Christ College Announces 2014-2015 Symposium Speakers Series

Christ College – The Honors College at Valparaiso University announces the Symposium Speakers Series for the 2014-2015 academic year. The Symposium features internationally distinguished guest speakers addressing their distinct perspective surrounding this year’s theme, “What is Beauty?”

Convening monthly in a lecture-style gathering, the Symposium begins in September and concludes in March.

Fall speakers include:

• Augusta Read Thomas: “The A.R.T. of Composing,” Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m., Duesenberg Recital Hall, Center for the Arts. As a recent composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Thomas wrote a wide variety of musical compositions, including choral and chamber music, orchestral works, ballet and concertos. A fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, she is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• Roger Scruton: “What is Beauty and Why Does it Matter?” Oct. 1, 2014, 6:30 p.m., University Theatre, Center for the Arts. A philosopher and author of more than 40 books, including works of criticism, political theory and aesthetics, Scruton’s work is well known on both sides of the Atlantic. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a fellow of the European Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of the British Academy.
• Mary Szybist: “Readings from Incarnadine,” Nov. 6, 2014, 6:30 p.m., Chapel of the Resurrection. American poet Szybist’s collection, which explores the intersection of religion and identity using the provocative iconography and tropes of Christianity, won the 2013 National Book Award for Poetry.
• Gary Taylor: “Beauty and Truth and Shakespeare,” Feb. 4, 2015, 6:30 p.m., University Theatre, Center for the Arts. A Shakespeare scholar, Taylor is author or editor of more than 20 books.
• Father Maximos Constas: “Beauty and Spiritual Vision in Orthodox Iconography,” March 19, 2015, 6:30 p.m., Duesenberg Recital Hall, Center for the Arts. Constas is monk at Simonopetra Monastery in Greece and a Senior Research Scholar at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Mass.

Christ College Symposium Speaker Series events are free and open to the public.