In the early 20th century, filmmakers were frequently compared to hypnotists, enticing hysterical movie audiences with wild collective hallucinations! In these rarely seen films curated by UMN’s Maggie Hennefeld, a woman is hypnotized by a Svengali, a jealous lover practices tele-hypnosis to defeat his rival, an overworked housemaid has sleeping sickness, a female coach drive can’t believe her eyes, an obsessive inventor gives us a sneak preview of Zoom, and cinematography offers a miraculous cure to hysterical amnesia.

Hae Yeon Choo: Associate Professor of Sociology and Director, Centre for the Study of Korea; University of Toronto

The first meeting of the new “Collecting Oral Histories of West Central Minnesota” Collaborative of the Institute for Advanced Study will be a reading group discussion centered on the preservation and dissemination of oral history collections. What are the best archival practices? How can we encourage the pedagogic, scholarly, and community use of existing oral histories? Anyone and everyone interested in telling local stories is welcome! Readings will be available in advance via Briggs Library Electronic Reserve.

Brendan Jamal Thornton: Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Caroline Gottschalk Druschke: Professor, Department of English and Director of Headwaters Lab, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Tamara Dean: author and founder of “Stories from the Flood”

Deva R. Woodly: Associate Professor of Politics, The New School
Sun Yung Shin: Acclaimed poet, writer, & cultural worker

What does it mean to be a world builder?

Steven Thrasher: Assistant Professor and Daniel H. Renberg Chair, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University