 516-5972.