Conference Schedule

Utopia/Dystopia Symposium Schedule

Monday 6 Feb 2023: Reception at Coyote Twin Theatre (6:00-9:30p)

6:00-6:45

Refreshments, Gallery Exhibit, opening remarks by Shane Nordyke

7:00-9:00

Max Fury Road (2015), introduced by Sara Lampert and Tim Schorn

Tuesday 7 Feb 23: Symposium MUC Ballroom and Foyer

9:00-9:30

Check-in, continental breakfast, opening remarks by Lisa Ann Robertson

9:30-10:45

Interdisciplinary Panel 1, moderated by Meghann Jarchow:

• Dave Burrow (History): “Utopia in Power”

• Skip Willman (English): “The Hunger Games and the Failure of the Utopian Imagination”

• Andrea Liebl (Biology): “Genetic Engineering as a Utopian and Dystopian Mechanism for Change”

• April Carrillo (Criminal Justice): A Queer Future Beyond a Puritan Colonial Ideal”

• Mandie Weinandt (Economics): “Economics: Utilitarian Utopia or Dismal Dystopia”

• Jennifer Phelan (Speech and Communications Disorders): “Nyle DiMarco's Deaf Utopia: A Cultural Anthem”

11:00-12:15

Interdisciplinary Panel 2, moderated by Sara Lampert:

• KC Santosh (Computer Science): “AI for Good – Utopia/Dystopia?”

• Meghann Jarchow (Sustainability): “Visionary Sustainability: Living in Relation With Our Place”

• Bess Vlaisavljevich (Chemistry): “The Benefits and Unexpected Consequences of Designing Molecules”

• Elise Boxer (Native Studies): “Decolonial Utopia: An Indigenous Future”

• Wendy Hess (Law): “Sexual Harassment Legal Protections: Ideals v. Reality”

• David Earnest (Political Science): “Postopia? Why Politics Today Is So Much Worse Than Merely Dystopian”

12:30-1:45

Lunch

2:00-3:15

Student Panel, moderated by Marty McGoey

• Bekah Bahn (English BA program): “The Divergent Dystopia: Ishiguro’s Novel of Many Genres”

• Sneha Chakraborty (English MA program): “Ideological Dystopia in Hirak Raja'r Deshe”

• Addison Jensen (English BA, Organizational Communication minor): “Changing Perceptions of Our Future via Star Trek”

• Amelia Saint (English PhD program) “Utopian Thinking in the College Composition Classroom”

• Mark Schmidt: (English MA program): “From 1984 to 1138: Regulated Desires and Foucauldian Theology in Twentieth Century Dystopia”

3:30-4:45

Keynote Speaker: Alexander Weinstein (introduced by John Dudley)

Coyote Twin Theatre: Dinner and After Yang film screening (6:00-9:00p)

6:00-6:45

Dinner (served at Coyote Twin Theatre)

7:00-8:45

After Yang (2021), introduced by Skip Willman