An Evening of Great Conversation
In this fast-paced world we communicate by email, instant text messaging, and quick telephone conversations. We learn about new ideas through web sites, easy-to-read publications, and lectures dominated by PowerPoint. We have more access to information and less time to process it than ever before.
Unfortunately, “modern” methods of communication and learning often leave out a technique that historically has led to path-breaking discoveries, new innovations, greater civility, more understanding among disparate groups, and a better quality of life. The technique: long conversations with a relatively small group of people in a relaxed and comfortable environment. No gimmicks, no lectures – just great ideas shared during an evening of conversation on a variety of interesting, timely, and critical topics.
On Thursday, March 5th, starting at 6 p.m., the USC Upstate College of Arts and Sciences will feature its sixth edition of, “An Evening of Great Conversations.” On that night, over an elegant dinner at the Piedmont Club in downtown Spartanburg, the College will host thirteen conversations on a variety of important topics (please see the topic list below). Each dinner table will engage in a different conversation, facilitated by a faculty expert on the topic. You have the opportunity to join one of these lively conversations for the evening. Although the method may be “traditional” or even “old-fashioned,” the topics are fascinating and cutting edge! We are delighted and grateful that this year’s event is sponsored by Mr. Steve Harvey & Roebuck Advertising, Mr. John Gramling III & integro earthfuels, and Mr. Scott Mitchell & Bank of America.
If you enjoy talking ideas with colleagues and friends (old and new) in an extremely inviting environment, then please select your Great Conversation from the list below for March 5th. One word of caution, though: please sign up early for this special event. Our previous five Great Conversations dinners sold out in advance, and a number of people were disappointed that they could not be included. One thing is for certain: on Friday, March 6th, people throughout the Upstate are going to discuss the conversations from the previous evening. Please don’t be left out. Sign up for the conversation of your choice today.
An Evening of Great Conversations
Thursday, March 5, 2009 The Piedmont Club
361 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC
Reception: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner: 6:45 p.m.
Reservations for this event are $70 per person. Please reserve your place no later than Monday, March 2nd:
- Call 864-503-5700 (College of Arts and Sciences) with your Visa or Mastercard info
- Fax the registration form to 864-503-5709 with your Visa or Mastercard info, or
- Mail your check and reservation
form to:
Shawn Masto
College of Arts and Sciences
University of South Carolina Upstate
800 University Way
Spartanburg, SC 29303
Email: smasto@uscupstate.eduRegistration form Checks should be made out to the USC Upstate Foundation (ref: “Great Conversations”) and should be received in our office by March 2nd. | Our Sponsors 
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The Conversations
1. Is there an Alternative to $4.00 Per Gallon Gasoline (aside from walking or biking)?
Last year gasoline prices soared to more than $4.00 per gallon in much of the country. Although prices have dropped, they are rising again and, according to many experts, may be higher than ever within a couple of years. Fossil fuels such as gasoline and coal currently provide most of the energy needs of the world. But diminishing reserves, higher prices, and continued damage to the environment mean that alternative fuels are attracting more attention than ever before. This table conversation will examine where the United States and world are with respect to developing alternative sources of energy like biofuels, wind energy, hydroelectric power, solar energy, hydrogen, and nuclear power. Are they a realistic alternative to fossil fuels, can they be developed in a timely manner, and will they slow damage to the environment? And, by the way, walking and biking are great ideas too.
You will have the opportunity to discuss alternative fuels and their environmental impact with two experts in the field. Dr. Jack Turner, Professor of Biology and Director of USC Upstate’s Watershed Ecology Institute, has long studied and conducted research on these topics. And Dr. Chip Green, Professor of Geology, has taught courses and conducted research on energy, climate change, and the environment.
