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Love Liberally
Virginia Wesleyan faculty consider love as it relates to the liberal arts during annual symposium, taking place Feb. 12-19
By Stephanie Smaglo | February 15, 2016
Love Liberally: A Celebration of Love in the Liberal Arts
February 12-19, 2016
View the 2016 Love Liberally Program
A touch of winter weather couldn’t stop Hofheimer Library’s Downton Abbey-themed tea and trivia event from happening Monday, as guests clad in early-1900s attire shared their love of the popular PBS series over steaming cups of chamomile. “For the Love of Downton Abbey” was one of the first in a series of programs taking place this week as part of Virginia Wesleyan’s annual Love Liberally symposium (Feb. 12-19).
“I hope our guests will be reminded that the library supports all kinds of learning and love,” says Sue Erickson, Director of Hofheimer Library. “Programs like Downton Abbey demonstrate a whole range of types of love: love of country, love between a mother and son, a wife and husband, love of a servant for master or mistress, love in friendship, and scandalous love—who doesn't love the scene with Mary and Mr. Pamuk?”
The library also posted a display of books about the time period, with topics ranging from British culture and country houses to women’s suffrage and World War I.
In the sixth edition of the campus-wide event, themed “A Celebration of Love in the Liberal Arts," Virginia Wesleyan faculty are once again opening their doors for special lectures, workshops, and presentations that explore the concept of love through their own disciplinary lens. Organizing this year's symposium is Batten Associate Professor of Classics Ben Haller.
“Whether it’s the wounded ache of unrequited love in Monteverdi’s Si Dolce è l’ Tormento that sets your heartstrings aflutter…or a psychological analysis of attachment styles in relationships, ways of expressing, investigating, and understanding love come in quite a bit more than 50 shades,” Haller reflected in a recent email to campus.
Additional events occurring throughout the week include: “When Rights Conflict: Personal Freedoms Versus Religious Obligations since the Hobby Lobby Decision” (Feb. 15) with Eric Mazur, Center for the Study of Religious Freedom Fellow for Religion, Law, and Politics; “Sex, Gender, Sexuality” (Feb. 16) with Taryn Myers, Assistant Professor of Psychology; “Population and Sampling with a Random Twist of Love” (Feb. 17) with Denise Wilkinson, Professor of Mathematics; "What’s Love Got to Do With It? Texting, Relationships, and Interpersonal Communication" (Feb. 18) with Robin Takacs, Director of Instructional Technology; "Puppy Love" (Feb. 18) with Kathy Stolley, Professor of Sociology; “Fairy Tales and Tragedies: Tolkien’s Love Stories” (Feb. 18) with Ben Haller, Batten Associate Professor of Classics; “Life Matters” (Feb. 18) with Joyce Howell, Professor of Art History; and "Ovid’s Orpheus and Eurydice" (Feb. 19) with Michael Hall, Lambuth M. Clarke Professor of English.
All events are open to the campus community. For a detailed schedule of events, view the 2016 Love Liberally Program. For more information, contact Ben Haller at bhaller@vwu.edu or 757.233.8811.