Programs

In a book published by Duke University Press, UCLA film scholar Michael Berry interviews the renowned Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke.

 In this exercise we learn about the director's philosophy, inspirations, and his remarkable journey from underground filmmaker to international success.

In literature scholar Martin Puchner's new book, "Culture: The Story of Us, from Cave Art to K-Pop," the author contemplates ancient history and the value of cultural sharing.

This reading activity provides an interesting lens to look at the implications of knowledge production and language translation.

In 1922, Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca outlined the multicultural influences of Cante Jondo - a music genre which he felt represented the authentic sound of the gypsy. 

In this program we read and discuss one of his historic speeches, given at the Centro Artístico in Grenada.

Filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho has released a book featuring three of his film scripts, along with an introduction in which he shares some of his philosophy. In this activity, participants will read an English translation of the text (originally published only in Portuguese), and explore this modern master's contributions to world cinema. Also features insights on other Brazilian classics. 

Soulful House is a genre of dance music that was largely created by people in the US, specifically in the cities of Chicago, Baltimore, and New York.

 In this program, we explore the pivotal role that Japanese musicians, artists, and manufacturers  also played in the co-creation of the sound, and discuss the ways in which they helped shape the lineage's trajectory at critical moments.

Nina Simone was rejected for a music scholarship in spite of the unquestionable talent she had developed, although it was that same marginalization which helped crystallize her entirely unique style, combining elements of soul, jazz, and classical music. This activity examines material from her 1966 album, "Wild is the Wind."

Werner Herzog is a filmmaker and author known for his stories of strange protagonists and quixotic adventures. 

To grasp his avant-garde perspective on life, participants in this program will learn about some of the films, interviews, and books that define the legacy of this true cinematic enigma.

An introduction to Contemporary Japanese Artforms: Film, Music, and Literature.

Featuring topics including the award-winning Drive My Car, musician and singer/songwriter Eiko Ishibashi, novelist Haruki Murakami, and the print publication TOO MUCH Magazine.

Herman Melville, Franz Kafka, Jorge Borges, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Albert Camus are featured in this community learning series focusing on short stories from influential writers in classic literature. Program includes tales from New England, Argentina, Germany and French North Africa.