The series begins Thursday night (2 Feb 2012) at 7:30 with a screening of the 2008 German film The Wave. Professor Johannes Evelein will lead the discussion that follows. The Wave (Die Welle) is about how a high school teacher teaches his students about dictatorships by starting a social experiment.
The Black Power Mix-Tape, scheduled for February 9th, was screened at Real Art Ways last year.The film is divided into segments, one for each of the years between 1967-1975 when footage was taken. This includes archival footage of Stokely Carmichael, Eldridge Cleaver, Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, and Bobby Seale. Seth Markle, Professor of History and International Studies at Trinity College, will lead the discussion afterwards. Continue reading 'Free Admission to Democracy in Film Series at Cinestudio'»
You could spend all winter working on growing out your leg hair while watching reruns of 30 Rock, but why? Here are some alternatives to that scenario: Continue reading 'February Events'»
The American experience in Jamaica is typically limited to visiting resorts.
The documentary Life and Debtexplores what happens behind the scenes at these resorts, along with how globalization has affected the rest of the island.
This film, released in 2001, will be shown at the Charter Oak Cultural Center at 7p.m. on January 26, 2012.
Baltimore-based actor Felicia Pearson — “Snoop” on The Wire — will be signing copies of her memoir Grace After Midnight at the Wadsworth Atheneum’s Art After Hours in January. The museum will be screening two episodes of the show at 8.
Art After Hours will also feature music by the Nat Reeves Quartet with vocalist Dana Lauren. There will be ice sculpting and fiery hula hoop dancing.
It always seems that people overbook events at certain times of year, like December, and then go for weeks without planning any events, but this January shows little slow down of things to do in Hartford. Here are a few of the offerings:
January 1st
It’s a spendy, but delicious way to begin the new year: Firebox will be having Sunday brunches. Can anyone really complain about adding more breakfast options?
January 5-8th
“Brahms and Beatboxing” at the Bushnell. Just what it sounds like. Way old school meets new.
January 6th
Three Kings Day is celebrated locally with a parade that typically begins at 10 a.m. around 95 Park Street and makes its way down Park Street, ending in Pope Park by the recreation center. The parade is not sprawling, but it features three camels, which is the reason to come out for it.
January 6-8th
The annual Boar’s Head Festival at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church is theatrical, featuring tumblers, dancers, and lots of live animals (geese, camel, etc.). Reserving a seat in advance is advised.
If you missed the talk with Amigo’s director John Sayles, you can still see the film at Cinestudio, but what you will not be able to get is the refresher Imperialism 101 lecture that he provided for the audience on Wednesday evening. Having this context in which to view the film is not necessary, but does add depth. It’s historical fiction, based on no singular figure or battle, but made from many truths. While this story focuses on the Philippines, it should not be forgotten that this was the same era when Guam and Puerto Rico were also annexed as territories of the United States.
In History classes, this period is typically represented as an eyeblink between the Industrial Revolution and World War I. Not much has been done cinematically with the Philippine-American War either. According to Sayles, Amigo is only the third American-made film about this subject.
A criticism of the film has been that it serves as a metaphor for the War in Iraq, which would be apt if the language and appearance of occupation had been invented in the last ten years. Continue reading 'Winning Hearts and Minds with Amigo'»
Amigo will premiere in Connecticut at Cinestudio on the Trinity College campus. This is currently the only location in the state where the film is scheduled to be screened. While Amigo will be playing at Cinestudio through October 29th, Wednesday (10/26) is the only day of the run when Real Hartford readers will receive free admission to the film and conversation with John Sayles. Continue reading 'Academy Award Nominee John Sayles at Cinestudio'»
“Our materials are for the whole community,” Henry Dutcher, the Director of the Enfield Public Library, announced on Monday evening.
Last January, an Enfield resident complained about how the town library was planning to screen Sicko. Instead of simply opting to not view the film, he took the complaint to a council meeting. With unprecedented speed, politicians pressured the library to cancel. After gaining a reputation for being backwards, Sicko was permitted to be shown in Enfield last February. Dutcher reminded the crowd at the Hartford Public Library that the materials in public libraries are not just for “one, two, or a dozen individuals”; they are for everyone.
During Monday’s “Beware of the Book” program, five people read passages from banned books, one commented on the frequently banned (and censored) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Dutcher spoke at length about the choice to show Sicko. This event was moderated by Colin McEnroe and was introduced by Andrew Schneider, Executive Director of the ACLU of Connecticut.
Councilperson Luis Cotto read a passage from Bless Me, Ultima, a coming-of-age story that many have found controversial for religious reasons. Susan Schoenberger, author of A Watershed Year, read from Ulysses. Schoenberger said that as a writer, she admires Joyce’s unwillingness to self-censor. For those familiar with Joyce, the attempt to ban his work might seem unnecessary, as it is so inaccessible to most readers that the majority would give up before even being able to decipher to “objectionable” passages. Dennis House read from The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, which he described as “crass” and filled with bad spelling; a grandmother in California pushed to have the potty-humor book pulled from her local public library. Continue reading 'Freedom to Read Celebration'»
The following is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Rather, these are my snobbish selections of what sounds most interesting in the upcoming month. Also, to mark the ten years since September 11, 2001, there will be numerous events, re-broadcasts, etc. For this calendar, I am only including those that appear to promise not to pander to reactionaries, nor foster chauvinism.
Art After Hours: Escape to India. The Wadsworth Atheneum’s monthly party will feature Indian cuisine, dancing, henna body painting, and a fashion show by Sadhna’s, a downtown clothing boutique. The event begins at 5pm and concludes after the screening of Monsoon Wedding.
The Art of Carlos Hernandez-Chavez: “I am My Mother.” The opening reception will be from 5-8pm at the Pump House Gallery, located at 60 Elm Street at the edge of Bushnell Park. This collection of work by “Hartford visual artist, muralist, photographer, musician, arts educator and activist Carlos Hernandez-Chavez” will be on display through September 29th. Continue reading 'Happening(s) in September'»
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It always seems that people overbook events at certain times of year, like December, and then go for weeks without planning any events, but this January shows little slow down of things to do in Hartford. Here are a few of the offerings:
“Our materials are for the whole community,” Henry Dutcher, the Director of the 
The following is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Rather, these are my snobbish selections of what sounds most interesting in the upcoming month. Also, to mark the ten years since September 11, 2001, there will be numerous events, re-broadcasts, etc. For this calendar, I am only including those that appear to promise not to pander to reactionaries, nor foster chauvinism.
