Barrett offers a sample of The Human Event through 'Antigone'
“A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and must unbend his mind” (Sophocles, “Antigone”).
For 25 years, Barrett, The Honors College at ASU has been doing just that for the minds of outstanding undergraduates from across the U.S., challenging them to learn more. One of the college’s primary tools in this mission is The Human Event, a milestone in the lives of Barrett freshmen. This signature honors seminar has been available only as part of the Barrett curriculum — until now.
Barrett and the ASU Foundation are partnering to offer Great Conversations as part of the foundation’s Presidential Engagement Programs series. Great Conversations is an extension of The Human Event concept for the public; an evening of dinner and dialogue to explore the world’s greatest literature and most profound ideas, to exercise critical thinking skills in collaboration with Barrett faculty and students.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Barrett Honors Faculty Fellows Laura Popova and Karen Bruhn, along with other select honors faculty, will guide a lively discussion of Sophocles' "Antigone." The evening begins at 6 p.m. with dinner at Vincent on Camelback, followed by guided explorations of Sophocles’ unforgettable play. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase and read the play prior to the event. They don’t need to become experts; the purpose of The Human Event is to explore monumental works with a faculty member chosen for the ability to facilitate spirited, meaningful discussion. The result is a bonding between the group members, over both the literature and the experience.
Popova teaches The Human Event at Barrett, as well as the honors section of "Anthropology 222: Buried Cities and Lost Tribes." She is affiliated with ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change and the Melikian Center of Russian, Eurasian, and Eastern European Studies. Bruhn is a principal lecturer at Barrett and a member of the graduate faculty in both history and religious studies. She was the recipient of the inaugural Barrett Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Barrett Award for Excellence in Service and the ASU Alumni Association’s Founders Day Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The cost to attend this Nov. 19 event, "Great Conversations: Sophocles’ 'Antigone,'" is $50, which includes dinner and parking. Seating is limited and registration is necessary to ensure admission. Dinner begins at 6 p.m., and the program ends at 8 p.m. Vincent on Camelback is located at 3930 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix.
ASU Foundation Presidential Engagement Programs are premier community outreach events that connect communities to ASU’s visionary scholars and ideas through multi-week courses, single lectures and custom campus tours. PEP is a unique gateway to greater involvement with the university, providing more than 1,500 community members each year access to the momentum and intellectual power of a New American University.
Erik Ketcherside, erik.k@asu.edu
Communications Manager | Editorial Services>
ASU Foundation for A New American University
480-965-0545