• SIN •
February 21-24, 2012

Casper College • Gertrude Krampert Theatre
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday lectures are free and open to all. *

Welcome to the 27th Annual Humanities Festival! The Committee welcomes you to this year's festival "SIN".

• Click to download the program (9.5MB)
• Click to download the Schedule of Public Events

• Casper College,
• Wyoming Humanities Council,
• University of Wyoming/Casper College,
• Casper College Department of Theater and Dance,
• ARTCORE,
• Casper College School of Health Sciences,
• Casper College Department of English,
• Sodexo,
• Casper College Honors Program,
• Casper College Gender Studies Department,
• Dr. Eric Unruh,
  Dean of the Casper College School of Fine Arts and Humanities

Other considerations were provided by:

• Natrona County Public Library,
• Fort Caspar Museum,
• Casper College Library,
• Casper College Office of Public Relations

Humanities Festival "SIN"

February 21 - 24, 2012
Casper College • Gertrude Krampert Theatre
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday lectures and events

• Tuesday, February 21, 2012
  Natrona County Public Library, Crawford Room
  • 6:30 p.m.
    Scarlet Letter Book Group Discussion led by Tammy Frankland, Ph.D.
    Open to the public, the Library will begin distributing books to interested readers in January. Dr. Frankland will engage participants with a thoughtful discussion of this work that was part of her own scholarly graduate studies.
• Wednesday, February 22, 2012
  Fort Caspar Museum
  Welcome: Valerie Innella, Ph.D., Humanities Festival Committee Chair and Rick Young, Director of Fort Caspar
  • 6:30 p.m.
    Charlotte Babcock, Author (Introduced by Shirley Jacobs, Festival Historian)
    Topic: The Crimes of Casper, A History of Sin in the City
    Babcock, a Casper historian and author, will share her research on "Casper's wild, sometimes lurid, frontier days: the hanging, the beautiful and bad dance hall queen, the adulteries, murders, crimes of passion, a lynching, and bar brawls" (Shot Down: Capital Crimes of Casper, 2000).
• Thursday, February 23, 2012
  Krampert Theater, Casper College
  • 8:45 a.m.
    Welcome to the Casper College Humanities Festival and Demorest Lecture
  • 9:00 a.m.
    Barbara Mueller, Ph.D., Casper College
    Topic: Before There Was Sin
    This presentation will provide a historic background for "Sin" by demonstrating how ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman societies maintained order and encouraged personal moral responsibility before the concept of "sin" was formalized by modern Judeo-Christian religion. The attitudes among the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans towards what we call sin today and guilt were very complex requiring varying degrees of personal responsibility. There seemed to be a persistent conviction, however, that public misfortunes were due to human transgressions, and the Gods must be placated to set things right again.
  • 10:00 a.m.
    Laurinda Dixon, Ph.D. Syracuse University
    Topic: "Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights: Sin, Sex, and Sickness."
    Dr. Dixon will review what sin meant to this Northern European painter that incorporated heavy symbolism into his rich paintings that deal with medieval notions of the creation, human experience and the consequences of inappropriate living.
  • 11:00 a.m.
    William Conte, Ph.D., Casper College
    Topic: Bad Actors: Late Ancient Christianity and the Sinfulness of the Theater
    Dr. Conte will present a history of "the anti-theatrical prejudice" focused on the censorship of actors by ecclesiastical authorities in the Orthodox Church centuries ago, theater as a perceived sinful practice, and why actors were shunned due to these beliefs until early modern history.
  • 2:00 p.m.
    Joseph Campbell, Ph.D., Casper College
    Topic: Stealing Ganymede
    Dr. Campbell will read from Stealing Ganymede, his novel published by Rebel Satori Press (2009) that delves into the practice of lust and greed in the act of human trafficking.
  • 4:00-5:30 p.m.
    Opening Reception for "Sin", Casper College Visual Arts Department Faculty Exhibition
  • 5:00-6:00 p.m.
    Diversity Dinner, "Sinful Delights" Roberts Commons Ballroom
  • 6:00 p.m.
    Casper College Percussion Ensemble led by Neeraj Mehta
    Topic: Carnival Music
    Carnival music from the Caribbean can be viewed through the lens of Sin, as it relates to what many might consider the typical activities involved with such a celebration- often images of tourists in the French Quarter of New Orleans on Mardi Gras come to mind. It can also be related to the Judeo-Christian idea of Sin as it relates to the observance of Lent. But to many people, especially those in the African Diasporas of the Caribbean and South America, the Carnival is a unique opportunity to express a hybridity that exists in their art, culture and music. The story of the Cuban Carnival continues to change and evolve as this celebration has been adapted to fit the current political climate in Cuba, and provides a unique opportunity to understand issues of race, class and culture through the lens of art and music. This presentation will provide a brief history and evolution of the Carnival in Cuba, followed by an in depth look .at how the songs and percussion rhythms work together to create the heartbeat of the Carnival procession in Cuba. Throughout the presentation and demonstration, social and cultural issues related to the Afro- Cuban experience will be raised. The final portion of the presentation will be a performance of the Cuban Carnival ryhthm Comparsa, assisted by students of the Music Department at Casper College.
