Humanities Network, Vol. 18, No. 1 (Winter 1996)

8 Pages·1.2 MB·English

by  California Humanities (formerly California Council for the Humanities)

HUmaN/TIeS
Winter 1996 • Volume 18 / Number 1
Citizenship and the Humanities
by Robert Benedetti
Dean of the College
University of the Pacific
Knowing more
bt March, Robert Benedetti will begin
about nuclear
a two-year term as chair of the Califor¬
nia Council for the Humanities.
energy does not
Please Note: To join an online
discussion of issues raised in this
clarify whether we
article, please see the directions at the
T
bottom of page six.
should value
here are many reasons to
electricity more than
reflect on literature, philoso¬
phy, history and cultural
wilderness.
criticism (the humanities). These
excursions focus our personal
meditations and fulfill our private I -^
needs. They exercise the mind and
help us find meaning within the
technological advance can be seen
humdrum of life. Who would deny
as the primary goal of public
that the humanities refresh the Robert Benedetti
policy. Therefore, an understand¬
soul?
ing of the science which makes
culture. Even commentators who
technology possible has often been
Loss of Confidence do not share Professor Bloom's
given priority.
But the humanities promise perspective agree that humanities
Further, the methods of science
public as well as private rewards. have not received enough attention
applied to society promised to
Republics throughout history have in our public squares. The Heritage
create a social science which
urged citizens to reflect upon their Foundation and Harvard's JFK
would allow government to
cultural heritage. Cicero encour¬ School, in preparing our congres¬
organize the rest of us in useful
aged every Roman to master the sional representatives for leader¬
ways. If we could learn the natural
liberal arts. In a letter, Jefferson ship, rehash the economics of the
laws of society, couldn't we usher
outlined a broad education for his federal budget, but ignore larger
in a golden age? This dream is still
second cousin, arguing that great questions about the values govern¬
alive even if the reality eludes our Grants Award... page 2
books should become lifelong ment should serve.
grasp. The Council awards
friends for serious democrats. In Some justify this neglect with the
$140,000 in major grants
fact, Jefferson expected all citizens logic of C.P. Snow and suggest that
Arguments for to 13 public humanities
to know the humanities, founding a science is more relevant for those
Reflection projects.
university to provide them access. making political decisions. We
Students of the humanities are
However, our generation has lost encourage legislators to govern by
sometimes slow to take up such Humanities
confidence in cultural reflection. the utilitarian standard, the great¬
challenges and sometimes confuse Caiendar.poge 4
Allen Bloom, in The Closing of the est good for the greatest number.
the public with arguments over
American Mind, worries that our Since we increasingly define the
what and how to read. Still, there Prepesai- Writing
brightest and best have educations greatest good in material terms, it Workshops
are strong arguments for placing
too narrow to appreciate Western is not difficult to understand why Scheduied.poge 6
literature, philosophy, history, and
other works of cultural reflection
Discuss "Citizenship
on every citizen's agenda, reasons
and the Humanities"
that science does not subsume and
Oniine.poge 6
“Memories of Chester and Billy” that are persuasive no matter what
the "canon." Councii Elects Four
Commemorating Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy First, while science details the New Members .. page 7
16 27 means available to reach our goals, Santa Monica gallery
February - March
it does not uncover what our goals owner Ruth Bloom,
should be. To create communities consultant Mary Curtin,
and to move them forward, we State Librarian Kevin
need to discover common commit¬ Starr and UC Davis
ments; means are secondary when professor Patricia A.
traditions remain diverse and Turner will join the board
confused. Knowing more about in March.
nuclear energy does not clarify
whether we should value electric¬ Become a Friend
ity more than wilderness. We need of the
to ask such questions directly, and Humanities.page 7
T
1906. Brown in 1905. the humanities do precisely that.
Secondly, values grow out of
he conviction and execution of Chester Gillette for the 1906 individual experience. We often
murder of his pregnant sweetheart Grace "Billy" Brown inspired lack words to articulate feelings.
Theodore Dreiser's great novel An American Tragedy. The humanities provide linguistic
The "Memories of Chester and Billy" project will commemorate the 70th strategies to communicate what
anniversary of the pubheation of the book that marked a second literary we hold dear and would preserve.
renaissance in America and profoundly influenced writers and artists of In other words, the humanities not
The California Council for
succeeding generations. The project features more than a dozen events, only focus attention on values, but
the Humanities is a state’
including lectures, exhibits, performances, film discussions, and readings. provide a vocabulary for sharing
based affiliate of the
All will be held in San Diego between February 16 and March 27. them. Without Wordsworth, could
National endowment for
For additional information and for a listing of separate events, please we have captured the sublime
the Humanities. The
call 619/594-6902. A partial listing of events can also be found in the connection between nature and the
Humanities Network is
Humanities Calendar on pages four and five of this newsletter and on the human spirit?
published quarterly and
Calendar page of the CCH web site at http://www.calhum.org/.
mailed to anyone who
Continued on page six.
requests it from the San
Francisco office.
