The October Scripps College Humanities Institute fall 2004 program, “The Politics of Knowledge Production, ” will bring two speakers to the Scripps campus to discuss political activism, with topics varying from immigrant workers to addressing political apathy. On October 4 at noon, Kent Wong, professor and director of the Center for Labor Research and Education at UCLA will lecture on, “Voices for Justice: Organizing Immigrant Workers.” Then, on October 11 at noon, David Attyah will present, “On Stopping the Manufacture of Political Apathy: Arguments for Politicizing Art.” Both events will take place in the Hampton Room of the Malott Commons on the Scripps College campus. These events are free and open to the public. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please call the Humanities Institute at (909) 621-8326.
Kent Wong is a professor of labor studies and Asian-American studies at UCLA where he also directs the Center for Labor Research and Education. He is president of the United Association for Labor Education, a national organization of labor educators including representatives from more than 50 university labor education centers. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Worker Education Associations. Previously, Wong served as the Founding President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, the first national organization of Asian American workers and union members. An author as well, Wong’s most recently book, Voices for Justice: Asian American Union Organizers in the New Labor Movement, emphasizes how Asian Pacific American labor organizers support workers in the fight for better wages, benefits; and working conditions.
David Attyah is an artist, anthropologist, and community activist who co-founded THINK AGAIN, an artist-activist collaborative that challenges mainstream ideas that perpetuate injustice. THINK AGAIN’s work covers a broad array of progressive political themes: from racism to gender inequality, from economic justice to gay rights. Their work combines humor, cultural theory, and sociological research in posters, postcards, and billboards. Their artwork is distributed at no cost through exhibitions, events, direct mail, non-profit organizations, and the web. Attyah is also Visiting Professor of Art at Scripps College.
Under the leadership of Institute Director Julia E. Liss, the fall Humanities Institute program will also include several other lectures and a film series. Program guests include journalists, authors, artists, scholars, and activists who will explore the connections among knowledge, information, and power. The approach will be interdisciplinary and wide-ranging, including such topics as the way information is created and used in policy-making and the formation of political culture; the role of think tanks; and relationships among the academy, public policy and social movements.
For a full schedule of events related to the fall 2004 program, contact the Scripps College Humanities Institute at (909) 621-8326.