College of Arts & Sciences debuts humanities documentary film series Wednesday

Janel Shoun | 

 

 
Image from Made in L.A.
Lipscomb University announces a new humanities film series providing Nashvillians a free, regular opportunity to see highly acclaimed documentaries making significant comment on our world today.
 
Lipscomb’s School of Humanities, within the College of Arts & Sciences, will provide free showings of documentaries about social justice issues monthly, beginning with the Emmy Award-winning Made in L.A., to show at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27, in Lipscomb’s Shamblin Theatre. A panel discussion of local experts will follow each film.
 
“We wanted to establish a film series to allow students and the community to regularly find good documentaries on issues close to our hearts,” said Matt Hearn, chair of the English department, which is coordinating the series along with professors from the departments of history and foreign languages. “We want to become the premiere site in Nashville challenging the public to think about important issues in society through quality documentary films.”
 
In cooperation with the Nashville Film Festival, Lipscomb has chosen three movies to feature during the spring semester:  
  • Made in LA. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 8:30 p.m. in Lipscomb’s Shamblin Theatre. A feature documentary following three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from trendy clothing retailer Forever 21. (www.madeinla.com).
  • The Age of Stupid on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 8:30 p.m. in Lipscomb’s Ward Hall. The film tells the story of a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance? (www.ageofstupid.net).
  • Greensboro: Closer to the Truth on Wednesday, March 31, at 8:30 p.m. in Shamblin Theatre. This film focuses on the aftermath of the 1979 “Greensboro Massacre,” when Klansmen gunned down protesting members of the Communist Workers Party. The film looks at the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission convened in the United States, an event that began in 2004 (http://www.workingfilms.org/display.php?modin=50&uid=161).
This past fall, Lipscomb piloted the film series by showing the documentary Garbage Dreams, which is now among the 15 semi-finalists for a 2010 Best Documentary Film Oscar.
 
“That is the high quality of films this humanities film series will feature on a regular basis,” said Hearn.
 
Lipscomb is seeking to continue strengthening ties with the Nashville Film Festival through additional academic projects and sponsorships.
 
For more information on the film series, contact the Lipscomb English department at 615.966.5960.