Humanities Division sponsoring its 21st Open House Oct. 28

Discover the world of contemporary opera, behold treasures of the ancient world, and consider the importance of storytelling for our moral understanding as the University’s Humanities Division presents its 21st annual Humanities Open House, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28.

This year’s program will feature more than 45 presentations by faculty in Art History, Music, English, Linguistics, and other departments and programs in the Humanities Division. The day-long schedule of lectures and symposia will provide the occasion for performances and gallery tours on campus throughout the day.

Homi Bhabha, the Chester D. Tripp Distinguished Service Professor in the Humanities, will give the keynote address. Bhabha’s presentation, “Literature and the Right to Narrate,” will explore how literary texts provide insight into the function of narrative in the ethical imagination.

The following are some of the notable presentations this year. Renowned architect and designer Cesar Pelli, who designed the new Gerald Ratner Athletics Center to be built on the University campus, will discuss the design of the athletics center, his completed works and his career. Keyeong-Hee Choi and Norma Field, Professors in East Asian Languages & Civilizations, will present a series of drawings and paintings by a group of Korean “comfort women,” who served as military sex slaves to the Japanese armed forces in World War II. David Bevington, Professor in English Language & Literature, will facilitate a discussion of the Hollywood film, Shakespeare in Love, exploring its connections to Shakespeare’s real life and works.

Other events will highlight some of the University’s cultural treasures. The University Motet Choir will perform a selection of a cappella choral works from their repertoire, ranging from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Richard Stern, Professor in English Language & Literature, will read from his forthcoming novel, Pacific Tremors, and from his current work-in-progress, The Dortmunds. The Oriental Institute will provide docent-led gallery tours of the exhibition, “Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur.”

There will be two opportunities for participants to engage the world of contemporary opera. Composer John Eaton, Professor in Music, will discuss the reasons for forming the Pocket Opera Company of Chicago, and the Court Theatre and the Basic Program of Liberal Education for Adults will sponsor a discussion about Philip Glass’ new work, In the Penal Colony.

Participants may select and attend three presentations. These electives will occur during three sessions from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; and 3 to 4 p.m. The keynote address will take place from 11 a.m. to noon in Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.

Registration, which is required for many of the events, opens at 8:30 a.m. in Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St. All sessions will take place at various locations on the University campus.

The Humanities Open House is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Humanities Open House Web site at http://humanities.uchicago.edu/openhouse/ or call (773) 702-4847.