2. Let’s Talk Movies: Entertainment, History, Art, or Multi-Billion Dollar Industry?
There is nothing quite like the movies. We watch them to see what we have never seen before: spaceships traveling at light speed, gladiators fighting to the death in the Coliseum. We also watch movies to see everyday actions: a conversation between friends, a first kiss. What we like (or don’t like) about movies speaks volumes about ourselves and how we fit into our cultures and communities. Table participants will discuss the connection among film, culture, and community in the United States. Please be prepared to discuss your favorite and least favorite movies; you may be surprised about why you like (and don’t like) them!
Your film guide for the evening will be Dr. Peter Caster, Assistant Professor of English and Film Studies. Dr. Caster is a prolific author and well-known film critic in the Upstate. If you want to talk movies with someone who is as passionate about the topic as you, then don’t miss this opportunity to dialogue with Dr. Caster.
3. Is 60 REALLY the New 40? Maybe!
Have you recently met someone and thought . . .
· “Wow, she looks and acts fifteen years younger! What is her secret?”
· “He just seems so old for his age. He could easily pass for someone fifteen or twenty years older.”
So, can you turn back the clock? Slow it down? Turn it off? What, in fact, does the research say about aging? This conversation will discuss what it means to age optimally, and present findings from psychological research that can help us feel younger and live longer. It will also discuss what we know about the role of genes, lifestyle, and environment in the aging process. Whether you are in your 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, or older, you will enjoy this lively discussion of aging in the 21st Century. While no one can completely stop the clock, it is certainly possible to avoid many of the negative consequences associated with aging. Join the conversation and learn some of the secrets!
Your table hosts will be Dr. Jennifer Parker, Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor of Psychology, and Dr. Stefanie Keen, Assistant Professor of Psychology. Drs. Parker and Keen conduct research and teach a wide variety of courses related to human development from birth to old age.
4. Islam in the Modern World: Separating Fact from Fiction
Even though Islam is the second largest religion in the world, it is still little understood in the United States. And even though Islam and Muslims figure prominently in American politics and foreign policy, there are still basic questions that Americans continue to ask. Is Islam a violent religion that spreads terrorism and hatred? Is it a peaceful religion that encourages tolerance and humility? Or is it something else? And what is the difference between Shiite and Sunni Muslims? These questions and more will be asked and discussed during the evening. Instead of the emotionalism that frequently accompanies discussions of Islam in America, this conversation will focus on fact and fiction. You will leave with a better understanding of Islam in the U.S. and other countries.
Your table host will be Dr. David Damrel, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies. He joined the USC Upstate faculty three years ago and spent last year developing a comparative religion program in Indonesia with the support of a very prestigious Fulbright Fellowship. During the evening, Dr. Damrel will give a short primer on Islam (Islam 101: What You Need to Know about Islam and Muslims), and then you will discuss the facts and fiction associated with this religion.
5. Animal Treatment as a Reflection of the Human Condition: The Link to Violence and Kindness
Throughout history, great thinkers have argued that our treatment of animals is related to how we treat our fellow human beings. On the one hand, scholars, clinicians, law enforcement officials, and policymakers have become increasingly interested in the “dark side” of this relationship. This perspective asserts that there is a link between abuse of animals and harm to human beings, and that social policy must take this relationship into account. Moreover, if harming animals is related to harming people, then it stands to reason that the reverse is also true – that kindness to animals is “linked” to treating people kindly, as well. This conversation will look at both sides of the link, showing us again that how we treat people is often found in how we treat animals. Whether you are an animal lover and/or a person concerned with the human condition, this conversation is for you.
Your table host will be Dr. Clif Flynn, Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Women’s Studies. Dr. Flynn is an international expert on the issue of ethics and the treatment of animals. Last year he was named a Fellow in the Centre for Animal Ethics at Oxford University in England. This incredible honor underscores Dr. Flynn’s outstanding scholarship and teaching in the field of animal ethics.
