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

MLposter17.indd

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.

RTC Colloquium: When Pop Culture Does Science

RTC Colloquium event posterThe Department of Humanities is pleased to announce a Rhetoric, Theory and Culture Colloquium to be held on Friday, January 27 titled “When Pop Culture Does Science.” RTC student Anna Swartz will first present her talk “The CSI Effect: Are Jurors Starstruck by Forensic Science?” followed by RTC student Shelly Galliah presenting “Creatively Intervening on a Manufactured Scientific Controversy: John Oliver’s Statistically Representative Climate Change Debate & the Problems and Promises of Satirical Science Accommodation.” Andrew Fiss will be providing commentary to the presenters.

Please join us 4 p.m. Friday, January 27 in the Great Lakes Research Center room 202.

Inauguration Day Talk to Focus on US-Russia Relations

As Donald J. Trump is poised to become the 45th President of the United States Friday, questions about the future of relations between the United States and Russia abound.

The Social Science Speaker Series presents “From Russia, with What? Thoughts on the Future of US-Russia Relations,” by Roman Sidortsov (SS) at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Jan. 20) in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge B.

Green Film Series Tonight 1-19

Michigan Tech’s Seventh Annual Green Film Series continues tonight a showing and discussion of the films “After Coal” and “Half Life.” “After Coal,” (60 min.) profiles individuals building a new future in the coalfields of central Appalachia and Wales. Welsh coalfields were shut down in the 1980s, eliminating more than 20,000 jobs while Appalachian coalfields lost more than 20,000 mining jobs from 1994-20014. Both regions have survived disasters associated with mining production & waste disposal, and each has explored strategies for remembering the past while looking to the future. “Half Life: America’s Last Uranium Mill,” (12 min.), describes the Ute tribe’s concern that toxic and radioactive contamination from the White Mesa Mill in SE Utah threatens their water supply and life.

The films begin at 7 p.m. with a discussion facilitated by Roman Sidortsov (SS) to follow. Coffee and dessert will be served. There is no admission but a $3 donation is suggested.