MAPS' Own Ron East on CBC Ideas

-The poet William Blake claimed that the imagination is our highest faculty, and is central to our perception and experience of reality. More than 200 years later scientific research on the brain and creativity confirms the great poet’s insight. In this two-part series producer Frank Faulk explores the key role the imagination plays in our lives in the two part series entitled: ‘Imagination’.

It airs on CBC IDEAS, @ 9:05 p.m. -- just after 9 p.m. news -- over two nights: The first night is Wednesday, October 17th, and the second night is Thursday, October 18th.

The focus of the first hour is on why William Blake believed the imagination is our highest faculty and what neuroscience has to say about the imagination and the pivotal role it plays in our lives. The guests are:

-Ron East, who has spent over thirty years in professional theatre, as a playwright, producer, and director. He is presently pursuing his passion for the creative process at the University of Guelph in Ontario, where he is completing a PhD, focusing on the neuroscience of the imagination and the creative process.

-Shelley Carson teaches and conducts research on creativity, imagination, and the brain at Harvard University. She is also the author of Your Creative Brain, a book that looks at ways we can maximize our capacity for creativity and creative problem solving.

-Jacob Hirsh is an Assistant Professor of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. His research focuses on understanding the neural and cognitive basis of creativity, motivation, and decision-making.

-Laura Quinney, professor of British Literature and Poetry at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. She is also the author of “William Blake on Self and Soul” a book that explores the poet’s innovative ideas about the experience of subjectivity and the importance of the imagination.

-Ross Woodman, Professor Emeritus in the Department of English at the University of Western Ontario. He has written and lectured extensively on the poet William Blake.

The second hour explores the imagination’s power to bring healing or destruction to our lives. The guests in the second hour are the same as above. Two additional guests include:

-Brian Walsh, Chaplain and Theologian at the University of Toronto. He has lectured and written extensively on the role of the imagination in the Christian faith.

-Joe Mihevic is a Toronto City Councilor. He has been active in urban politics for over twenty years. He talks about the role of the imagination in politics.

The Website for IDEAS is: http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/ The show is also available on line the day of broadcast (by the afternoon.) so you can listen prior to actual airing on radio. And, of course, after the show airs should you miss it.

TransCanada Institute Halloween Event

Professionalization Workshop Thurs Oct 20th!

All of you who are applying for SSHRC this year - there will be a workshop on Thurs. Oct 20th at 11:30 am, room TBA. This is a great opportunity to work through your draft proposals with Christine Bold, Ric Knowles, Susan Brown, and other students.

MAPS BOOK SALE!?!

MAPS will be having a book sale on Thursday October 13, 2011 from 9-4, by the cannon, outside of the UC. The sale is a fundraiser for the Creative Arts Festival that MAPS is organizing for early 2012.

Hardcovers for $1.00
Softcovers for $0.50

OH LALA!

See you there!

MAPS

Upcoming seminar next week! Tues Sept 20th from noon to 1pm in the student graduate lounge (4th floor MacK): How to Survive Grad School.

Featuring: Prof. Steven Powell, PhD candidate Maurico Martinez, seasoned MA student Olivia Slykhuis, and writing consultant Dale Lackeyram. This is your chance to ask questions and get key tips!

Guelph Creative Arts Festival

Components:

1. 24-hour play-writing competition

2. new poetry and short fiction competition

3. writing workshops

4. graduate student Pecha Kucha competition

Tentative Program

Thursday, March 8

6pm: play-writing competition participants arrive at chosen venue

Friday, March 9

6am: participants complete first draft of play

8-12 am: play workshopping

12-4 pm: working with the actors

6-9 pm: performance of the plays, judging

Saturday, March 10

9-12: concurrent workshops on poetry-, fiction-, and play-writing

1-4 pm: Pecha Kucha competition and judging

5-7: dinner for participants at downtown restaurant?

7-10: readings by local authors and writing competition award-winners

Organization: 4 sub-committees for the 4 main components

1. Writing Workshops Committee:
1. Finding writers to lead workshops
2. Putting out call for participation
3. Question: should there be a registration fee?
4. Venues

2. 24 Play-Writing Competition Committee:
1. Putting out a call and deciding how to choose 5-6 participants
2. Gathering judges and actors to participate
3. Choosing a venue
4. Organizing food for the period
5. Performance location and tech set-up

3. Poetry and Short Story Competition:
1. Putting out a call (where to publicize?)
2. Choosing judges, number of prizes
3. Organizing Saturday night readings (venue, participants)

4. Pecha Kucha Competition (see http://www.pecha-kucha.org/):
1. Putting out CFP to other graduate departments
2. Finding a venue
3. Organizing tech
4. Putting together a judging committee?

Expenses

-travel support for graduate students and participants coming in from out of town

-honoraria for writers participating in Saturday night readings

-venue for play-writing competition to take place, for the performances, and for Saturday night readings; on-campus venues for workshops and Pecha Kucha competitions?

-Saturday evening dinner for all participants (registration fee?)

-food for the play-writing competition participants

-snacks for during other events (coffee breaks at workshops, Pecha Kucha competition)

-prizes for all award winners (contributed by local businesses?)

Potential Sources of Funding and Partnerships:

GSA

TESS

SETS

TCI

City of Guelph

Local businesses

W11 Professionalization Seminars Announced

1) How to Network (Academically): Wednesday, February 16, 10-11:30 (MacK 306): DR. AJAY HEBLE

2) Getting Started On Your MRP (for MAs only): Wednesday, March 2, 10-11:30 (MacK 306): DR. ALAN FILEWOD

3) How to Write a Book Review: Wednesday, March 30, 10-11:30 (MacK 306): DR. DANIEL FISCHLIN

4) Turning Your Doctoral Dissertation Into a Book: Tuesday, April 26,10-11:30 (room TBA): DR. CAIRNIE AND/OR DR. NANDORFY (to be confirmed)