6. Who will Survive (and Thrive) in the 21st Century Workplace: Innovators!
Few days pass without yet another announcement about additional corporate lay-offs. We begin to wonder: Is anyone’s job really safe? It is hard to say who will survive and even thrive, but one thing is for sure: there is still great demand for true innovators. In fact, the world of ideas may well dictate the world’s future. And information technology is making it increasingly possible for individual workers to lead the idea revolution – to be innovators! In just the last 20 or 30 years, computers, software, and electronic communication have enabled more and more people to generate ideas and services that are considered valuable and even indispensable. Ideas are no longer the province of “big companies,” and, in fact, big companies often look to individual workers and citizens for innovative ways of doing things. (Billionaire Michael Dell started building and servicing computers in his dorm room at age 19.) This table conversation will take you inside the world of innovation and ask the following question: Are “innovation workers” going to lead the next great revolution? And, if so, how do I join them?!
A table on innovation requires an innovation specialist, and we have the perfect person for you. Dr. Ron Fulbright, Chairperson of the Department of Informatics, is a true innovator and inventor. In 2007 and 2008, he won First Prize in the New Ideas for a New Carolina contest – an extraordinary accomplishment (both times). He has also won numerous other awards and prizes for technological innovation. Dr. Fulbright will insure that the conversation is lively and, well, innovative too.
7. Flashpoint: The Enduring Significance of the Middle East to the U.S. and World
Quiz time: Where do Europe, Asia, and Africa come together? Where do Islam, Christianity, and Judaism converge? Where do cultures clash and coexist? Where do outsiders help and hinder? Where do hopes live and die? The answer: The Middle East, of course. This incredible region continues to fascinate and confound us. And one thing is for certain: what happens in the region does not stay in the region! In fact, events in the Middle East have a profound impact on the U.S. and world. This table conversation will look at the challenges and opportunities in the Middle East, and consider how they affect the U.S. and other countries. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn more about a region that defies easy explanation.
Your table host will be Dr. Lizabeth Zack, Assistant Professor of Sociology. Dr. Zack is uniquely qualified to lead this outstanding conversation. Two years ago she was awarded a very prestigious Fulbright Award and spent a year in Jordan, where she taught university classes and conducted research. During her career, she has also traveled throughout the Middle East and in North Africa as well.
8. Can You be Fat and Healthy?: Not According to the Government
Governments are getting in the business of slimming their populations. Japan has a new state-prescribed waist size limit. China has a body mass index (BMI) limitation for parents seeking international adoptions. New Zealand has immigration restrictions for those exceeding a certain BMI. And the state of Mississippi considered a bill prohibiting enclosed food establishments from serving food to “obese customers.” (The bill failed – and angered a lot of people!) Are these government policies – and attempted policies – actually effective in creating slimmer and healthier populations? The answer is “no” according to research findings. Moreover, fat limitation laws disproportionately target poorer socio-economic groups and minority populations. An alternative approach, believed to produce much more effective results, is known as the “Health at Every Size” (HAES) movement. This table conversation examines this growing movement, discusses how it can be supported, and considers whether governments should embrace it. If pursuing a healthy lifestyle at any size is your focus, then this table is for you!
Your table host will be Dr. Laura Jennings, an Assistant Professor of Sociology who specializes in how society perceives and interprets body images. Her research and courses help us understand why we think the way we do – and what the resulting policy implications may entail. Researchers, advertisers, and (even) governments pay attention to such studies.
9. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know and were Afraid to Ask about Shakespeare
Who is the greatest writer of all time and the fifth most important person of the last millennium? William Shakespeare, of course! This table conversation is all about Shakespeare and is ideal for anyone interested in his life and work. Whether you are a “Bardophile” (lover of Shakespeare) or barely passed high school Shakespeare, you will enjoy this conversation. The table will discuss such things as the authorship question, Shakespeare’s life and times, a variety of plays (from the famous to the lesser known), and what it is that makes Shakespeare so great. The only prerequisite for this table is that you toss aside what you learned about Shakespeare while in high school. Oh yes, back to the opening line: What four people could possibly be more important than Shakespeare? Better join the conversation to find out!
Who better to guide the discussion than an internationally-known scholar on Shakespeare? Your table host will be Dr. Cathy Canino, Associate Professor of English, who recently published a seminal book titled, Shakespeare and the Nobility: the Negotiation of Lineage. This book was published by Cambridge University Press, the top publisher in the world for works on Shakespeare.
