Fourth RTC (Rhetoric, Theory and Culture) Graduate Seminar

PhD Students Vincent Manzie and Tolulope Odebunmi will present their papers on the topic of “Crisis and Communication in Cross-Cultural Contexts” at the RTC Colloquium from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday (Feb. 24) in Walker 134.

Manzie’s presentation will be “Applying the Rhetoric of Renewal Model in a Contemporary African Context: Lessons Learned from the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Crisis in Nigeria.”

Odebunmi will present “Whatsapp: A Safe Haven for Gender Transgression?”

Read the abstracts online.

Michigan Tech Alum in episodes of “This Is Us”

Eric Michael JohnsonEric Michael Johnson, who graduated with a degree in Scientific and Technical Communication in 2012, was featured in an article in the Duluth News Tribune for earning a role as the drumming instructor in two episodes of the NBC drama “This Is Us” (Season 1, Episodes 13 and 14).

While at Michigan Tech, Johnson created a parody video of Al Yankovic’s “White and Nerdy” for a digital media course. In the article, Johnson recalls his time filming the video:

“It celebrates the geek, nerd culture at Michigan Tech. It is a celebration of that because I absolutely identify as a big sci-fi geek,” he said. Being in front and behind the camera in creating the video, he said “it was right around then that I really started to fall in love with the idea of filmmaking.”

Modern Language Film Series

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The Department of Humanities, Modern Language Program, presents 3 language films.

All films will screen in Walker 134

Screen Shot 2017-02-20 at 2.13.01 PMFebruary 23, 2017, 7:00 PM
Spanish Affair (Martinez-Lazaro, 2014)
In this romantic comedy, Sevillian Rafa is so smitten with Amaia, a Basque woman, that he’ll do whatever it takes to win her heart – no matter how outrageous.

 

Screen Shot 2017-02-20 at 2.13.09 PMMarch 23, 2017, 7:00 PM
C.R.A.Z.Y. (Vallee, 2005)
Born on Christmas Day, 1960, Zac knew he was different from his four brothers but was desperate to fit in.  During the next 20 years he tries to live a lie, but a life full of surprise and unexpected experiences leads Zac to accept his true nature.

 

Screen Shot 2017-02-20 at 2.13.18 PMApril 6, 2017, 7:00 PM
Barbara (Petzold, 2012)
In this impeccably crafted Cold War thriller, a Berlin doctor is banished to a rural East German hospital as punishment for applying for an exit visa.  Barbara is a subtle portrait of a woman caught between her desire for freedom and her sense of responsibility.

 

RTC Colloquium: Crisis and Communication in Cross-Cultural Contexts

RTC Colloquium event posterThe Department of Humanities is pleased to announce a Rhetoric, Theory and Culture Colloquium to be held on Friday, February 24 titled “Crisis and Communication in Cross-Cultural Contexts.” RTC student Vincent Manzie will first present his talk “Applying the Rhetoric of Renewal Model in a Contemporary African Context: Lessons Learned from the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Crisis in Nigeria” followed by RTC student Tolulope Odebunmi presenting “Whatsapp: A Safe Haven for Gender Transgression?” Ramon Fonkoué will be providing commentary to the presenters.

Please join us 4 p.m. Friday, February 24 in Walker 134.

Roxanne Gay Breaks with Publisher Over Its Relationship with Alt-Right Author

Roxanne GayBest-selling author and Michigan Tech humanities alumna Roxane Gay (PhD in Rhetoric and Technical Communication, 2010) has withdrawn a planned book, “How To Be Heard,” from Simon & Schuster, to protest the publisher’s book deal with alt-right provocateur and Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopolous. The story has been widely covered internationally, in the New York TimesThe Washington PostThe Guardian, Salon, Time, Buzzfeed and many other media outlets.