Meeting on October 1st

Posted: September 30th, 2009 | Author: Adam Isaak | Filed under: Events | No Comments »
Four years ago today, the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons were published in a Danish newspaper; this resulted in embassies being set on fire, countless people rioting, and more than 100 deaths. Its anniversary, September 30th has been named Blasphemy Day. From the website: “The objective of International Blasphemy Day is to open up all religious beliefs to the same level of free inquiry, discussion and criticism to which all other areas of academic interest are subjected.”
Happy Blasphemy Day.
On this Thursday at 8:00 pm in the CMU, we’re having Dr. Gerald Fauske, research specialist in the department entomology at NDSU, give a talk called, “When Is A Cartoon Not A Cartoon? (Or Why Gods Cannot Defend Themselves).” He offers this description,
“An audience participation seminar in which we will examine a variety of cartoons (some original) and look at what makes certain cartoons offensive to some groups of people but not others. We will also look at why members of some groups (organized religions) do not have the tolerance that other groups seem to possess when cartoons targeting their particular group are published. We will look at the Jutland Post incident as a window into motivations of such intolerant groups. Finally, as an integral part of the seminar, we will look at four principles that might be guidelines in creating cartoons and maybe answer the question ‘why gods cannot defend themselves.’”

Four years ago today, the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons were published in a Danish newspaper; this resulted in embassies being set on fire, countless people rioting, and more than 100 deaths. Its anniversary, September 30th has been named Blasphemy Day. From the website: “The objective of International Blasphemy Day is to open up all religious beliefs to the same level of free inquiry, discussion and criticism to which all other areas of academic interest are subjected.”

Happy Blasphemy Day.

On this Thursday, October 1st, at 8:00 pm in the CMU, room 208, we’re having Dr. Gerald Fauske, research specialist in the department entomology at NDSU, give a talk called, “When Is A Cartoon Not A Cartoon? (Or Why Gods Cannot Defend Themselves).” He offers this description,

“An audience participation seminar in which we will examine a variety of cartoons (some original) and look at what makes certain cartoons offensive to some groups of people but not others. We will also look at why members of some groups (organized religions) do not have the tolerance that other groups seem to possess when cartoons targeting their particular group are published. We will look at the Jutland Post incident as a window into motivations of such intolerant groups. Finally, as an integral part of the seminar, we will look at four principles that might be guidelines in creating cartoons and maybe answer the question ‘why gods cannot defend themselves.’”

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