Grants Awarded
PROGRAMS
A.C.T. Perspectives
Sponsor: American Conservatory Theater, San
Francisco
Project Director: Larry Biederman and Jerome
Moskowitz
Amount of Award: $10,000 in outright funds
This award supports the presentation of three
panel discussion programs in the American
Conservatory Theater's "A.C.T.'s Perspec¬
tives," a series of free public programs exam¬
ining humanities themes raised by the plays in
A.C.T.'s mainstage productions. "The Trans¬
formation of Character," scheduled for Febru¬
ary 5, will explore issues of character, lan¬
guage and metaphor in Shakespeare's The
Tempest. On March f 1, "Adventures in
Language" will explore the relationship
between the language of drama and the
language of contemporary culture, based in
part on Eric Overmyer's Dark Rapture. And on
April 29, "The Playwright and the Actor" will
link the development of Stanislavsky's revolu¬
tionary actor training methods to such works
of psychological realism as Chekov's The
Cherry Orchard.
From "A.C.T. Perspectives." Themes raised in From "San Francisco: From Diversity to Inclusivity."
Shakespeare's The Tempest are the focus of the first Civil rights pioneers Joseph and Mary Tape sued the San
discussion in the series. Shown here, David Strathairn as Francisco Board of Education in 1884 because their
Prospero. Photo by Scott Peterson, courtesy of the daughter was denied access to public school. Photo courtesy
American Conservatory Theater. of the San Francisco Public Library and Jeannette Kim.
Symposium on California and
Philippine History: 1571 to 1996
Sponsor: University of the Pacific, Stockton
Project Director: Dennis O. Flynn and James
Sobredo PRODUCTION Comrades and Chicken Ranchers
Amount of Award: $ 10,000 in outright funds Sponsor: Film Arts Foundation, San Francisco
Project Director: Zelda Bronstein
Though the Filipino community established The U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848) Amount of Award: $20,000 in matching funds if
itself in California in the 16th century, the Sponsor: KERA, North Texas Public Broadcast¬ $40,000 is raised in outside gifts
contributions of Filipino culture to California ing, Dallas, TX
history and American life are largely un¬ Project Director: Sylvia Komatsu This grant is for the production of a six-part
known. This grant funds a public symposium Amount of Award :$ 10,000 in matching funds if radio documentary about the history of the
on California and Philippine history intended $20,000 is raised in outside gifts radical Jewish chicken ranchers who settled in
to explore the evolution of Filipino culture in Petaluma, California in the early twentieth
North America. Panelists and participants As a result of the U.S.-Mexican War, Mexico century. The documentary explores the conti¬
will examine the contemporary Philippine lost nearly half its territory, and the U.S. nuity and discontinuity among three genera¬
American community, now comprising the gained more than half a million square miles tions of this community and moves between the
largest Asian American presence in California, of land, including California, effectively larger political events which affected it—
and discuss the ramifications of its long reshaping the cultural and political landscape including the Depression, the Holocaust, the
history, from the founding of Manila and the of the continent. This grant funds production founding of the state of Israel, the sixties coun¬
rise of the Spanish galleon trade up to the of a three-hour series examining the causes terculture—and dimensions of local experience
present. Scheduled for April 5 - 7, 1996 at the and legacies of the war from both the Mexican ranging from the daily work of chicken ranching
University of the Pacific in Stockton. and the American perspectives. The project to the 1935 tar-and-feathering of a Jewish
includes a unique collaboration of scholars rancher and political organizer.
from both nations which seeks to illuminate
the full range of historical, social and cultural
From "Yield to
forces that influenced this struggle for land,
Total Elation."
San Francisco: From Diversify to identity and power.
Achilles Rizzoli's
Inclusivity "Mr.Deichmann's
Sponsor: San Francisco Public Library Mother
Project Director: Laura Lent Symbolically
Amount of Award: $ 10,000 in outright funds Yield to Total Elation: The Life and Sketched." Mr.
Work of Achilles Rizzoli Deichmann was
Rizzoli's boss at
This award supports a two-part symposium Sponsor: Hearts and Hands Media Arts, San
the architectural
exploring ideas of culture and citzenship by Francisco
firm. Image
focusing on the history of San Francisco, one Project Director: Pat Ferrero
courtesy of
of the three most ethnically diverse communi¬ Amount of Award:$ 10,000 in matching funds if
Hearts and
ties in the United States. The symposium $20,000 is raised in outside gifts
Hands Media
sessions, which begin in late 1996, comple¬ Arts.
ment two exhibitions about diversity and This grant funds production of a half-hour
inclusivity that will mark the opening of San film depicting the life and work of Achilles G.
Francisco's new Main Library. Session one Rizzoli (1896-1981), son of Italian-Swiss
looks at how city residents and the city's immigrants, a lifelong bachelor, and an archi¬
public spaces exemplify both diverse, tectural draftsman who worked quietly for
multicultural social practices and an American decades at a San Francisco design firm while
spirit of innovation and inventiveness. Ses¬ engaged in a secret effort to record and inter¬
sion two addresses dilemmas of contemporary pret the hallucinations he experienced. The
political philosophy as illustrated by San film focuses on three themes: the distinction
Francisco's history of social protest and between inspiration and madness, the artist as
political activism. visionary, and the role of the working-class
artisan in the era of mass culture.
