Author Archives: marenr

Deborah Blumenthal (MAPH ’11) Reflects on her MAPH Internship, Curation and Academic Cross-Pollination

You could say I had a magical summer.

Chicago History Museum

The Chicago History Museum

Being offered the MAPH internship at the Chicago History Museum had to be a nod to the absolute nerdism of my childhood – I was that kid who dragged her parents to every history museum within reach, wherever we were. I have become that adult who returns to the same ones over and over again. I was a Humanities student, but I am also a lifelong history geek, and the opportunity to intern in the Curatorial Affairs department at CHM let me do exactly what MAPHers do best: bridge the gaps. We’re cross-disciplinarians, proponents of academic cross-pollination.

I studied theater during my MAPH year, venturing out into a little bit of art history and concentrating very much on art-audience communication and relationships. I wrote my thesis on Tony Kushner’s AIDS-era epic play Angels in America, focusing on the work’s ever-changing relationship to its temporal setting: what happens when a play becomes history? I wrestled with Benjamin and his Angel of History, theories on nostalgia, and literature on historical drama. You can see the history geek peeking out. It always has. It’s a necessary marriage, I think.

More on the the internship and how it links to Deborah’s current project after the jump.

Continue reading

MAPH Featured in the New Issue of Tableau

Alumni Writers

MAPH Alumni Writers during the 2010 Alumni Weekend

Most of you will be getting Tableau (the Humanities Division Magazine) in the mail in the near future.  However, it is worth noting  now the thoughtful article on the history of MAPH and the first 15 years of the program, by A-J Aronstein (MAPH ’10) featured prominently in this issue.  If you don’t want to wait to get your copy you can read the article online now.

 

The memorable sign at Clark Street Ale House

If you are feeling fond memories of your MAPH years you have the opportunity to catch up with your fellow alumni at next week’s alumni meet up Thursday, October 13 between 5:30-8:30 at Clark Street Ale House.

If you are not in Chicago or haven’t been in touch for a while drop us a line and let us know what you are doing or let us know if you want to set up an alumni get together in another city.

 

Martin Schwartz (MAPH ’06) opens a theatrical work in San Francisco

Martin Schwartz (MAPH ’06) directed and wrote Tutor: enter the exclave, a theatrical piece based on JMR Lenz’s Der Hofmeister (1774). The work is slated to open tomorrow at Dark Porch Theatre in San Francisco, CA and runs through October 22nd at the EXIT Studio on 156 Eddy St.  If you are in the Bay Area it looks like a great night out for some experimental theater.

Tutor: enter the exclave

Tutor: enter the exclave

 

New MAPH Writers Page

In addition to the new MAPH website we have added a page to profile all the MAPH Alumni who are writing and their recent, current and upcoming projects.

If you are a MAPH alumni who has written something please let us know what you have been up to and we will happily add it to the growing list of MAPH writers.

 

 

 

New MAPH Website

The old MAPH website had been there since I applied to MAPH so we were long overdue for an update that would integrate more of the resources available for current students and alumni.

MAPH alumna Megan Austin and her husband Ricky set up the great website features. The mentors and Associate Director updated all the information about the program, and most of the photos are mine.

The new website is here. While we are all about newness, now is a great time to check out the website and let MAPH know what is new for you.   It is also a good opportunity to RSVP for the MAPH alumni events on June 3, 2011.

Contrary Magazine Honored

Contrary Magazine was named in the Writer’s Digest list of the Top 50 Online Literary Journals in their new November-December issue. Contrary is the online literary journal founded by MAPH alumni in 20o3 and many MAPH alumni have been published in Contrary.

Little Miss Contrary

Who could resist this image from childhood? Joking aside, we are proud of everyone involved at Contrary!

MAPH writing advisor, Jeff McMahon, is quoted in the article. Congratulations to Contrary and all involved in editing and creating the online journal. Be sure to check out the article in Writer’s Digest on newsstands.

If you haven’t read Contrary in a while be sure look at the current literary offerings online. If you are interested in submissions to Contrary you can look at the Submissions page.