News

Mosques and Palaces of Spain: from Islamic Past to Modern National Identity

Professor D. Fairchild Ruggles of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has written several award-winning books on Islamic gardens, architectural history, and cultural heritage. Her "Gardens, Landscape, and Vision in the Palaces of Islamic Spain" (2000), was praised in TLS as “a grand interpretive work written from a multidisciplinary perspective”…. “clear-headed, highly readable, stimulating….” The editor of numerous other books on cultural heritage, Islamic art, and landscape history, she has also been interviewed several times for television and film, most notably the PBS documentary, "Cities of Light." Monday, May 7 at 4:15pm to 5:30pm | Schapiro Hall, 129 * Sponsored by the Art Department and the Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Continue reading »

The Soviet Ghost in Documentary Practice

Passage, an experimental film project

Belgian film scholar, Jasmijn Van Gorp, will present her documentary "Passage" (2010), an experimental film project made in Odessa, Ukraine, together with the American film director Zac Murphy (Flyeyemedia). "Passage," set in a hotel by that name, is a lyrical exploration of individuals waiting and longing for change. Wednesday, April 18 at 4:15pm | Hollander Hall, 241 * Sponsored by the Department of German and Russian and the Center for Foreign Languages. Continue reading »

Arresting Images: Documenting Putin’s Regime

Two filmscreening at Images Cinema. 9 April: Putin’s Kiss (Lise Birk Pedersen, 2011) 16 April: Khodorkovsky (Cyril Tuschi, 2011) Images Cinema, 7 PM * Funded with generous support from Department of German and Russian, The Oakley Center, International Studies, and The Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Continue reading »

Businessmen, Movie Stars, Soldiers & Spies: Americans in Spain 1936-1975

The economic and political interests of the United States defined twentieth century Spanish history. The close relationship between the two countries culminated in the 1950s and 60s, when American military bases and financial interests--including a new and lucrative outpost of Hollywood--were built on Spanish soil. This talk explores this alliance between the Franco Regime and Washington, and its cultural consequences on Spanish life. International Studies Colloquium with Soledad Fox, Chair and Associate Professor of Romance Languages. March 13 at 2:45pm-3:45pm | Hopkins Hall, Room 002/B1964 Continue reading »

How Did Food Happen in France?

Adam Gopnik

Author and contributor to the New York since 1986, Adam Gopnik will explore French food culture drawing on his latest book, “The Table Comes First: Family, France, and the Meaning of Food.” Booksigning to proceed his talk. March 5, 6:00pm | Griffin 3 This event is organized by the Dept. of Romance Languages and the Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and generously supported by the Schumann Fund, the Sustainable Food and Agriculture Program and the Departments of English and German and Russian. Continue reading »

“Fallen Angels” and “In the Mood for Love”

Wong Kar Wai Classics

February 21 | Film 
Screenings at Images Cinema 3 PM - Fallen Angels 5 PM - In the Mood for Love February 23 | Film Discussion at Images Cinema Haili Kong, Professor of Chinese at Swarthmore College, will discuss Director Kar-Wai Wong's Fallen Angels and In the Mood for Love in a talk entitled, “Time, Space, and Being—Kar-Wai Wong and his Cinematic Illustration of Hong Kong Identity.” Sponsored by the Asian Studies Department and the Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Open to the public, admission free Continue reading »

North Korea under Three Kims

Dr. Charles Armstrong’s talk, “North Korea under Three Kims”, will focus on political transition in North Korea through its three leaders to date: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. Dr. Charles Armstrong is The Korea Foundation Professor of Korean Studies in the Social Sciences at Columbia University. He has published extensively on modern Korean, East Asian, and international history, including his forthcoming book, Tyranny of the Weak: North Korea and the World, 1950 – 1990. February 20 | Griffin 6, 4:15 Sponsored by the Williams College Departments of Asian Studies and History and International Studies Continue reading »

Without Distinction: Race and Ethnicity in New French Film

Screening of the movies “Un Prophète” (2008), “35 Rhums” (2009), “White Material” (2010), and “Welcome” (2008) at Annual French and Francophone Film Festival. Mondays, 7 PM at Images Cinema, in French with English subtitles, Admission Free Sponsored by the Williams College Department of Romance Languages and the Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Continue reading »