Grants Awarded
Wheels: An Interactive Excavation
SCRIPTS
of San Francisco's Lost History
Sponsor: Bay Area Center for Art and Technol¬
Capture the Muse with Rita Dove ogy, San Francisco
Sponsor: Big Idea Media, San Francisco Project Director: Chris Carlsson
Project Director: Pamela May Amount of Award: $ 10,000 in outright funds
Amount of Award: $ 10,000 in outright funds
This award supports the production of an
This three-part video documentary will ex¬ interactive multimedia project drawing on
plore how poetry, though often unnoticed, public and private archival materials to
pervades everyday life. Guided by former illustrate the largely untold stories of people's
Poet Laureate Rita Dove, the series also seeks daily lives in San Francisco since its earliest
to deepen our understanding of poetry and its days, as well as the hidden environmental
relationship to human experience by discuss¬ history of the region. The project, which will
ing the continuing presence of ancient oral also attempt to link the separated histories of
traditions in modern life, exploring connec¬ San Francisco and illustrate the historical
tions between language and rhythm, and connections existing between San Francisco's
seeking the sources of poetic inspiration in various communities, will bt presented in a
poems written by everyday Americans. number of interactive formats—kiosks, a CD-
ROM and as a Web site—in hopes of pioneer¬
ing a new kind of "participatory history"
available only through these newer digital
technologies.
The Transforming Spirit: The
Pentecostal Movement in Hispanic
From “The Transforming Spirit." Pentecostal minister blessing
Los Angeles
Guatemalan immigrant in a converted pornographic movie
Sponsor: Regents of the University of California,
house on Western Avenue in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of The Legend of Bop City
Los Angeles Dr. Steven C. Williams.
Sponsor: Bay Area Video Coalition, San Fran¬
Project Director: Carlos Alberto Torres
cisco
Amount of Award: $ 10,000 in outright funds
Project Director: Carol P. Chamberland
Amount of Award: $ 10,000 in outright funds
The worldwide growth of the Pentecostal
Riding the Rails: Children of the
movement is nowhere more evident than in its
Great Depression From 1950 to 1965, Jimbo's Bop City in San
rapid expansion into the Hispanic community
Sponsor: Media Network, New York, NY Francisco's Fillmore district was a world
of 20th century Los Angeles. This script for a
Project Director: Michael Uys and Lexy Lovell famous spot for jazz musicians to play and
half-hour video focuses on the proliferation of
Amount of Award: $ 10,000 in outright funds socialize. Such jazz legends as Billie Holiday,
storefront churches and their congregations
Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Miles
and examines how this emerging movement
Among those whose lives were deeply affected Davis were regulars at Jimbo's Bop City, often
of Hispanic Pentecostalism relates to the more
by the Great Depression was a surprisingly arriving at the club after their formal gigs in
general historical traditions and cultural
large population of youths who rode out the Bay Area hotels and dinner clubs. This script
attributes of Pentecostalism in the U.S.
Depression by riding the rails. This script for a project relies on access to a vast private
one-hour 16mm documentary film focuses on 10 collection of memorabilia, recordings, and
individuals who recount their personal experi¬ photographs to tell the story of the rise and
ences as youngsters riding the freight trains. demise of this popular San Francisco land¬
The film illustrates the social, economic, and mark. The project also examines the relation¬
Black Westerners
political phenomenon of the Great Depression ship of Bop City to the jazz scene in America
Sponsor: Utah Film and Video Center, Salt Lake
as told through these stories, and examines how and abroad, and how Bop City's unique
City, Utah
cultural influences, poverty, and racism were environment was shaped by the political and
Project Director: Anne Watson
factors in this railway movement of children social scene of postwar America and the
Amount of Award: $10,000 in outright funds
and adolescents. dawning of the Civil Rights movement.
African Americans have been living west of
the Mississippi since the days of Spanish
exploration and have participated in the
settlement of the West in roles ranging from
explorers and traders to journalists, artists,
and investors. This script project for five one-
hour film documentaries draws on a cross-
section of humanities perspectives to tell this
story. This award is in particular support of
the final episode, which focuses on the black
experience in California from statehood to the
present.
The History of Affirmative Action
Sponsor: Catticus Corporation, Berkeley
Project Director: Marjorie Dobkin
Amount of Award: $10,000 in outright funds
This award supports script development for a
video documentary on the history of affirma¬
tive action policy, which has generated debate
in California from the Bakke decision in 1978
to the pending Civil Rights Initiative. The
project seeks to inform the discussion by
providing a politically balanced interpretation
that places the current debate in a broader
historical context.
From "The Legend of Bop City." Jamming at Jimbo's Bop City in the 1950s. Courtesy of the collection of Jimbo Edwards
and Carol P. Chamberland.
The public humanities programs listed on these Through "Between Two Worlds: The Mar. 1 - "Gum San: Land of the Golden
two pages were either created or supported by the Mor. 31 People of the Border" is a CERA- 31 Mountain" is a CERA-sponsored
California Council for the Humanities. Please sponsored exhibit of photographs exhibit of artifacts, historical
note that dates and times should be confirmed by photojournalist Donald Bartletti photographs and other documents
with the local sponsors. These listings are often exploring perspectives on border exploring the presence and impor¬
provided to CCH well before final arrangements life and migration. At the Grace tance of the Chinese in the region's
are made. Hudson Museum, 431 S. Main St., history. At the Community Memo¬
Please also check the monthly calendar listings Ukiah. 707/459-2736. rial Museum, 1333 Butte House
on the Council's world wide web pages at http:// Road, Yuba City. 916/741-7141.
Keep us flying!
www.calhum.org/.
