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Computerized Textiles Offer Emotional Support

Computerized Textiles Offer Emotional Support

Touch is the largest organ of our body, says Felicia Davis, professor of Architectural Design at Pennsylvania State University. Davis uses computer-manipulated textiles that change in response to their environment. The textiles could provide relief for people who have a hard time expressing or understanding their own emotions. Presented by the graduate program in Media, Arts and Technology, she discussed her project in a recent seminar.

Moving Beyond Labels During AAPI Heritage Month

Moving Beyond Labels During AAPI Heritage Month

The Humanities and Fine Arts division hosted a panel of three UC Santa Barbara faculty members to discuss Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. They said the need for a designated time to pay attention to AAPI individuals’ experiences indicates a need for societal change in America.

Pandemic Stories: Writing to Cope

Pandemic Stories: Writing to Cope

More than a dozen UC Santa Barbara students gave moving accounts of their COVID-19 pandemic experiences at a showcase last week that marked the close of a nonfiction narrative project that received funds from the Executive Vice Chancellor’s Office. The Pandemic Stories Creative Nonfiction Project gave each student the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and staff to creatively express the unique struggles and triumphs they faced throughout the pandemic.

Breaking the Silence on Tulsa's Violent Past

Breaking the Silence on Tulsa's Violent Past

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was one of the worst incidents of racial violence in America’s history. Yet, for decades Tulsa residents have kept silent about the event, author and historian Scott Ellsworth said at a recent event hosted by UCSB’s Humanities Center (IHC). Ellsworth told the audience that learning about the causes and consequences of the Tulsa Race Massacre is essential in helping Tulsa, and the U.S. as a whole, confront a long history of racial violence.

In Pursuit of Wonder and Awe: Author Ted Chiang and the Future of Memory

In Pursuit of Wonder and Awe: Author Ted Chiang and the Future of Memory

We tell stories to make sense of the world, and science fiction offers a way to explore complex moral dilemmas, award-winning author Ted Chiang told a UC Santa Barbara audience last week. At a recent event jointly hosted by the UCSB Library and UCSB Arts and Lectures, Chiang discussed his science fiction writing and short story collection Exhalation, which touches on themes of freewill, memory, and technology in a futuristic world. The English Department’s Melody Jue moderated.

Taking a Literary Approach to Toxic Seas

Taking a Literary Approach to Toxic Seas

“Toxic Seas,” a create-in event hosted earlier this month by UCSB’s Literature and the Environment Research Center, tackled ocean dumping through a creative humanities lens. Students read excerpts from Silent Spring, thinking of ways to raise awareness through mediums like poetry.

Research Slam Inspires Undergraduates: "I Can Do that too"

Research Slam Inspires Undergraduates: "I Can Do that too"

UC Santa Barbara’s annual undergraduate competition for the best short research presentation took place last week, spotlighting students who could explain their projects in three slides and under three minutes. The winner was Sriram Ramamurthy, a third-year biology-major for his work on genetic differentiation among tree species in their evolution.

TV's Global Era Brings Diversity to the Small Screen

TV's Global Era Brings Diversity to the Small Screen

The current golden age of international television offers an opportunity for more diversity on the screen, television executive Rick Rosen told a student audience at a recent Pollock Theater screening of an episode of HBO's limited series Scenes from A Marriage. It was part of the Carsey-Wolf Center’s “Global” screening series.

Humans of UCSB: A Slice of Life, A Moment in Time

Humans of UCSB: A Slice of Life, A Moment in Time

After a three-year hiatus, the social media storytelling project "Humans of UCSB," has made a comeback. Relaunched under the UCSB Writing Program, the project publishes student photos and interviews on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, providing a unique platform for UCSB students to share their stories.

Race to the Surface of the Earth: An Essay

Race to the Surface of the Earth: An Essay

This spring, UCSB’s Humanities and Fine Arts Division hosted a creativity contest to highlight creative student voices across the UCSB campus. Explore the second place prose entry submitted by David Gjerde.

HFA Creativity Contest: Poetry

HFA Creativity Contest: Poetry

This spring, UCSB’s Humanities and Fine Arts Division hosted a creativity contest to highlight creative student voices across the UCSB campus. Explore the winning poetry entries submitted by Kiana Perez, Aran Hosseini, and Vivian Walman-Randall.

HFA Creativity Contest: Music

HFA Creativity Contest: Music

This spring, UCSB’s Humanities and Fine Arts Division hosted a creativity contest to highlight creative student voices across the UCSB campus. Explore the music submitted by Noah Vela, Charlie Prindle, and Violet Joy Hanson.

Cultivating Creativity

Cultivating Creativity

This spring, UCSB’s Humanities and Fine Arts Division hosted a creativity contest to highlight creative student voices across the UCSB campus. Students from all walks of life submitted their original works of photography, poetry, prose, visual art, and music for the opportunity to be featured on the HFA website.

HFA Creativity Contest: Photography and Visual Art

HFA Creativity Contest: Photography and Visual Art

This spring, UCSB’s Humanities and Fine Arts Division hosted a creativity contest to highlight creative student voices across the UCSB campus. Explore the works of photography and visual art submitted by Aran Hosseini, Reed Gaynor, Ethan Lacher, and Pricila Flores.

The Legacy of a Slain South African Activist

The Legacy of a Slain South African Activist

South African film director Enver Samuel produced a documentary on the 1988 assisination of South African anti-apartheid activist Dulcie September, Murder in Paris: The Assassination of Dulcie September. In a post-screening discussion of the film , a panel of UCSB professors and visiting NYU scholar Leonard Cortana, focused on sexism as a factor that prevented September from receiving proper police protection and due justice after her murder.

Taiwan Cinema during the Cold War

Taiwan Cinema during the Cold War

I-In Chiang is a Taipei-based film academic who teaches East Asian Languages and Cultures at Tamkang University. She recently shared her most recent research on Li Han-hsiang, a prolific Chinese director during the 1960s and 70s, as well as the founder of Grand Motion Pictures. This private-owned studio revolutionized the Taiwanese film industry and elevated its status amongst other Asian cinemas during a period in history where political tensions ran high.

Intercultural Connection Through Dance

Intercultural Connection Through Dance

The UC Santa Barbara Dance Company departed early this week for its annual trip to Europe, where the company will perform its repertoire across multiple countries as well as take and teach dance classes while immersing itself in international culture. This year the company will visit Krakow, Prague, and Barcelona, and will even perform twice on April 29 in celebration of International Dance Day.

On Christian Nationalism in American Politics

On Christian Nationalism in American Politics

On January 6, 2021, when an armed mob stormed the U.S. capitol building to prevent Congress from verifying the presidential election, viewers were surprised to see rioters sporting Christian symbols. But for author and sociology professor Samuel Perry, the Christian symbolism at the insurrection represented a growing ideological trend in American politics. In a recent talk, Perry presented research from national surveys to define the ideology known as Christian nationalism and illuminate the threat such ideas pose to U.S democracy.

At the Glass Box Gallery: Up, Up, and Away

At the Glass Box Gallery: Up, Up, and Away

The Glass Box Gallery, a student ran exhibition space on campus, kicked off Spring quarter by hosting UCSB Art student Anna Sophia Monzon. Last week, Monzon displayed her colorful art series “Up, Up, and Away.” Monzon spoke about her journey as a painter and the events that brought the series to life.