EVENTS

Beowulf Roars to Life

Beowulf, a bone-chilling tale of monsters and men, will roar to life in an award-winning performance with harp by Chris Vinsonhaler on Thursday, March 23, in Dodds Hall Auditorium, Florida State University.

Sponsored by the FSU Humanities program, this 90-minute performance with Celtic harp is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m., with the performance to begin at 8 p.m. This event is not appropriate for children, but is recommended for adults and young adults only.

Awarded a fellowship funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Vinsonhaler is an internationally touring artist, whose work has been hosted by community events, conferences, and universities.

Vinsonhaler's performance credits include the Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies and the Toronto Centre for Medieval Studies, and the International Medieval Congress. Her work has received praise from scholars, poets, teachers, storytellers, and armchair readers.

“You made Beowulf come alive even for those who hated reading it,” said Rosemary DePaolo, president of Georgia College & State University. “You made everyone in the audience feel that Beowulf, Grendel, and Hrothgar were with us—in the room, and in our time.”

“Beowulf does indeed have something for everyone,” said Vinsonhaler. “It is a dazzling work of poetry, and it is also a knock-'em, sock-'em piece of pop culture about a Dark Ages super hero. It is somber and thought-provoking, but it is also a lot of fun. That’s what great literature has always been about.”

Yet those who are familiar with Beowulf should expect to be surprised.

"Beowulf has many surprises in store," Vinsonhaler said. "The poem is ironic, subversive, grotesque, and darkly comic; and it may even lay claim to be the world's first murder mystery. Yet, above all, Beowulf is a prophetic work about the death of nations. Its world, like our own, is overshadowed by the image of a burning tower and by monstrous acts of avarice, envy, deceit, and revenge. It is very much a poem for our times."

Vinsonhaler began working on Beowulf out of her lifelong interest in folk culture and bardic tradition. Now seven years into the project, Vinsonhaler has published an original performance-based translation that has received acclaim from scholars in the field.

Robert Bjork, president of the International Society for Anglo-Saxonists, has praised Vinsonhaler's work for "capturing the tone and energy of the original poem.” And Andy Orchard, director of the Toronto Centre for Medieval Studies has praised Vinsonhaler’s translation as superior to all others in capturing “the passion and verve of the original.”

Now eight years into the project, Vinsonhaler has published an original performance-based translation: "I was aware that even serious readers of Beowulf have differed widely on interpretation—some declaring the poem can never be fully understood.”

“As a professional storyteller, I wondered what would happen if Beowulf were seriously examined and interpreted through performance. Although many questions remain unanswered, one thing that is almost certainly true: Beowulf was meant to be heard, not read. What excites me most, and what I hope to share with others, is that the poem does indeed take on a life of its own when returned to spoken form.”

For more information, contact the Interdisciplinary Program in the Humanities, 644-2726

2005 Celebration of Graduate Student Excellence

At the annual Celebration of Graduate Student Excellence, IPH graduate students Haroldo Abraam Fontaine and Belle Harrell were among the 85 graduate students recognized for their outstanding work by the Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE), the Congress of Graduate Students, and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Haroldo received the 2005 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. Recipients of this award were selected from among nominations received from students and faculty members. Teaching portfolios submitted by the nominees were evaluated on Instructional Skills, Course Structure, Accessibility, Rapport with Students, Evaluation of Learning, Scholarship, and Professionalism.

Belle is a recipient of the 2005 Graduate Student Leadership Award for PIE Teaching Associates. These students were recognized for their energy, enthusiasm, expertise, and dedication, and for contributions to their individual departments, PIE, and instruction at FSU.

Congratulations Haroldo and Belle!!

L to R: Dr. Maricarmen Martinez, Haroldo Fontaine, Dr. David Johnson

For details on other recipients of the 2005 Graduate awards, click here.

		Department of Interdiscplinary Humanities 432 Diffenbaugh Building (#1549) Tallahassee, FL 32306-1549 Contact send email 850/644-9121


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Awarded a fellowship funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Vinsonhaler is an internationally touring artist, whose work has been hosted by community events, conferences, and universities. Vinsonhaler's performance credits include the Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies and the Toronto Centre for Medieval Studies, and the International Medieval Congress. Her work has received praise from scholars, poets, teachers, storytellers, and armchair readers. “You made Beowulf come alive even for those who hated reading it,” said Rosemary DePaolo, president of Georgia College & State University. “You made everyone in the audience feel that Beowulf, Grendel, and Hrothgar were with us—in the room, and in our time.” “Beowulf does indeed have something for everyone,” said Vinsonhaler. “It is a dazzling work of poetry, and it is also a knock-'em, sock-'em piece of pop culture about a Dark Ages super hero. It is somber and thought-provoking, but it is also a lot of fun. That’s what great literature has always been about.” Yet those who are familiar with Beowulf should expect to be surprised. "Beowulf has many surprises in store," Vinsonhaler said. "The poem is ironic, subversive, grotesque, and darkly comic; and it may even lay claim to be the world's first murder mystery. Yet, above all, Beowulf is a prophetic work about the death of nations. Its world, like our own, is overshadowed by the image of a burning tower and by monstrous acts of avarice, envy, deceit, and revenge. It is very much a poem for our times." Vinsonhaler began working on Beowulf out of her lifelong interest in folk culture and bardic tradition. Now seven years into the project, Vinsonhaler has published an original performance-based translation that has received acclaim from scholars in the field. Robert Bjork, president of the International Society for Anglo-Saxonists, has praised Vinsonhaler's work for "capturing the tone and energy of the original poem.” And Andy Orchard, director of the Toronto Centre for Medieval Studies has praised Vinsonhaler’s translation as superior to all others in capturing “the passion and verve of the original.” Now eight years into the project, Vinsonhaler has published an original performance-based translation: "I was aware that even serious readers of Beowulf have differed widely on interpretation—some declaring the poem can never be fully understood.” “As a professional storyteller, I wondered what would happen if Beowulf were seriously examined and interpreted through performance. Although many questions remain unanswered, one thing that is almost certainly true: Beowulf was meant to be heard, not read. What excites me most, and what I hope to share with others, is that the poem does indeed take on a life of its own when returned to spoken form.” For more information, contact the Interdisciplinary Program in the Humanities, 644-2726 2005 Celebration of Graduate Student Excellence At the annual Celebration of Graduate Student Excellence, IPH graduate students Haroldo Abraam Fontaine and Belle Harrell were among the 85 graduate students recognized for their outstanding work by the Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE), the Congress of Graduate Students, and the Office of Graduate Studies. Haroldo received the 2005 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. Recipients of this award were selected from among nominations received from students and faculty members. Teaching portfolios submitted by the nominees were evaluated on Instructional Skills, Course Structure, Accessibility, Rapport with Students, Evaluation of Learning, Scholarship, and Professionalism. Belle is a recipient of the 2005 Graduate Student Leadership Award for PIE Teaching Associates. These students were recognized for their energy, enthusiasm, expertise, and dedication, and for contributions to their individual departments, PIE, and instruction at FSU. Congratulations Haroldo and Belle!! L to R: Dr. Maricarmen Martinez, Haroldo Fontaine, Dr. David Johnson For details on other recipients of the 2005 Graduate awards, click here.