Lecture: Lavina Shankar, a dog lover and Bates College English professor, on “Dogs and their Humans: Bonds & Boundaries.”

Past Event ....... March 19th, 2009 — 12:00 pm

Thursday, March 19, noon to 1 p.m. in Callahan Hall, the Great Falls Forum lecture series presents Bates College English professor and dog-lover Lavina Shankar speaking on “Dogs and their Humans: Bonds & Boundaries.” Free. Attendees are invited to bring a brown bag lunch; bottled water will be available.

Further details…


“Dogs and their Humans: Bonds & Boundaries” is the topic of this month’s Great Falls Forum program, set for Thursday, March 19, from noon to 1 p.m. in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.

   Speaking will be Bates College professor and dog-devotee Lavina Shankar who teaches a popular course at Bates titled “For the Love of Dogs.” A member of the college’s English department since 1996, Shankar is an accomplished scholar within the realms of British and Asian American literature and feminist literary criticism. Three years ago, however, she endured the loss of her beloved German shepherd, Phoebe, to cancer, and was moved by the experience to create a course using literature as a lens through which to examine the unique relationship between canines and humans.

   Drawing on texts which range from fiction and poetry to psychology, philosophy, religion and environmental studies, Shankar explores issues such as animal rights, evolution, interspecies communication, and the healing power of pets.

   Though she conceived of the course as a means of coping with the grief of losing her dog, Shankar now refers to it as “Phoebe’s gift,” as the endeavor taught her important lessons about humanity, mortality and spirituality. Researching and teaching the class, she says, has allowed her to “open up emotionally as a human being and to spiritually connect not only with my students but with multiple populations, across differences such as gender, race and social class. And I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences with the local community of dog lovers at the Great Falls Forum and listening to others’ stories of love, loss, and joy.”

   Shankar will take questions from the audience following her Forum presentation. Admission to the event is free, with attendees invited to bring brown-bag lunches. Bottled water will be available on site.

   Attendees may also take advantage of the Forum’s partnership with Guthries cafe and request one of the eatery’s custom-made, gourmet sandwiches to be delivered to the library in advance of the talk. Orders should be placed by calling Guthries at 376-3344, preferably by 7 p.m. on the day before the event. The menu is available at www.myspace.com/guthriesplace.

   Partnering with the Library as cosponsors of the Great Falls Forum series are the Lewiston Sun Journal, Bates College, and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

 

   The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street. More information on Thursday’s lecture or other upcoming events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.

 

 

Posted: Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 in Lecture

Lewiston Library: Lecture: Lavina Shankar, a dog lover and Bates College English professor, on “Dogs and their Humans: Bonds & Boundaries.”

Thursday, March 19, noon to 1 p.m. in Callahan Hall, the Great Falls Forum lecture series presents Bates College English professor and dog-lover Lavina Shankar speaking on “Dogs and their Humans: Bonds & Boundaries.” Free. Attendees are invited to bring … continues …