Past Events

The Naked Truth: Advertising’s Image of Women

Sept. 20, 8 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Jean Kilbourne, Ed. D.
Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, Free

Keynote Speaker Jean Kilbourne, presenting in the Performing Arts Center on Sept 20.

Jean Kilbourne’s pioneering work helped develop and popularize the study of gender representations in advertising. This presentation reviews if and how the image of women has changed over the past 20 years. So many problems today, such as date rape and other forms of violence, eating disorders, and increased rates of drinking and smoking for women, are considered “women’s issues.”

Unfortunately, sometimes the people who most need to learn more are reluctant to attend lectures on these topics. Jean manages to discuss these issues in a way that includes and reaches men as well as women and that powerfully illustrates how these images affect all of us. Entertaining, fast-paced, sometimes hilarious, the presentation is also profound and deeply serious. It encourages dialogue and discussion and a new way of looking at oneself as well as one another.

Named by The New York Times Magazine as one of the three most popular speakers on college campuses, she is the author of the award-winning book Can’t Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel and co-author of So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids. The prize-winning films based on her lectures include Killing Us Softly, Spin the Bottle, and Slim Hopes.

Free and open to the public.

Gender Bias in Evaluations: Complexity and Subtlety in Patterns of Stereotyping and Prejudice

Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Speaker: Dr. Monica Biernat
Walker Recital Hall, Free

University of Kansas social psychologist Dr. Monica Biernat studies stereotyping and prejudice, and how stereotypes affect judgments of and behavior displayed toward individual members of stereotyped groups.

Free and open to the public.

Philadelphia Story, 1940

Oct. 24, 7 p.m.
Film , Taylor Little Theater, Free

When a rich woman’s ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself. Starring Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart.

Free and open to the public.

Title IX with Janet Judge

Oct. 30, 2011, 4 p.m.
Taylor Little Theater, Free

Co-author of the NCAA manual on Title IX, Judge also authored the NCAA News column Gender Equity Q&A’s and is recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in sports law.

Free and open to the public.

René Marie

Nov. 20, 2011, 7 p.m.
Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, 824-3000 for tickets

René Marie, the award winning singer whose style incorporates elements of jazz, soul, blues and gospel, has quickly become a heroine to many; a woman of great strength exuding stamina and compassion; often explaining how finding her voice and self through singing gave her the courage to leave an abusive marriage. But since the release of her recording debut, Renaissance, this Colorado based heroine has also evolved into one of the greatest and most sensuous vocalists of our time. Unmistakably honest and unpretentious while transforming audiences worldwide with her powerful interpretations, electrifying deliveries and impassioned vocals — René Marie has drawn a legion of fans and music critics who find themselves not only entertained, but encouraged and even changed by her performances.

Prices: $15, adults; $10, seniors, students and President’s Cardholders; $5 MC students and youth 12 and under.