Apr. 10 - The "Between Two Worlds: The
May 12 People of the Border" exhibit (see
above) travels to the Museum of
EXHIBITS History & Art, 225 South Euclid
Ave., Ontario. 909/983-3198.
Through "Legacy: Portrait of Holocaust
Apr. 17 - The "Gum San" exhibit (see above)
Feb. 11 Survivors" is an exhibition of
Jun. 16 travels to the Grace Hudson Mu¬
photographs of Bay Area Holocaust
seum, 431 S. Main St., Ukiah. 707/
survivors taken by Evvy Eisen with
459-2736.
accompanying autobiograhical
texts. Marin Theater Company,
May 1 - The "Produce for Victory" exhibit
397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley.
Jun. 16 (see above) travels to the Corona
415/499-8350 for information.
Public Library Heritage Room, 650
S. Main, Corona. 909/736-2386.
Through "ar'kiv: The California File" is an
Feb. 18 exhibit of historical photographs
from the California Museum of
Photography's archives including
images of landscape, industry, From the "Produce for Victory"
people, events, architecture, adver¬ exhibition. The "Keep Us Flying" poster
Jan. 28 "California Native Literature: The
tising and others subjects. The (1943) featuring airman Robert Deitz
Poetry of Janice Gould" is a
photographs of the West date from was one of the few World War 11 posters
discussion held in conjunction with
1880 to the late 1960s. They are depicting African Americans. Courtesy
"The Carver's Art" exhibition.
of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling
complemented by a computer-
Exhibition Service (SITES) and the U.S. Gould will discuss the sources of
based display allowing visitors to
Treasury. contemporary Native Californian
investigate other aspects of Califor¬
literature. 2 p.m. At the Phoebe
nia history. At the California
Through "Produce for Victory: Posters on Hearst Museum, 103 Kroeber Hall,
Museum of Photography, UC
Mar. 31 the Homefront, 1941-1945" is a UC Berkeley. For more informa¬
Riverside. Please call 909/787-4787
CERA-sponsored SITES exhibit of tion, please call 510/642-3681.
for more information.
World War II patriotic posters. The
exhibit explores the history and
effect on production of these
efforts to increase agricultural and
industrial output. At the Lompoc
Museum, 200 South H Street,
Lompoc. 805/736-3888.
Through "Theodore Dreiser: His World
Apr. 7 and Legacy" is a photographic
exhibit about the author of such
classic American novels as An
American Tragedy. Part of the
"Memories of Chester and Billy"
project. San Diego Public Library,
820 E Street.
"Women in Wartime," circa 1945 photo from the Will Feb. 11 - The "Legacy: Portrait of Holocaust
Theodore Dreiser at age 54 in 1925, about
Connell Archive is part of the "ar 'kiv" project. Photo Mar. 4 Survivors" exhibit (see above) the time he was working on An American
courtesy of the UC Riverside California Museum of moves to the Dance Palace in Point Tragedy. Photo courtesy of the Van Pelt
Photography. Reyes Station. 415/663-1075. Library, University of Pennsylvania.
Vr—f-n rr"^ Feb. 21 "Thomas Jefferson in Sonora" Mar. 15 "Theodore Dreiser: Journalist and
features award-winning scholar Artist" is a discussion presented as
. Clay Jenkinson in a three-part part of the "Memories of Chester
chautauqua presentation about the and Billy" symposium. James K.
nation's third president. 7 p.m. At Buckalew, journalism professor,
Opera Hall, 250 S. Washington. and Thomas P. Riggio, professor
M;# 'it'® Contact Pat Perry at 209/532-4541 and editor of The Pennsylvania
W 9
for more information. Edition of Theodore Dreiser, will
lead the discussion. 6:30 p.m. Smith
Feb. 24 Public events for the opening of the Recital Hall, San Diego State
From the "Shades of LA." project. Photo of "California Indian Basketweaver- University. 619/594-6902.
relatives of the Esfandiari family in Kerman, Iran
Continuing Traditions" exhibit
(circa 1935). Courtesy of the Los Angeles
include talks, films, demonstrations Mar. 15 Art historian Betsy Fahlman will
Public Library Photo Collection.
and discussions. Beginning at 11 lead a discussion exploring themes
a.m. History Museum of Santa of the "Produce for Victory"
Feb. 4 The "Shades of L.A." project sympo¬
Cruz County, First & Cooper exhibition (see exhibits listings). 7
sium will mark the opening of an
Streets, Santa Cruz. 408/425-7278 p.m. Lompoc Museum, 200 H
exhibit of photographs drawn from the
Street. 805/736-3888
latest series of Photo Days in this
Feb. 28 "Thomas Jefferson in Murphys"
broad effort to document individual
features award-winning scholar Apr. 5 - 7 The "California and Philippine
and community life in Los Angeles
Clay Jenkinson in a three-part History: 1571-1996" symposium
and Southern Cahfornia. 1 p.m. At the
chautauqua presentation about the will be held at UOP in Stockton.
Los Angeles Central Library, 630 E.
nation's third president. 7 p.m. At Sessions include participants from
Fifth Street. 213/228-7403.
the Black Bart Playhouse. Contact Spain, the Philippines and the U.S.
