Thursday, February 05, 2004

By Tiffany Johnson, PR Intern

Wilmington, N.C. – The University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s eleventh annual Intercultural Week will be held Monday, Feb. 9 through Saturday, Feb. 14. A full schedule of events has been planned to celebrate the rich diversity of cultures found within the UNCW and Wilmington communities. Lectures, films, dancing, music, performances and food provide opportunities for all ages to get involved. The schedule of events is below. The public is invited and events are free unless otherwise noted.

On-going Events:

University Union Art Exhibit Series “Cartesia” by Larry Pritchard featuring abstract paintings inspired by mapping, travel and anthropology.

“Brown v. Board of Education” Randall Library Display

Monday, Feb. 9:

South Africa: 10 Years Later 6 p.m. in Warwick Center Ballroom

James McNab, assistant provost for international programs, presents this panel discussion on South Africa after apartheid. Experts from Research Triangle and UNCW will participate in the panel.

Passover Fever (Israeli film) 7 – 9 p.m. in Center Stage Café, Warwick Center

Barry Salwen from the UNCW Music Department presents this film about an Israeli family getting together for the holiday. The film is in Hebrew with English subtitles.

Chief Seattle (Film) 7:30 p.m. in Dobo Hall, Room 103

The Anthropology Department presents this film profiling the legendary leader who welcomed the Americans to settle on the land that now bears his name. The film chronologically depicts the life of Chief Seattle including the controversy over the famous speech attributed to him.

Tuesday, Feb. 10:

My Life as a Dog (Swedish film) 7 – 9 p.m. in Kenan Hall, Room 121

Terry Theodore will present this Golden Globe winning movie for “Best Foreign Film.” It was also an Academy Award nominee for Best Director and Best Screenplay. This film depicts the life of a working-class boy in Sweden in the 1950s.

What’s New in Latin American Literature 7 – 9 p.m. in Randall Library auditorium

Peter Thomas from the UNCW Foreign Languages and Literatures Department will give an informal talk on recent narrative publications from Latin America. This program is intended for readers interested in finding out what is new in Latin American literature.

Seaside (French film) 7 p.m. in Warwick Center Ballroom

A widely acclaimed film, Seaside is a film about the inhabitants of Cayeux, a small beach town in France. Beautiful, but distant, Marie works at a stone treatment plant. Her boyfriend, Paul, struggles to understand her dreamy temperament, while Marie is instead drawn to a young executive at the factory.

Wednesday, Feb. 11:

International Perspectives Mini Semester 12 – 2 p.m., TBA

This set of presentations by UNCW focuses on global applications of academic studies such as culture, art, politics, society, science, resource management, business and health.

Fulbright-Hays Chile Seminar

International Perspectives Mini Semester 1 – 1:50 p.m., TBA

Gonzalo R. Bruce Laulié, Director of International Academic Cooperation at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile along with representatives from various UNCW departments will present a panel discussion on Globalism.

World War II Effects on the European Baby Boomers

International Perspectives Mini Semester 12 p.m. in King Hall, Room 101

The Foreign Languages and Literatures Department present the Oscar-winning film Life is Beautiful by Roberto Benigni, which graphically describes the destruction of family life. A panel discussion will follow of European professors from the FLL Department to discuss how WWII affected their families’ lives.

Languages and Computers: Can Computers Translate?

International Perspectives Mini Semester 1 p.m., TBA

The presenter, a professional translator who holds a master’s in translation, will discuss the current state of translating with computers. This session will present a clear picture of how complex languages are and how computers have helped and assisted in bridging the language gap in a multicultural world.

Points Around the Globe 7 p.m. in the University Union, Living Room

The Student Government Association will sponsor this display of various talents and cultures on the UNCW campus. In the “poetry-nite” setting, they hope to have students, faculty and staff present poems, prayers and any other interesting component of culture or a particular culture of interest. SGA members will moderate the discussion to amplify the historic and artistic point of view from each of the presenters.