  • 7:00 p.m.
    Keynote Demorest Lecture, a roundtable moderated by Paul Flesher, Ph.D.
    Topic: Defining Sin in Western Religions
    Speakers: Rabbi Sam Wiseman, Temple Beth-El; Father August, St. Patrick's; Bishop Kendall Jacobs, Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints This series of lectures, panels, and other events will help the audience address questions of the meaning of evil and wickedness. Evil actions, sometimes called "sins," take place for a variety of reasons, from planned intent to harm others to accidental activities to "victimless" crimes. People "know" what they think a sin is, but rarely take time to reflect on how they know. They do not consider the role of society or the role of individuals, whether powerful or disenfranchised; at other times, they do not understand how attitudes can change and shift the classification of an act from sinful to not sinful. This humanities festival roundtable will provide participants a look at different views on the question of wickedness and sin, and provide them with a moment to step back and reflect on how this category works in their life and in the social worlds in which they participate. The roundtable also allows religious leaders from a few major western religions to probe the concept of sin in their respective theologies.
• Friday, February 24, 2012
  • 9:00 a.m.
    Cindy Grafton, Author, Reading by Emily Brantz, Casper College Student
    Topic: "Dumped"
    Ms. Grafton's biographical work on the sins of her past and the pursuit of light after that darkness will be read by a Casper College Theater student. Ms. Grafton will then answer questions from the audience regarding the literary work.
  • 10:00 a.m.
    Chad Hanson, Ph.D. Casper College
    Topic: The Art of Sloth
    Dr. Hanson will read from his work "Fly Fishing: The Art of Sloth"; this presentation will combine a sociological reflection on the Protestant work ethic with the American approach to leisure.
  • 11:00 a.m.
    Jennifer Cowell and Equinox Trio
    Topic: Sinful Strings
    Equinox Trio will perform a selection of music that compares and contrasts "sin" in the realm of instrumental music through both sinful and liturgical pieces. The concept of music as sinful through various eras will also be reviewed.
  • 2:00-4:00 p.m.
    Lance Jones, Casper College
    Topic: The Holocaust: The Ultimate Sin
    Jones's proposed presentation of sin as viewed by the Nazis and committed by the Nazis in the name of their secular vicious god, Adolf Hitler, will be a unique look at a horrible facet of history for most of the audience. It has been said that militant atheists are, in fact, highly religious people as the strength they put into the denial of God affirms His existence in their minds. Similarly, totalitarian movements that seek to replace religion with the state inadvertently create a religion out of the state. Where there is religion there must be sin. The concept of sin as regards the Holocaust is intriguing. The Holocaust is the ultimate sin committed by man against man, at least to date, but is rarely approached as such. Not being a theologian but a historian, Jones will be approaching the topic from this angle is a new line of thought. Thus the focus of this session will be looking at National Socialism as a "religion" as contrasted with Christianity, Judaism and Islam and what constitutes a "sin" against the Nazi state?
  • 4:00 p.m.
    Holly Wendt, Ph.D., Casper College Department of English
    Dr. Wendt will moderate a Panel Session Discussion with all scholars participating in the event drawing upon various viewpoints and presentations from the event and allow for audience and speaker dialogue.
  • 7:30 p.m.
    Krampert Theatre, Thomas H. Empey Theater
    Casper College Theater Production: Scarlet Letter
    Talk Back after the performance led by Director Douglas Garland, Casper College

Humanities Festival and Demorest Lecture Scholars
February 21 - 24, 2012
Casper College • Gertrude Krampert Theatre

Charlotte Babcock, Wyoming Historian and Author
Charlotte Babcock is the author of The St. Patrick's Story and Shot Down: Capital Crimes of Casper (High Plains Press, 2000), which won the Wyoming State Historical Society's history book of the year award. She was recognized in 2001 by the City of Casper and the American Association of University Women as a renowned author, freelance writer and editor. She has also published award-winning fiction, non-fiction, children's fiction, poetry, essays and humor in various anthologies including Woven on the Wind (Houghton Mifflin, 2001) and Crazy Woman Creek, (Houghton Mifflin, 2004), and Wyoming Writing. She is a founding member of the literary advisory panel at Casper College, and has taught classes at the college in writing for children. Currently she writes for Footprints, the college's alumni magazine, and is working on two new books.