Penny West at 209/754-1774 for covering the history and contribu¬
Feb. 5 "The Transformation of Character" is
more information. tions of Filipino culture in Califor¬
a panel discussion held as part of the
nia and North America. Various
"A.C.T. Perspectives" series. Profes¬
locations on the University of
sors Stephen Greenblatt and Harry
Pacific Stockton campus, 3601 N.
Berger and theater historian Larry
Pacific Ave. 209/946-2913.
Reed will facilitate this discussion on
Shakespeare's The Tempest. 7 p.m. At
Apr. 12 "On-Going Traditions and Rituals
the Geary Theater, 413 Geary Street,
of Being" is a lecture/perfor¬
San Francisco. Please call 415/439-2449.
mance/ discussion by Native
American flutist R. Carlos Nakai.
Feb. 6 "The Persistence of the 'Frontier
Part of the "Border Voices III: The
Thesis' in America" is a lecture by Dr.
Clay Jenkinson as Thomas Jefferson. Search for American Identity"
Howard Kushner, professor of history
series. 7 p.m. Copley Symphony
at San Diego State University. Kushner
Hall, San Diego. 619/594-3007.
will discuss how the view of early Mar. 1 "Working Girls, Morality and
American settlers as heroes mythologizes Urban Dangers in Dreiser's An
their suicidal and self-destructive American Tragedy" is a panel
behavior. Part of the "Border Voices discussion presented as part of the
111; The Search for American Identity" "Memories of Chester and Billy"
series. 7 p.m. At Scripps Ranch High symposium. A staged reading of
School, 10410 Treena Street, San Diego. love letters of Chester and Billy,
619/594-3007. whose lives inspired Dreiser's
novel, will accompany the discus¬
Feb. 6 "Thomas Jefferson in Sutter Creek" sion. 6:30 p.m. At the Smith Recital
features award-winning scholar Clay Hall, San Diego State University.
Jenkinson in a three-part chautauqua 619/594-6902. R. Carlos
presentation about the nation's third Nakai
president. 7:30 p.m. At the Sutter
Creek Theater. Contact Ron Mar. 3 & Screenings of films based on Apr. 13 "Crossing Borders: Construction
Mittelbrunn at 209/223-0351. 17 Theodore Dreiser's An American of a Fluid National Identity" is a
Tragedy will be held as part of the lecture/discussion by Dr. Paula
Feb. 15 "Thomas Jefferson in San Juan symposium "Memories of Chester Gunn Allen, professor of English at
Bautista" features award-wirming and Billy." The films include von UCLA. It is the culminating pro¬
scholar Clay Jenkinson in a three-part Sternberg's 1931 An American gram in the "Border Voices III; The
chautauqua presentation about the Tragedy and George Stevens' 1951 Search for American Identity"
nation's third president. 7 p.m. At A Place in the Sun. The screening New Humanities lecture series. 7
Plaza Hall Ballroom, San Juan Bautista will be followed by a panel discus¬ p.m. Copley Auditorium, Balboa
State Historic Park, comer of Second sion led by professor Michael Real, Park, San Diego. 619/594-3007.
St. & Washington. Please contact filmmaker Jack Ofield ,and film
Veronica Murray at 408/623-4661 for lecturer Greg Kahn. 2 p.m. At the Apr. 12 - "Border Voices/New Voices
more information. San Diego Central Library Audito¬ 13 Poetry and Humanities Fair," San
rium. 619/594-6902 to confirm Diego's third annual multicultural
Feb. 16 "Theodore Dreiser: The Road to dates and times. poetry and humanities fair, will be
Tragedy" is a lecture/discussion by held in Balboa Park. Call 619/594-
Richard Lingeman, executive editor of Mar. 11 "American Language in Contem¬ 3007 for more information.
The Nation and biographer of porary Literature" is a panel
Theodore Dreiser. It's the first of more discussion held as part of the Apr. 29 "The Playwright and the Actor:
than a dozen lectures, performances "A.C.T. Perspectives" series. New Forms and New Methods" is
and exhibits in the "Memories of Humanities professor Marjorie a panel discussion held as part of
Chester and Billy" project, a CCH- Perloff, drama professor Marc the "A.C.T. Perspectives" series.
supported six-week commemoration Robinson, and playwright Mac The discussion will focus on
of the 70th armiversary of the publica¬ Wellman will lead this discussion Chekov's play The Cherry Orchard
tion of Theodore Dreiser's great novel of themes explored in the play Dark and Stanislavsky's method of study
An American Tragedy. 6:30 p.m. At Rapture. 7 p.m. At the Geary The¬ and acting. 7 p.m. At the Geary
Smith Recital Hall, Music Building, ater, 413 Geary Street, San Fran¬ Theater, 413 Geary Street, San
San Diego State University. For more cisco. 415/439-2449. Francisco. 415/439-2449.
information, call 619/594-6902.
Humanities Heivs
Council Meets in Riverside in March Proposal-Writing Workshops Offered
The California Council for the Humanities' quarterly meeting will be Workshops are scheduled during February for people interested in
held at the Mission Inn, 3649 Seventh Street, Riverside on March 7, 8, and submitting grant proposals at the Council's April 1 deadline
9. Exact times for Council sessions had not been determined as this issue
went to press. For additional information, please contact the Council's In San Francisco:
San Francisco office. For Media Project proposals
Wednesday, February 14 10:30 a.m. to noon
Katie McMurran Joins Council Staff
For Public Project proposals
Katie McMurran, a 1995 graduate of UC Berkeley, has joined the
Thursday, February 14 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Council's San Francisco staff as office assistant. It's her voice you are
most likely to hear first when you call the San Francisco office.
