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Upcoming events

Book Matters: Tisa Bryant and Sarah Minor promotional image

Book Matters: Tisa Bryant and Sarah Minor

Friday, November 13, 2026 7:00pm
Prairie Lights Books
Join Tisa Bryant, associate professor of English, and Sarah Minor, assistant professor of English, as they read from their latest books and discuss the themes that shape their work. This event is free and open to the public.
ተዋሕዶ ቅኔ Täwaḥǝdo Qəne : Sacred Chant and Improv Poetry from Ethiopia & Eritrea promotional image

ተዋሕዶ ቅኔ Täwaḥǝdo Qəne : Sacred Chant and Improv Poetry from Ethiopia & Eritrea

Monday, November 16, 2026 3:30pm to 5:00pm
English-Philosophy Building

ተዋሕዶ ቅኔ

Täwaḥǝdo Qəne

Sacred Chant and Improv Poetry from Ethiopia & Eritrea

~ Tradition, Translation, Practice ~

A Presentation by

Dr. Ralph Lee (Oxford) and Dr. Calum Samuelson (Sankt Ignatios, Sweden)

Monday, Nov. 16, 3:30–5 p.m., Gerber Lounge

Co-sponsored by

The Department of English

The UI Translation Program

This lecture introduces audiences to a living, ancient form of indigenous African oral poetry known as Qǝne, which still shapes the lives of millions of people today. The density, complexity...

Punk in 50 Pieces

Thursday, November 19, 2026 4:00pm
English-Philosophy Building

Co-sponsored by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Obermann Center.

Punk in 50 Pieces retells the story of punk’s cultural earthquake. Kevin Dettmar traces the evolution of this rock ‘n’ roll revolution, revealing how classic early punk (The Ramones, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop) gave birth to both post-punk (Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Gang of Four) and New Wave (Talking Heads, Blondie, Devo).Standing beside classic works such as Please Kill Me, Lipstick Traces, Rip It...

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