Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) is accepting presentation proposals for its inaugural symposium to explore the legacy of groundbreaking Black filmmaker and 1953 OWU graduate Melvin Van Peebles.
The two-day symposium will be held March 31 and April 1, 2023, on the OWU campus in Delaware, Ohio, just 20 miles north of Columbus. The symposium will feature special keynote sessions commemorating the life and work of Melvin Van Peebles by leading scholars and artists in film and media as well as the screening of Van Peebles’ classic films.
- Keynote sessions with journalist and author Wil Haygood and other special guests to be announced.
- Screenings of The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1967), Watermelon Man (1970), and Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971).
- Panels, roundtables, and performances exploring the significance of Van Peebles’ life and the legacy of his work politically and culturally.
This symposium strives to bring together enthusiasts, activists, artists, and scholars who share various interests in and perspectives on Van Peebles to continue to cultivate his rich archive. As a result, we invite proposals engaged in thought, action, and cultural production related to Van Peebles directly or indirectly that address the significance of his life and the legacy of his work from all relevant disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspectives; within various social, political, historical, and/or geographical contexts; and differing cultural mediums, including but not limited to, film, theater, music, art, literature, and business.
For more information, please visit https://www.owu.edu/VanPeebles.
Antron Mahoney: admahoney@owu.edu
Eva Paris-Huesca: eeparish@owu.edu