In Los Angeles
McMurran holds a bachelor's degree in music and graduated from
Thursday, February 15 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Berkeley with high honors. While an undergraduate, she was a member
Friday, February 16 10:30 a.m. to noon
of the Cal Performances Student Committee for the Arts and the Univer¬
sity Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive Student Committee. She was also
In San Diego
a member of the Albany Community Orchestra and the UC Berkeley
Tuesday, February 20 10:30 a.m. to noon
Chorus. McMurran succeeds Chin-ju (Justine) Park, who has taken a
position at the Commonwealth Club of California.
The workshops are free, but advance registration is required. Please
call the nearest Council office (415/391-1474 in San Francisco, 213/623-
Central Valley Literature Project Coordinator
5993 in Los Angeles, and 619/232-4020 in San Diego) to register and
Hired
confirm dates and locations. Please also request and read the 1995-1996
Ann Andersen, a native of Modesto and a resident of Merced, has been Guide to the Grant Program before attending the workshop.
selected to coordinate the Council's "Rambling Routes" project, the first-
ever large-scale public exploration of writers and writings from
More Summer Institutes for High School History
California's Central Valley.
and English Teachers
Andersen is currently a special consultant for CSU Sacramento and a
trustee for the Merced Union High School District. She has broad experi¬ In 1996 the National Humanities Center in Research Triangle Park,
ence in community leadership, library services and grant writing and North Carolina, will sponsor summer institutes for high school history
management. In 1992, she was part of the team that organized the very and English teachers.
successful Merced leg of the Council's "Columbus and After" traveling For history teachers the Center will offer "Nature Transformed: Imagi¬
Chautauqua program, and in 1988 she was project director for Council- nation and the North American Landscape," an institute that will explore
supported public exhibition at the Merced County Library. the relationship between the ways men and women have thought about
"Rambling Routes" is a vast literature project scheduled to take place in their surroundings and the ways that they have acted toward them. In
Redding, Chico, Yuba City, Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Merced, "The Writing of African American Identity: Self, Race, and Gender,"
Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield beginning in the Fall of 1996 and continu¬ English teachers will have the opportunity to study themes of freedom
ing into the Spring of 1997. Public programs will include a "Writers in and identity in twelve key works by African American writers. Both
Discussion" series featuring such prominent writers as Gary Soto, Maxine programs will run from June 24 to July 12,1996.
Hong Kingston, Richard Rodriquez, Ernest J. Finney, and Gerald Haslam. The National Humanities Center will provide participants with travel
In-depth reading-and-discussion groups, local exhibits, and a variety of expenses, lodging, most meals, texts, and a stipend of $750. For an
additional community-created historical and literary programs are also application or more information, contact: Summer Institute Office,
planned. Watch for additional information about the "Rambling Routes" National Humanities Center, PO Box 12256, Research Triangle Park, NC
Central Valley literature project in upcoming issues of this newsletter. 27709. 919/ 549-0661. E-mail: [email protected].
The application deadline is March 15,1996.
Summer Seminars and Institutes for School
Teachers
Internships Available
The National Endowment for the Humanities' Division of Education
The Council has a number of internship opportunities available for the
Programs is offering 50 seminars and 18 institutes on a variety of topics
Spring for undergraduate and graduate students in humanities disci¬
for K-12 teachers. A listing of the 1996 summer institutes and seminars
plines. Opportunities exist in each of the Council's offices. Interested
can be obtained by contacting the Division of Education Programs,
students should contact Margo McBane or Khisna Griffin in the Los
National Endowment for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue,
Angeles officer(213/623-5993) or Alden Mudge in the San Francisco
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20506; 202/606-8377. But PLEASE NOTE:
officer (415/391-1474).
Teachers interested in participating in either a seminar or an institute
need to write to the project director directly to request additional informa¬
tion and application materials. The deadline for most applications is Smithsonian Institution Fellovy^ships in Museum
Practice
March 1, 1996.
Participants in Summer Institutes generally have their room, board and Prosposals are invited for the fifth annual Fellowships in Museum
supplies paid for by the project and receive an additional stipend. All Practice program, a professional development opportunity dedicated to
teachers selected to participate in a Summer Seminar will be awarded a helping museums increase their expertise and leadership. An award
stipend of $2,450, $2,825, or $3,200 (depending on the length of the semi¬ enables experienced staff to spend time at the Smithsonian conducting
nar) to cover travel costs to and from the seminar location, books and research on a topic of importance to the field. Fellowships are individu¬
other research expenses, and living expenses. ally designed. Applications are accepted until February 16,1996 for
Generally speaking, Americans teaching full time in public, private, projects beginning after October 15,1996. For guidelines and application
and church-affiliated schools are eligible to apply to seminars and insti¬ procedures, contact Nancy Fuller, Center for Museum Studies,
tutes. Librarians and school administrators are eligible to apply for Smithsonian Institution, MRC-427, Washington, D.C. 20560; telephone:
seminars and may also be eligible for some institutes. 202/357-3101; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [email protected]
Citizenship continued Discuss “Citizenship and
THE Humanities” Onune
Our Search for What define our own universe, but also establish a life together, we must If you'd like to discuss the ideas
to Value introduce us to other "universes." enrich our understanding of broached in this article online,
They teach empathy, offer alterna¬ ourselves, learn to communicate please join our e-mail conversa¬
Finally, the search for values and
tive "structures of feeling," and what we believe, and appreciate tion. To find out how to join,
the language to express them can
search for universals. In The Souls beliefs which differ from our own. check the Discussions page on
lead to prejudice and intolerance.
