Nerd Nite #98: DC Statehood, Monster Myths, Entomology, Death
Nerd Nite is back on Wednesday, February 5th, and whoa is it a super-sized one. Here’s what we have planned:
Bo Shuff, “What’s the State of DC and Why Is It All Philly’s Fault?”
700,000 people who call DC home have zero representation in Congress. We live in the shadow of the Capitol, yet have no voice inside of it. However, there’s a simple answer to righting a 200+ year wrong – DC Statehood. Find out all about the future 51st State – and how it’s Philly’s fault we ended up in this mess.
BIO: Bo Shuff is the Executive Director of DC Vote, the lead organization for Statehood for the people of Washington, DC. He has spent the last 20 years on the front lines of political advocacy and candidate campaigns to advance civil rights causes. Before joining DC Vote, Bo was the Campaign Manager for DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Kathryn McCluskey, “Intro to Entomology and Insect Mating”
Michael McConville, “Talk, Dark, and Hairy: The Role of the Monster in American Culture”
For as long as humans have walked on Earth, we have feared that which we can’t see or what we don’t understand. The shadows of the forest, the depths of the seas – just beyond our control and comprehension exists a world of myth and monsters. While other regions of the world have stories of fanciful creatures and thousands of years of folklore, North America’s “monster culture” is much more grounded in the land and the people that inhabit it. It is even more starkly reflected in the popular culture of the United States, where monsters can be the stars of movies, television shows, and comics. Fear is replaced by familiarity, but the stories at the foundation of the American monster are largely forgotten. We’ll explore the roots of our monster mythos – and all become armchair cryptozoologists, as well!
BIO: Michael McConville has always been fascinated with the mysterious and the unknown, the stories and discoveries that raise more questions than they answer. This love of the unexplained – and the urge to learn and understand as much as possible about it – directly led Michael to teaching. A professor of American history currently on hiatus from the University of Central Florida and sales manager for the Spitz planetarium company just outside of Philadelphia, In both pursuits, Michael is tasked to be both a storyteller and a story facilitator — to take what can be mysterious and interpret it in new and exciting ways. This is Michael’s seventh Nerd Nite presentation: five for Orlando, and now his second for Philadelphia.
Jason Tabrys, “What’s Next? A Meditation on Death, the Afterlife, Pop Culture and the Search for Truth”
Get ready to laugh as pop culture expert Jason Tabrys focuses on the ways TV and film present the afterlife while seeking answers to very heavy questions.
BIO: Jason Tabrys is a pop culture bon vivant, writer, editor, podcaster, comedian, and dancer. This is his second Nerd Nite Philly appearance in as many months by popular demand.
It all gets underway on Wednesday, February 5th at 7:30pm at Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Ave deep in heart of Fishtown). $10. There’s an ATM on site and a Wells Fargo up the street.
BE THERE AND BE SQUARE, YO!
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Tags: cryptozoology, Entomology, Nerd Nite Philly, Philadelphia, Things to Do in Philadelphia