2009 Shasha Seminar for Human Concerns

“Defining American Culture: How Movies and TV Get Made”

May 29–31, 2009 — On Campus

Wesleyan University invites you to the seventh annual Shasha Seminar for Human Concerns, an educational forum for Wesleyan alumni, parents, and friends that provides an opportunity to explore issues of global concern in a small seminar environment. This year we address “Defining American Culture: How Movies and TV Get Made” with experts in the fields of film and television. Endowed by James Shasha ’50 P’82, the Shasha Seminar for Human Concerns supports lifelong learning and encourages participants to expand their knowledge and perspectives on significant issues.

Join us as we investigate the creative process in film and television in order to understand how these dominant cultural forms infiltrate our world and change the way we see things. We will explore issues such as commercial pressure, censorship, and casting, and we’ll participate in a hands-on simulation of the creation of a movie and a TV show. Throughout the seminar, you will have ample opportunity for conversations with writers, directors, producers, and a cultural critic. You will never again watch the screen, large or small, in quite the same way.