Lecture and film festival on author's agenda
Erin McCarthy
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
John de Graaf, award-winning author and filmmaker, will be visiting Western Illinois University from Wednesday, April 15, to Thursday, April 16 to hold several open lectures and a film festival.
The two-day event, sponsored by the Western Illinois University Program for the Study of Ethics, will primarily take place in Stipes 121 and deal with four of his films, all of which focus on social justice and sustainability issues.
Film showings and times include: "Buyer Be Fair: The Promise of Product Certification," which addresses the issue of fair trade, at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on April 15 and 8 a.m. on April 16; "What's the Economy For, Anyway?" at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on April 15; "Silent Killer: The Unfinished Campaign Against Hunger" at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 15; and "The Motherhood Manifesto," about the challenges faced by working mothers, shown at noon on April 15 and 11 a.m. on April 16.
To supplement the film portion, de Graaf intends to speak to two anthropology classes, a film class and a journalism class. Discussions include "In Defense of Leisure: Take Back Your Time" at 8 a.m. in Currens Hall 203, and "Walking A Fine Line: The Intersection of Journalism With Social Change Activism" at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 16 in Simpkins Hall 27.
"I hope (students) will be challenged to think differently about society, to believe that we can make a better world," de Graaf said. "We need different values in America that focus on health, sharing, friends and family, environmental stewardship and social justice instead of the idea of getting rich quick."
De Graaf, who is most well known as the producer of the film "Affluenza!", is also the national coordinator of "Take Back Your Time," a nonprofit organization advocating guaranteed paid vacation time and challenging time poverty and overwork.
"I'm working on a campaign for national law … guaranteeing paid vacations for Americans," de Graaf said. "We are the only industrial country without such a law."
The two-day event, sponsored by the Western Illinois University Program for the Study of Ethics, will primarily take place in Stipes 121 and deal with four of his films, all of which focus on social justice and sustainability issues.
Film showings and times include: "Buyer Be Fair: The Promise of Product Certification," which addresses the issue of fair trade, at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on April 15 and 8 a.m. on April 16; "What's the Economy For, Anyway?" at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on April 15; "Silent Killer: The Unfinished Campaign Against Hunger" at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 15; and "The Motherhood Manifesto," about the challenges faced by working mothers, shown at noon on April 15 and 11 a.m. on April 16.
To supplement the film portion, de Graaf intends to speak to two anthropology classes, a film class and a journalism class. Discussions include "In Defense of Leisure: Take Back Your Time" at 8 a.m. in Currens Hall 203, and "Walking A Fine Line: The Intersection of Journalism With Social Change Activism" at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 16 in Simpkins Hall 27.
"I hope (students) will be challenged to think differently about society, to believe that we can make a better world," de Graaf said. "We need different values in America that focus on health, sharing, friends and family, environmental stewardship and social justice instead of the idea of getting rich quick."
De Graaf, who is most well known as the producer of the film "Affluenza!", is also the national coordinator of "Take Back Your Time," a nonprofit organization advocating guaranteed paid vacation time and challenging time poverty and overwork.
"I'm working on a campaign for national law … guaranteeing paid vacations for Americans," de Graaf said. "We are the only industrial country without such a law."
Be the first to comment on this story