Seminars

“Exploring Revitalization in Modern Politics - The Dynamics of Change: Trump's & Harris's 2024 Campaigns.” This fascinating and important paper examines the recent election results in the context of Anthony Wallace’s concept of “Revitalization Movements.” In a summary of Prof. Greenfields paper, the editor of NYC Religion writes: “In his compelling Op-Ed, Sidney Greenfield delves into the transformative nature of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Drawing from anthropologist Anthony F.C. Wallace’s concept of revitalization movements, Greenfield argues that Trump’s campaign promised a significant cultural and political shift. Unlike his opponent, Kamala Harris, who maintained a defense of the status quo, Trump mobilized a vision for change that resonated with the American electorate. This analysis provides a deep understanding of the election’s implications and the broader societal transformations at play.”

Dr. Painter will talk about her new book on Sojourner Truth entitled, Sojourner Truth Was A New Yorker, and She Didn't Say That. The new book and presentation will focus on the importance of New York State in Truth's life and on her career as a self-published author of an as-told-to autobiography.

Public spaces -- where people from all walks of life play, work, meet, talk, read, think, debate, and protest -- are vital to a healthy civic life. And, as the eminent scholar of public space Setha Low argues in her acclaimed new book Why Public Space Matters, even fleeting moments of visibility and encounter in these spaces tend to foster a broader worldview and our willingness to accept difference. Such experiences also enhance flexible thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and inclusiveness. Sidewalks and plazas offer business opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs who cannot afford store space. Public parks have long provided major cultural attractions, from plays to concerts, at little or no cost to the public. Central squares have a storied tradition as arenas for demonstrations and political protests. Parks and waterways create sustainable greenways, and during disasters, all manner of public spaces become centers for food delivery and shelter. Yet we are losing public spaces to accelerated urban development and the belief that public spaces are expendable. Just as important is the broad-scale and ongoing privatization of public space by corporate actors. Low explores why public spaces matter today, how they are at risk, and what we can do about protecting these essential places that support our everyday lives. Finally, she shows how we can work to promote public space protection and expansion at both the grassroots and global levels.