Ah, If I Was Rich (French film) 7 p.m. in Warwick Center Ballroom

A man wins 10 million Euros but then learns that his wife is cheating on him with his new boss. To get his revenge, he decides not to announce his winnings until after the divorce and continues to live a modest life despite his wealth. A sharp comedy in the vein of the popular French hit, The Closet.

Les Yeux Noirs (The Dark Eyes) 8 p.m. in Kenan Auditorium

Part gypsy, part klezmer, French string octet Les Yeux Noirs present some of the most rhythmic and emotional sounds from Romanian, Hungarian, Russian, Armenian and Yiddish traditions with boundless energy, technical excellence, and spontaneity. Tickets are available at Kenan Auditorium (910/962-3500) or the University Union Information Center.

Thursday, Feb. 12:

“Cartesia” Opening Reception: University Union Art Exhibit Series 5 – 7 p.m. in Warwick Center Lobby

Free and open to the public.

Around the World in an Hour: Readings with International Appeal 7 – 9 p.m. in University Union, Union Station

The Creative Writing Department and the Creative Writing Graduate Student Association present a series of readings with an international flavor by undergraduate and graduate students.

Fulbright-Hays Chile Seminar 7 p.m. in Cameron Hall Auditorium

Gonzalo R. Bruce Laulié, Director of International Academic Cooperation at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile will discuss Globalism and U.S./Chile relations.

17 Times Cecile Cassard (French film) 7 p.m. in Warwick Center Ballroom

A young woman (Béatrice Dalle, star of Betty Blue) is left stunned by the sudden suicide of her husband. Along with her son, she tries to put her life back together. Told in 17 short scenes, this is moving story of emotional renewal in the face of unexpected loss.

Friday, February 13:

International Café 6 – 8 p.m. in Center Stage Café, Warwick Center

The International Student Organization will provide a dessert reception highlighting different foods from around the world. UNCW International Students will be in attendance to answer questions about their countries and share experiences.

Mime Show 8 p.m. in King Hall, Room 101

The art of mime invokes images of Marcel Marceau. Sponsored by Pascale Barthe, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Christian Albouy shares his passion for the gestual arts with you.

Saturday, February 14:

Building One World- Together! 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. in University Union, Room 100

This Intercultural Week even for children ages five to 11 offers a variety of fun activities promoting world unity and community building through various arts and crafts such as peace poles, origami cranes, unity chains, storytelling and more. Volunteers are needed to help with the activities, especially individuals with foreign language skills, anyone skilled in origami, and international students, staff or faculty who could share about their culture. (Volunteers should pre-register by calling 910/962-3877 and are asked to arrive at 9 a.m. for setup.)

Area nonprofit groups are invited to attend. UNCW students, faculty and staff who would like to bring their children are asked to call 910/962-3877 and reserve spaces in advance.

Eleventh Annual Intercultural Festival 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Warwick Center Ballroom

A celebration highlighting cultures and countries represented in Wilmington and at UNCW. Food, dancing, music and exhibits showcase the rich cultural diversity of the area. This year’s festival includes performances by Madafo Loyd Wilson, SEA PANS steel drum band, William “Paco” Strickland, Port City Pipes and Drums, Miyagi Ryukyu Dance School and much more.

Groups sponsoring display booths at the festival include: Italian Heritage Society, Mi Gente, Cape Fear Foreign Language Collaborative, Wilmington Sister City Commission, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Scottish Society of Wilmington, Coastal Carolina Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, Coastal Carolina Chapter United Nations Association, Native American Student Organization, UNCW International Student Organization, UNCW Jewish Student Organization, UNCW Student Ambassadors, UNCW NCWTA, UNCW Japanese Class and student and faculty sponsored booths representing various countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Spain and the Netherlands.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: For additional information, call Miranda Boykin, UNCW Office of International Programs, at 910/962-7009 or e-mail boykinm@uncw.edu.