10. Mr. Popular becomes Mr. President: the Golden Global Image of Barack Obama
Most commentators would agree that President Obama received favorable national press coverage during the campaign and in the early days of his administration. But what about in the rest of the world? Does he also receive good press in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and other regions? And, if so, why? Because he favors diplomacy? Opposed the war in Iraq? Lived in other parts of the world? Is African-American? Took over from an unpopular incumbent? Or some other reason? This table conversation will span the global media world in an effort to examine and understand the international press coverage that candidate Obama and President Obama has received. Americans will want to take note of this coverage, because it also shapes how foreign countries view the United States and its citizens.
Your table host is uniquely qualified to take you on this journey. Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu is an Associate Professor of Journalism who conducts research and teaches courses on the media, both domestic and international. She has also traveled widely and lived in other countries during her career, providing insight into how the foreign press covers issues and people in the United States.
11. Calling the Beatles . . . and Bob Dylan . . . and Bruce Springsteen: Does Rock Music Matter Anymore?
There was a time that rock songs seemed capable of contributing to positive social change. Artists such as the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen could galvanize their listeners into believing that change really was possible. But with the music industry’s ever increasing emphasis on image and commercial success, is there room for rock music that tries to matter? Or are Pop Princesses, Boy Bands, and other trendy artists going to continue to dominate the market? This table conversation will explore these questions. It will discuss what we can learn from rockers of the past and examine whether any contemporary artists will follow in their footsteps – by creating commercially successful music with a socially conscious message. Calling all fans of the Beatles and . . .
Your rock ‘n roll guide for the evening will be Prof. Gregg Akkerman, an Assistant Professor of Music who teaches a popular course on rock music. He is also an extraordinary musician himself and Director of the USC Upstate Jazz Program. Many people describe Prof. Akkerman as “cool,” perfect for this table topic.
12. “Never Again” is Really “Again and Again”: The Continued Horror of Genocide in the World
Following World War II, the U.S. and many other countries proclaimed “never again.” Never again would sadistic madmen be allowed to kill millions of people and destroy nations. But what happened? Tens of millions of people have been killed in episodes of genocide over the last 50 years in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Just since the early 1990s, the world has witnessed ethnic cleansing (and millions killed) in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Congo, and Darfur. “Never again” seems to have turned into “again and again.” But what causes these events? How can they be stopped? And how do they affect us in the U.S.? In fact, genocide in “far off” lands has a number of consequences for our everyday lives here in America.
Your conversation host will be Dr. Rob McCormick, Associate Professor of History. Dr. McCormick teaches courses and conducts research on the topics of war, genocide, and nation building. His recently published article on genocide in Croatia during World War II shows that this tragedy often repeats itself in the same place. Dr. McCormick is also a popular speaker before community and civic groups.
13. Does Anyone Read Books Anymore?: Language and Literature in a Digital Age
Think for a moment about the incredible changes that have occurred in the world of language, literature, and publishing in just two decades. How have the Internet and other forms of digital media affected literature? How has Amazon.com changed the world of publishing? What happens to literature when mouse and screen compete with pen and page? In the age of YouTube and iTunes, does anyone just read a book anymore? This table conversation will seek answers to these and other questions. At the same time, it will examine the growing field of “electronic literature,” that is, poems whose words refuse to stand still; stories with plots that follow a different path with every reading; and games with characters as complex as any dreamed up by Shakespeare. Whether you are an expert in language and technology or just want to begin to learn about the relationship, this conversation is for you.
Your table host will be Dr. George Williams, Assistant Professor of British Literature. Dr. Williams’ research and teaching present a fascinating (and fun) contradiction: he uses the most modern technology to teach his students about 18th Century British Literature. Visualize famous literary giants from the 1700s on YouTube! No wonder Dr. Williams is such a popular instructor and author. This will be an enjoyable table for sure.