of Black Folk, W.E.B. DuBois We are not the first multi-cultural the CCH world wide web site
Fascism followed in the wake of
glimpsed behind the veil of race; he generation nor are we without [http://www.calhum.org/j
19th century Romanticism, a
forged an empathetic link that contemporaries worthy of consid¬ after January 29, or send an e-
treasure trove of humanistic
bloomed into the bi-racial Civil eration. Our republic must review mail inquiry to
tendencies. However the humani¬
Rights movement. its humanistic treasures and revisit [email protected] and we'll
ties also provide antidotes for these
The humanities aid our search the language of goals. send you sign-on instructions.
tendencies. They not only help us
for what to value. If we are to re¬
s
Ch air and New Council Members Announced
At its December meeting in Los Angeles, the Council elected Robert Benedetti, dean of the College of the Pacific, the liberal arts college within the
University of the Pacific in Stockton, as chair of the Council. Benedetti succeeds Jay Mechling, professor of American Studies at UC Davis. He will
serve a two-year term beginning in March.
At the same meeting, the Council selected four new members who begin their three-year terms in March of 1996.
Ruth Bloom is the owner of Ruth Bloom Kevin Starr is the State Librarian of California, a professor in the School
Gallery in Santa Monica. She brings of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Southern California,
extensive experience in education and and a contributing editor for the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of a
community work to the board, having number of award-winning books, including Endangered Dreams: The Great
been an elementary school teacher in Depression in California, Material Dreams: Southern California Through the
the 1970s, a trustee of the Los Angeles 1920s, Over California, and Land's End, as well as numerous prefaces, book
Board of Education from 1980 to 1989, chapters, articles and reviews on all aspects of social, cultural, political,
and a member of the California and religious affairs. In 1978 he was the Rome/Vatican correspondent for
Legislature's Task Force on Arts Educa¬ the Hearst newspapers. Starr has also been a senior consultant for Hill
tion from 1987 to 1991. Bloom also and Knowlton, USA in San Francisco and the principal in Kevin Starr
currently serves on the advisory board Associates. He has taught at Harvard University, UC Berkeley and UC
of the Los Angeles Children's Museum Davis, served as the executive aide to the mayor of San Francisco and as
and the board of directors of the Venice the city librarian of San Francisco. His awards include a Danforth Fellow¬
Family Clinic. In 1988 she was presi¬ ship to Harvard, and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
dent of the California County Boards of Fellowship. In 1986 he was elected a fellow of the Society of American
Education. She has also been a commis¬ Historians and, in 1987, a fellow of the American Antiquarian Society.
sioner on the Children-Youth Mental Health Association, a member Starr received his master's degree and his doctorate from Harvard Univer¬
of the Joint Powers Board for the L.A. County High School for the sity and holds a bachelors degree from the University of San Diego.
Arts, and a member of the Curators Council for the Los Angeles
Museum of Art. Bloom is the recipient of a number of awards for
distinguished service to the educational community. She holds a Patricia A. Turner is an associate professor
master's degree in educational psychology from California State in both the African-American and African
University at Northridge and a bachelor's degree in English from Studies and the American Studies programs
the University of Southern California. at UC Davis. She is the author of Ceramic
Uncles and Celluloid Mammies: Black Images
and Their Influence on Culture and I Heard It
Mary Curtin is the sole proprietor of a firm specializing in commu¬ Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African
nity and governmental relations located in Riverside. She cur¬ American Culture, as well as numerous
rently serves as a board member on the Federation of State Hu¬ articles on topics in American folklore and
manities Councils, the organization representing the state humani¬ the significance of contemporary images in
ties councils in Washington, D.C, and is on the advisory board of the media. Turner also serves on the board
the Salvation Army. Curtin previously served on the CCH board of Signifyin' Works, the group that contin¬
from 1984 to 1988 and is the first alumna to be re-elected to the ues to manage the documentary films of
board. From 1975 to 1987, Curtin was executive officer for the Marlon Riggs after his death, and as first
Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO of San Bernardino and vice president of the California Folklore
Riverside counties, in which capacity she represented approxi¬ Society. Turner was a consulting scholar on
mately 100,000 workers in the region. Curtin has also been a very several of Marlon Riggs' documentaries, including the award-winning
active volunteer for diverse community non-profit organizations, films. Color Adjustment and Black Is...Black Ain't. In 1994 she was elected a
helping to develop the Inland Empire Educational Foundation's fellow of the Davis Humanities Institute. She was voted Outstanding
Humanities Division, a coalition of humanities organizations Faculty Member by the UC Davis Delta Sigma Theta Sorority chapter in
supported by CCH, as well as serving on the local boards of Habi¬ 1992 and has been nominated this year for the Distinguished Teacher
tat for Humanity, the League of Women Voters, the San Bernar- Award. Before accepting her position at UC Davis, Turner was assistant
dino-Riverside Urban League, and Survive Food Bank. Curtin has professor in the Black Studies department at the University of Massachu¬
also been a teacher at Riverside Community College. She holds a setts, Boston. Turner received her master's degree and her doctorate from
master's degree from UC Riverside. UC Berkeley.
