Chattanooga, TN (September 10, 2015) --- Building on the rich American heritage of Chautauqua, Chattanooga State is proud to present the Chautauqua Series, Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. in the Kolwyck Library Mobile Classroom. The series is free and open to the public.

In 1874, people gathered on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in New York State to celebrate the first gathering and to enjoy speakers, teachers, musicians, and specialists who entertained and educated members of the community. Following this tradition, faculty members Joel Henderson, Ken Cardillo, Keri Lamb, Debbie Rudd, and Natalie Counts have brought together distinguished professors and practitioners who will offer members of the community a deeper glimpse into specialized topics in the field of Humanities.

According to one of the series organizers, Keri Lamb, assistant professor of Humanities, “These interactive sessions range from informative talks and discussions to workshops where attendees can practice or experience a particular craft in a hands-on way. Topics extend across a variety of disciplines, including art, music, literature, and theatre, and take place monthly in a relaxed, collegial setting.”

Included in the 2015-16 series:

September 17: “And they were here all along! How Spanish and Hispanics have influenced the American Southeast.” Join Instructor Juan Santillana for a brief, visual talk about the past and present influence of Hispanic culture in the American Southeast.

October 22: “Men Will Be Boys: Messages of Masculine Identity in American Pop Culture.” Dr. Jason Huddleston invites you to join his investigation of American pop culture and its effects on masculine identity since the late twentieth century.

November 19: “America’s Horror Story: How Terror, Murder, and Mayhem Helped Shape the Nation’s Literature” Join Dr. Buck Weiss for a discussion of the horrific real events that inspired some of America’s most famous writers.

February 18: “Women of Power: Shakespeare and Ron Rash’s Serena.” Instructor Mindy Townsend invites you to explore Shakespearean influence, Serena, and the dynamic of women, power, and nature.

March 17: “Painters, Protestors, and Poets: WWI in Art and Literature.” Join Assistant Professor Caroline Covington and Instructor Natalie Counts for a discussion of how a “lost generation” of WWI poets and painters altered the entire course of western art.

April 21: Writers@Work: The Art and Craft of Writing. Join the 2015-16 Writers@Work visiting writers, Ron Rash and Robert Morgan, as they discuss their writing process and respond to questions about the art and craft of writing.

For more information about the Chautauqua Series, visit www.chattanoogastate.edu/calendar or call Dr. Keri Lamb at 423-697-2546.