Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences proudly presents the Fall 2011 Godbey Lecture Series program.
Series I
Islamic Faith and Values in the Modern World
These lectures will explore the basic beliefs and practices on which Muslim life is built, and how Muslims are seeking to relate these to the modern world. The first lecture will discuss the pillars of Islam and the basic beliefs of Islam that form the foundation of Muslim life. Subsequent lectures will discuss the meaning of Shari’a law for Muslims and specific problems and approaches to Muslim life in the context of contemporary non-Muslim societies.
3 Wednesdays, Spetember 7, 14 & 21
Maggiano's at North Park Center
11:00 am Lecture/12:00 pm Lunch
Robert Hunt
Cost: $135 Members/$195 Non-Members
Individual Lecture Cost: $45 Members/$65 Non-Members
Series II
The Best of GLS
All Best of Godbey Lectures are held at Maggiano's at North Park Center
5:30 pm Wine Reception/6:00 pm Lecture
Cost: $135 Members/$195 Non-Members
Individual Lecture Cost: $45 Members/$65 Non-Members
01 – Monday, September 12
From Pews to Precincts: Religion in American Elections
Matthew Wilson. This lecture will examine the role of faith in contemporary American electoral politics, arguing that religious commitment has surpassed other, more widely discussed factors like income and gender as a predictor of partisanship and vote choice. At the same time, however, religion in America is far from monolithic, and different religious groups bring different concerns into the political arena. The lecture will explore both the political similarities and political differences between America’s various communities of faith, and preview the role of religion in the 2012 campaign.
02 – Monday, September 26
The Constitution, the First Amendment, and the Myth of Christian America
Mark Chancey. A majority of Americans believe that the Constitution established a Christian nation, according to a recent poll, even though a longstanding critique of the Constitution is that it is “godless.” Many champion the separation of church and state as a constitutional value while others argue that the Founding Fathers never advocated such an idea. This lecture considers these issues by looking at the notion of a Christian America through the lens of myth theory, which underscores the ways in which groups foster narratives, rituals, and boundaries to create a sense of identity and belonging.
03 – Monday, October 17
Arguments for America as a Christian Nation
Ben Voth. A variety of historical, sociological, and rhetorical indicators suggest that the contentious thesis that-- America is a Christian nation--is true. In light of the current contentions surrounding religion and politics, this lecture provides a contemporary review of this recurring question that has founded many of the nation's great debates from the constitution, to the civil war, civil rights, abortion, marriage and so many more. The examination of this question take on a more urgent tone in a larger global political scene that seeks to make better sense of how to combine religion and politics to a result healthy to the larger civil body.
Series III
Anthropological Matriarchs: Elsie Clews Parson, Ruth Benedict, and Margaret Mead
Anthropology has sometimes been referred to as the “welcoming science” because, by comparison with other scholarly disciplines, it has been more open to the participation of women. Whether this is true is, of course, debatable, but during the first decades of the 20th century, three women (Elsie Clews Parsons, Ruth Benedict, and Margaret Mead) made their mark on the field of anthropology and on broader American Society. All were students of Franz Boas, the founder and patriarch of anthropology at Columbia University. In these three lectures we will explore the lives, contributions, and legacies of these three intriguing and engaging women who were all ahead of their time, operating in the man’s world of higher education with different styles and interests. But they were also of their time and we will explore how biography and historical context intersect in the forging of an anthropological career.
September 22 – Elsie Clews Parsons: Well Born but Radical
September 29 – Ruth Benedict: Theoretician and Poet
October 6 – Margaret Mead: The Public Anthropologist
3 Thursdays, September 22, 29 & October 6
Maggiano’s at North Park Center
11:00 am Lecture/12:00 pm Lunch
Caroline Brettell
Series Cost: $135 members/$195 non-members
Individual Lecture Cost: $45 members/$65 non-members
Series IV
A Peek at History in the Making: George W. Bush Library Warehouse Tour
The George W. Bush Presidential Library, the nation’s thirteenth presidential library, is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, and temporarily located in Lewisville, Texas. Join us for a sneak preview of the many materials and presidential gifts that will be housed at the George W. Bush Presidential Library when it opens in 2013 on the SMU campus.
SEATING IS LIMITED AND ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS
Please call for availability, itinerary and parking instructions
Friday, September 23
National Archives and Records Administration, Lewisville, TX
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Gillian McCombs
Tour Cost: $100 Members/$135 Non-Members (includes lunch)
FALL DAY TOUR
An Insider' Tour of Dallas: With Special Emphasis on Its Historical Sites
Sites to be visited with commentary will include downtown Dallas (including Dealey Plaza, Pioneer Cemetery), Oak Cliff (including continuation of assassination sites beginning at Dealey Plaza, Lake Cliff, Jefferson Blvd.), South Dallas (including MLK Jr. Blvd., historical district of South Blvd., passing by Stanley Marcus homeplace); Swiss Avenue (identifying homes of famous past residents); and White Rock Lake.
SEATING IS LIMITED AND ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS
Please call for availability, itinerary and parking instructions
Thursday, October 20
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Darwin Payne
Tour Cost: $100 Members/$135 Non-Members
Series V
Whatever Happened to the News?
And prime-time television for that matter. The media landscape in the 21st Century is vastly different from that of a generation ago. The digital age has brought us incredible change, speed, Twitter, Facebook and much more. But has it brought us quality? If you miss Walter Cronkite and Lucille Ball, and you wonder why your daily newspaper isn't what it used to be, this session will provide some answers. These lectures will offer a brief exploration of the development of modern television and television news as well as a look at the daily newspaper and why it has changed so much. Economics is the driving force and the easy answer to virtually all of the changes, but where does the issue of responsibility to the public come into play? Media responsibility is a 20th Century idea, not one we got from the Founders. Has technology brought us back to where the Founders intended us to be?
3 Mondays, October 31 & November 7, 14
Maggiano's at North Park Center
11:00 am Lecture/12:00 pm Lunch
Tony Pederson
Series Cost: $135 members/$195 non-members
Individual Lecture Cost: $45 members/$65 non-members