BETHANY PILLOW | staff writer
Professors may have cancelled their Wednesday classes, but that does not mean they are skipping town this Common Day of Learning. Here is the inside scoop on what a few faculty have up their sleeves for the day’s presentations.
One session sure to receive some attention is Dr. Gail Bouslough and Dr. Nancy Brashear’s pursuit of the answer to their latest question, “Are Graphic Novels Too Graphic?” Not settling for a run-of-the-mill literature discussion, these English Department professors went outside the box, forsaking traditional genres to explore this latest literary trend.
The recent renewal of interest in graphic novels in youth and adults alike is more than just a second wind of the comic book craze.
“The diversity of types of graphic novels available today is mind boggling—much more than superheroes or manga,” Bouslough said. “And more are being published every week. Non-fiction is even adopting the graphic format to entice and inform readers.”
Neither Bouslough nor Brashear were experts in the field of graphic communication, so this project sent them diving into books on the marriage of literature and aesthetics as well as into countless graphic novels to get “up to speed” on pivotal works, creators and vocabulary.
“Bottom line, we became students in order to share what we have learned,” Bouslough said.
In their session, Brashear plans to share from her experience in the field of literacy on how the mind “reads” pictures, while Bouslough explores the unique reading strategies needed for reading comics.
There will be an opportunity for students to experience first-hand the appeal of graphic novels.
Graphic fans are welcome to bring their favorites along for discussion, but do not be afraid to come empty-handed. All different genres will be available for fans and newcomers thanks to all of the libraries, bookstores and friends who allowed their collections to be raided by the two English scholars on a mission of comic book proportions.
Those interested in exploring language of a very different sort can slide into a seat for “Quantum Physics and the Christian Faith.” At first glance, the title of this lecture may send non-science majors running, but faculty presenters Timothy Heumier and Donald Isaak would encourage them to harness that energy and join them for a hands-on presentation designed especially for the non-science majors.
Heumier of the Department of Physics said this lecture has been in the works for some time, and was sparked by one of many drive-time conversations between him and Isaak while carpooling to work.
Joining them are senior biochemistry major Zachary Herzfeldt and math and physics major Bradley Larson. This team plans to highlight the concepts they find most fascinating in quantum physics, a science that, they have come to realize, can tell more about what cannot be known than what is cold hard fact.
Heumier’s aim is for those who attend today’s session to come away appreciating the fact that “science is so not cut and dried, so not exact, so much more than just a way of finding about how nature works. It has many of the same tensions of knowing, believing and faith that Christianity does.”
According to Heumier, those who attend this presentation can expect to learn a little quantum physics and also encounter tangible examples of how much of science remains a mystery. Participants need only bring an open mind, ready to engage in a science and faith dialogue that is sure to be charged—quite literally—with thought-provoking concepts and entertaining demonstrations.
For specific times and locations to see what APU’s own experts have up their sleeves, check out the CDL brochure.