The California Council for the Humanities
Needs Your Support!
As a reader of Humanities Network, please become
a Fnend of the Humanities today.
□ $25 ❖ Become a contributing subscriber of this Humanities Network
newsletter.
❖ Receive printed acknowledgment in the next newsletter.
□ $50 ❖ Monthly insider's preview of Council-supported free hu¬
manities activities.
Acknowledgment in the Council's Annual Report.
□ $75 ❖ Above plus:
❖ Audio cassette tape of historian Clay Jenkinson as Thomas
Jefferson.
□ $100 ❖ Above (except tape) plus:
❖ Autographed copy of Epitaph for a Peach by Council member
Mas Masumoto, critically acclaimed book that chronicles the
seasons on a California family farm.
s e e n
[Z
The humanities explore human histories, JAY MECHLING, CHAIR LINDA CROWE ANN NICKOLL
cultures and values. They inform the
conversations that are vital to a thriving Professor of American Studies System Director Political Activist
demcKrocy. They constitute our most UC Davis Peninsula Library System, San Mateo Beverly Hills
important human inheritance.
The purpose of the California Council for
the Humanities is create a state in which all ISABEL ALEGRIA PENELOPE ELORES PETER H. PENNEKAMP
Californians have lifelong access to this
shared inheritance. The Council is gov¬ Journalist Associate Professor of Secondary Education Executive Director, Humboldt Area
erned by a volunteer board drawn from San Erancisco San Erancisco State University Foundation
leaders in public and academic life. It is an
Eureka
independent state affiliate of the National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and PAUL APODACA DAVID K. GLIDDEN
oraptehreart eths aans aa gpouvbelircn-mpreivnat taeg peanrctyn.e rship Curator of Native American Art, Bowers Professor of Philosophy GAINES POST, JR,
UC Riverside
The Council creates and supports public Museum Professor of History
humanities programs througnout Califor¬ Santa Ana Claremont McKenna College
nia. These include California Exhibition ISABEL HERNANDEZ-SERNA
Resources Alliance (CERA), which provides
administrative support and a means for Assistant Vice President for
ROBERT BENEDETTI SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ
sharing exhibits among members of a Academic Affairs
statewide network of small museum; Dean, College of the Pacific Director, Multicultural Programs,
Motheread, a family reading program in Stockton CaUfomia State University at Sacramento Apple Computer, Inc.
Los Angeles; a statewide chautauqua tour
with Clay Jenkinson portraying Thomas Cupertino
MARIE G. KELLEY
Jefferson; Humanities Online, a world wide GLORIA BUSMAN
web project providing scholar - led President, Kelley Productions
discussions via e-mail and hypertextual Labor Educator and Writer La Jolla CHRISTINE SISLEY
links to cultural calendars and humanities Carlsbad Executive Director, The Ralph M. Parsons
resources of interest to the online commu¬
nity; publications distributed to libraries, J. JORGE KLOR DE ALVA Foundation
scholars, and the public; and, in 1996 and ELLIOTT BUTLER-EVANS Los Angeles
1997, "Ramblinp Routes," a first-ever, Class of 1940 Professor of Comparative Ethnic
large-scale public exploration of writers Associate Professor of English Studies and Anthropology
and writing from California's Great Central UC Santa Barbara UC Berkeley RICHARD YARBOROUGH
Valley.
The Cauncil also conducts a competitive Associate Professor of English
grants program. Since 1975, it has SHARLEEN COOPER COHEN DAVID MAS MASUMOTO UCLA
awarded nearly $13 million to over 1,700
non-profit organizations, enabling them to Writer Writer and Farmer
prociuce exhibits, film and radio programs, Encino Del Rey
and lecture series and conferences on
topics significant to Californians.
The Council is an independent, not-for-
profit organization. It is supported by
grants from NEH, corporations and
foundations, and by contributions from
individuals. It receives no state funds.
Major grant proposals are due on April 1
and Octcmer 1. Out-of-cycle grants— James Quay Ralph Lewin Teri X. Yazdi Khisna Griffin Alden Mudge
proposal planning grants, minigrants, and Executive Director Assistant Director Office Manager Motheread Coordinator Director of
tilm-and-speaker grants—are accepted on Communications
the first day of each month. Interested Elliot Klein Margo McBane Craig Phillips Mary Beth Sheehan
cnoopny-p orfo ftiht eo Grguaindiez atoti othnes Gshroaunltd P rreoqguraemst a Development Director Program Officer Administrative Assistant Museum Program Helen Min
Coordinator
from the San Francisco office. Editorial Intern
Jeannie Mac Gregor Rosalino Dizon Elizabeth Heider
Katie McMurran
Page proofs for this publication were created on Assistant Director Fiscal Administrator Typist
Office Assistant
equipment donated by Apple Computer.
NEXT PROPOSAL DEADLINE: April 1,1996
Proposals must conform to the Guide to the Grant Program. Send 15 copies to the San Francisco office by the due date.
-Tnr»nr■ ■■ ^
winter 1996 • Volume 18/ Number 1
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