We’re All Human: Universal Voices
“In minor ways we differ / in major we are the same . . . We are more alike, my friends / than we are unalike,” declares Maya Angelou in the poem Human Family. Indeed, whether as individuals or families, or as members of the larger units of village, town and nation, a common denominator is our human-ness. On World Cultures Day 2017, MSU faculty will explore this commonality and underscore our global interconnectedness in how we express ourselves through the arts, religion, politics, and fashion.”
World Cultures Day Informational Flyer
“We’re All in this Together: An Examination of Aging Around the Globe”
Ashley Ermer, Assistant Professor, Family Science and Human Development
We develop and grow during the entirety of our lives surrounded by areas where we live. This presentation will examine the phenomenon of aging around the world while also considering factors that contribute to successful aging.
“Hollywood in China and/or China in Hollywood?”
Wing Shan Ho, Assistant Professor, Chinese, Modern Languages and Literatures
Have you noticed that there are more and more Chinese objects in Hollywood films? Do you know that some Hollywood films have to be modified for screening in China? What do you think causes these phenomena? And what do these phenomena tell us about the process of globalization when China attempts to enter the American film industry and when the U.S. tries to make inroads into the Chinese market? This talk will address these questions by referring to some recent Hollywood films and evaluating their strategies in going global.
“Embodied Practice: The Fashion Impulse”
Abby Lillethun, Associate Professor, Art and Design
Why do people dress up, change their hairstyle or spend time contemplating garment combinations? Where does that urge arise from within the human mind? To examine and indeed to enjoy this human urge, this presentation traces the human engagement with appearance (grooming, cleanliness, supplements and modifications to the body) to propose a universal, the fashion impulse. Examples from Africa, China and Arabic cultures enliven our perception of fashionability as a social practice, while the global spread of street fashion and blogs allows a view of contemporary fashion practice among youths, whose expression of the fashion impulse is both fresh and based on a long historical narrative.
“Taking the Pulse of the ‘Little People: Public Opinion Polls and Big Governments”
Zsolt Nyiri, Assistant Professor, Political Science and Law
How does the ordinary person in the U.S., China or the European Union feel about the decisions taken by their governments? This presentation explores public opinion trends in some leading nations and looks at what public opinion in these countries has in common. It also explores why the voice of the people matters in the realm of world politics.
“No More Old-Timey Religion: How Globalization Shifts Religious Practices, and Vice Versa”
John Soboslai, Assistant Professor, Religion
This talk will discuss some of the ways religion has been shaped by the processes of globalization, and how the movement of people, culture and ideas has shaped globalization. Religion today doesn’t only take place in temples, mosques and churches; it takes place on the internet, through reality TV and in huge megachurches that look like concert halls. In these shifting spaces a new kind of faith is being forged, one that responds to all the ways we are becoming increasingly interconnected in the 21st century.
“Should Faith Have a Place in Environmental Conservation?”
Neeraj Vedwan, Associate Professor, Anthropology
Environmental degradation has emerged as a critical issue in recent years in India. Increasingly, environmental restoration and management efforts have involved religious leaders to improve the likelihood of success. This talk will explore the role of religion in environmental conservation and the associated advantages and disadvantages.