Events By Quarter
Race & Religion Series
Orientalism for (All) the Orientals! Studying Asian Religions in the Era of Neoliberal Multiculturalism
Marko Geslani
Online
For better or worse, the study of religion harbors one of the last great bastions of Orientalism: the academic study of Asia (and especially, of Asia's past). Despite numerous excavations of the imperial inheritance of religious studies, reflection on the afterlives of Orientalism in contemporary religious studies curricula has rarely been undertaken. Using the example of Hindu studies, this presentation describes religious studies pedagogy within the multicultural university as an assimilating project continuous with earlier Orientalist tendencies. I ask what it would mean to return the religious pasts of "Asia," not only to those selected by model minority discourse, but to the BIPOC erstwhile "primitives" effectively excluded by Orientalism.
Drag Queen Story Hour with Miss Angel – Part 1
Angel D’Mon
Online
Drag Queen Story Hour is a two-part, inclusive storytime event hosted by Miss Angel. The children’s books that we’ll read highlight diverse voices and authors and focus on empathy, acceptance, equity, identity and kindness. During storytime we’ll read four books together with a short activity for children and families in between each reading. These activities will be done as a community – children and adults welcomed! Join us for an evening of reading fun!
Supplies needed for activities:
- Markers, pencils, or crayons
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Blank paper
Cup of Culture
How To Make A Rainbow
Director: Ryan Maxey
Film Screening/Online
“How to Make a Rainbow” observes a young girl and her mother over the course of two years as they move together through transitions of home, identity and name.
The story centers around Alaizah and her process of figuring out what to call her ‘papa,’ who is in the beginning years of a gender transition. Together they navigate homelessness, Jade’s exploration of gender, as well as the daily joys and struggles of growing up.
In its timely exploration of our perceived limits of love, gender expression, motherhood and childhood, this film invites us to let Alaizah be our guide as we learn and unlearn alongside her the limits and possibilities of identity and connection. 2019. 16 mins
Post-film discussion with Jade and Alaizah Martinez.
Spoken Word
Poetry set with Jade Phoenix Martinez
Jade Phoenix Martinez
Online
Join the MCC in an evening of poetry performed by Jade Phoenix. Jade Phoenix is a fierce story and truth teller, a vulnerable yet dynamic performance poet and actress, an informative and engaging cultural producer of film and media, that uses her platform and art to shift and change the conversations and dialogue, specifically for trans women/femme and gender non conforming people of color in the arts, academia, and film.
