Gonzaga University&rsquo\;s Faith and Reason Institute and Whitworth \;University&rsquo\;s Weyerhaeuser Center for Faith and Learning are pleased to \;announce their Seventh Annual Seminar on Faith\, Film and Philosophy\, \;entitled &ldquo\;Of Fairy-stories\, Fantasy and Myth.&rdquo\; The past decade has \;seen film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien&rsquo\;s The Lord of the Rings\, as \;well as three of C.S. Lewis&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;Chronicles of Narnia\,&rdquo\; and\, most \;recently\, Tolkien&rsquo\;s The Hobbit. Although the immediate inspiration for \;our seminar is the release of the first part of Peter Jackson&rsquo\;s \;cinematic treatment of The Hobbit\, our interest is neither solely nor \;primarily in Jackson&rsquo\;s films. Instead\, we wish to explore a variety of \;cinematic treatments of myth\, fairy-story\, and fantasy\, and to explore \;philosophical and religious questions raised by such films. The Star \;Wars saga\, the various incarnations of the world of Star Trek\, the \;imaginative world of Pan&rsquo\;s Labyrinth\, the Narnia films\, Snow White and \;the Huntsman\, Prometheus\, Wrath of the Titans\, How to Train Your \;Dragon\, Arrietty\, Ponyo\, Hugo\, Shrek\, Knowing\, The Road\, After \;Earth&hellip\;.These are but some of the films that fall within the purview of \;our seminar. Even apart from the content of these films\, the genres \;touched upon in our title raise very general questions about art\, \;reality\, meaning\, and truth. For example\, is film an appropriate art \;form for mythopoesis? What is the nature of the reality portrayed in \;these films? What truth\, if any\, can films of this sort explore or \;convey?
\nPossible topics for seminar papers include the following\, although \;proposals on other topics or questions of relevance are certainly \;welcome and encouraged.
We are particularly interested in popular films from the last 20 \;years\, although the program committee will certainly consider \;exceptions to the 20-year rule.
Seminar sessions will take place on Friday (October 11th) and Saturday \;(October 12th). Public lectures and other events associated with the \;seminar will take place in the days leading up to the seminar. One of \;the public lectures will be on the evening of October 11th\, when one \;of our invited speakers will give a keynote address. The invited \;speakers include Michael Foley (Baylor University)\, Richard McClelland \;(Gonzaga University)\, and Katherin Rogers (University of Delaware). \;These invited speakers will also participate as resident &ldquo\;experts&rdquo\; \;during the seminar discussions.
The seminar and its associated public events are part of a series of \;jointly-sponsored programs focused on &ldquo\;Faith\, Reason and Popular \;Culture.&rdquo\; \;The conviction behind these programs is that if Christian \;institutions of higher learning are to respond properly to their \;charge to be places where faith seeks understanding\, then they must \;engage contemporary popular culture. Film is among the most powerful \;and important forms of popular culture. \;Thus\, the seminar organizers \;seek scholars who will engage in two days of discussion investigating \;issues of faith and philosophical import raised by contemporary \;popular film. Presenters need not have any formal academic \;appointment.
\nProposals not longer than two pages (double-spaced)\, and in Word \;format\, should be submitted electronically to Dr. Brian Clayton at \;clayton@gem.gonzaga.edu \;no later than 30 June 2013\, and should include \;title\, author(s)\, institutional affiliation (if any)\, mailing address\, \;email address\, and the text of the proposal. The seminar organizers \;will send acceptances by 8 July 2013.
\nFor further information please contact Dr. Brian Clayton\, Director\, \;Gonzaga University Faith and Reason Institute at \;clayton@gem.gonzaga.edu.
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