All Events
Student Series - Meet the Filmmaker La Isla - Archives of a Tragedy
MCC THEATER
In this artfully rendered film, Guatemala’s violent history of repression at the hands of extremist political regimes is laid bare following the discovery of a vast archive of secret police documents. Found near the site of La Isla—a notorious extrajudicial prison—the cache details with chilling specificity the surveillance, torture, and killing of thousands of civilians targeted by the country’s succession of fanatical right-wing governments. Discussion with the director following the screening. Uli Stelzner,
83 min., Spanish with English subtitles, 2009, Germany and Guatemala. Co-sponsored by Unión Salvadoreña de Estudiantes Universitarios (USEU).
Art Exhibit
Bridging Through the Arts: Transracial Community Building
MCC LOUNGE
This exhibit creates a space for visual representation, embodied expression, and critical dialogue regarding the challenges, possibilities and visions of forming community across racial lines. Artists featured include Sophia Armen, Tara Atherley, Sandy Baños, Evan Bissell, Fabian Debora, Nayeli Guzmán, Nicole Leopardo, Ozi Magaña, Eric Murphy, Gabriel Navar, Shizue Seigel, Mica Valdez, Linda Vallejo. Join us for a reception and spoken word on April 7! Co-sponsored by the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department.
Cup of Culture
Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam
MCC THEATER
This film follows Michael and his real-life kindred spirits on their first U.S. tour, where they incite a riot of young hijabi girls at the largest Muslim gathering in North America after Sena takes the stage. The film then travels with them to Pakistan, where members of the first Taqwacore band, The Kominas, bring punk to the streets of Lahore and Michael begins to reconcile his fundamentalist past with the rebel he has now become. Omar Majeed, 80 min., English, 2009, Canada. Co-sponsored by the Center for Middle East Studies, the Muslim Student Association, and Students for Justice in Palestine.
Art as Activism, Political Prisoners, and Puerto Rican Independence: A Conversation with Carlos Alberto Torres
MCC LOUNGE
Puerto Rican independentista Carlos Alberto Torres, a political prisoner for 30 years, speaks on life in prison, the colonial status of Puerto Rican, human rights, and ongoing political prisoner campaigns. His stirring ceramics and paintings were featured in an art exhibit at Santa Barbara’s La Casa de la Raza in 2008. Co-sponsored by the Asian American Studies Department.
