To start us off, the Special Collections and Papyrology Libraries are presenting an exhibit entitled “Translating Homer: From Papyri to Alexander Pope,” open now through October 7 in the Audubon Room, Hatcher Graduate Library. See this press release for more information. If you have a chance, take a look at the exhibit before an upcoming panel discussion on September 24th.
Throughout the semester, students are encouraged to attend the series of events we are calling “North Quad Translation Mondays.” We will kick off the series, and the semester, on September 10th at 5pm with an open house in 2435 North Quad. Join us for an Open House & Open Mic, with free pizza and an opportunity to talk with the coordinators of the theme semester, to meet other students interested in translation, to learn about translation activities sponsored by student organizations, and to share ideas for getting involved
On Thursday, September 13th, Hip Hop Congress will present “From the Breaks to the Books: A Lecture with 9th Wonder.” Grammy award-winning producer and DJ turned academic 9th Wonder will discuss hip hop as a form of “translating” between musical genres, and the “translation” of hip hop into academia. We invite students who attend this or any other theme semester sponsored event to post your reactions on our blog.
Another exciting element of this theme semester is a fun, interactive, ipad-based game called “That Translation Game Show!” The game is being developed for use by students inside and outside the classroom. If you are an instructor of a course that involves translation as a theme, look here for more information about how to involve That Translation Game Show! in your course.
We’re looking forward to an action-packed semester and hope you are as well. Please contact Patrick Tonks with any questions about the theme semester or any of the events listed here.
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Upcoming events: September 4-14
Festifall – look for information about the theme semester and related courses on the tables of your favorite translation-related student organizations.
Thursday, September 6th, 11am-4pm, Central Campus Diag
“Should We Laugh at Human Rights Abuses?: Translation Quandaries Through Colonial Examples” – a lecture sponsored by the Global Scholars Program with Professor Christi Merrill, UofM Department of Comparative Literature. See this poster for more information.
Friday, September 7th, 4pm, Rackham Amphitheatre (4th floor)
North Quad Translation Mondays: Student Open House – students and student groups are invited to celebrate the launch of the theme semester with free pizza.
Monday, September 10th, 5-8pm, 2435 North Quad
From the Breaks to the Books: A Lecture with 9th Wonder
Thursday, September 13th, 7-9pm, Rackham Amphitheatre (4th floor)
“Lost without Translation: Telling the Stories of a Silenced People” – a colloquium with Professor Anushiya Ramaswamy (Southern Illinois University), translator of the Sri Langkan Diasporic Writer, Shoba Sakthi.
Friday, September 14th, 4-5:30pm, International Institute, Room 1636 (School of Social Work Building, 1080 S. University Ave.)
Translating Silent Film – Featuring a live performance by visiting Japanese Benshi artist Ichiro Kataoka, who will “translate” the silent film I Was Born, But… (Dir. Yasujiro Ozu, 1932). With introductory remarks by Professor Markus Nornes (Chair of the Department of Screen Arts and Cultures) about the tradition of Japanese Benshi performance as an approach to translating silent film. Also to be shown: The Cook (Buster Keaton and Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, 1918). See this poster for information about the Center for Japanese Studies Film Series going on throughout the fall semester.
Friday, September 14th, 7-9pm, Michigan Theater