Joseph Campbell, Ph.D., Casper College, English Department
Dr. Campbell has doctorate from Illinois State University in Literature for Children and Adolescents, and is an instructor at Casper College. He also holds a B.A. and M.A. in Literature from the University of South Alabama. Publications include "The Treatment for Stirring: Dystopian Literature for Young Adults" in After NAFTA (forthcoming) and the short story "The Letter" in Euphemism 3.1. He uses the pseudonym "J. Warren" to differentiate his fiction from his scholarly work. His first novel, Stealing Ganymede, was published in 2009 by Rebel Satori Press. His second novel, Silencing Orpheus, is currently in process from Rebel Satori and will be published soon.

William Conte, Ph.D., Casper College, Department of Theater and Dance
Dr. Conte joined Casper College in 2010 to teach theater literature and history courses. He was conferred a B.A. in Writing/Literature from New York University, a M.A. in Theater from New York University, and a Ph.D. from the CUNY Graduate Center. Recent lectures include "It Is As It Was"—Or Is It? Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ and The Passion Play of Union City, New Jersey", "Theatricality and Performativity in Dante's Commedia", and "Heaven on Earth: Translating Dante's "Paradiso" for the Stage". Teaching experience includes C.W. Post, The College of Staten Island, and Kingsborough Community College.

Jennifer Cowell, Leader of Equinox Trio
The Equinox trio consists of Jennifer Cowell, violin, Gary DePaolo, viola and Christine Dunbar, cello. The trio formed in the spring of 2003 to premiere Jian Jun He's String Quartet Number 1. Originally a quartet, the Equinox met while playing in the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. Hailing from Scott's Bluff, Rapid City and Casper, the Equinox traveled far and wide to rehearse. Shortly after the successful premiere of He's quartet, Mrs. Dunbar moved to Casper and the Equinox Trio was formed. All three members of the trio are string instructors at Casper College. The Equinox are also principal players in the string sections of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. The Trio gives yearly recitals with the Casper Chamber Music Society and the Casper College Music Department. Equinox performs outreach concerts and workshops through Casper College's BOCES program, the Casper Youth Orchestra and Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. In the summer months, Equinox plays many weddings and other social events throughout the year. Equinox was recently featured in a Casper College Production of Karel Capek's play "RUR." Most recently, Equinox was a featured ensemble in the "Made in Wyoming" Chamber Music Series in Cheyenne, WY. Equinox is a Wyoming Artist Roster ensemble.

Laurinda S. Dixon, Ph.D. Syracuse University
Dr. Dixon is Professor of Art History at Syracuse University. Professor Dixon's background is interdisciplinary, including a degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and a Ph.D. in Art History from Boston University. Her scholarly specialty is the relationship of art and science before the Enlightenment, and she lectures widely on the subject at universities and museums throughout the world. Her many articles in such journals as The Art Bulletin, Oud Holland, Gazette des Beaux-Arts, and the Journal of the History of Medicine and the Sciences address the relationship of art to such subjects as chemistry, cartography, and gynecology. She is the author and editor of eleven books, most recently In Sickness and In Health: Disease as Metaphor in Art and Popular Culture (2004), Bosch: Art and Ideas (2003), and Perilous Chastity: Women and Illness in Pre-Enlightenment Art and Medicine (1995). Her scholarship considers the roles of science, music, and contemporary wisdom in the formulation of visual culture.

Tammy Frankland, Ph.D., Casper College Dean of Health Science
Dr. Frankland has Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and a B.A. and M.A. in English. She currently serves at a Dean at Casper College but has an extensive background in teaching and research inclusive of work on The Scarlet Letter as part of her graduate studies.

Paul Flesher, Ph.D., University of Wyoming, Religious Studies Program
Dr. Flesher holds a Ph.D. in the History of Judaism from Brown University, a M.Phil. in Ancient Judaism from Oxford University and a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Rochester. He is currently an associate professor of Religious Studies at the University of Wyoming, where he has served as the founding director of the Religious Studies Program. He writes the popular, twice-monthly newspaper column and blog, Religion Today. Along with the Wyoming Humanities Council's Marcia Britton, he has guided the Saturday University program in Jackson, which has now begun expanding across the state. Dr. Flesher researches and publishes regularly. This summer saw the appearance of a 500-page, co-authored book in his specialty, The Targums: A Critical Introduction, while in 2007 he published Film and Religion: An Introduction, co-authored with UW film professor Robert Torry and based on their popular UW course. Paul also serves as an associate editor of the Wyoming-based website, Bible and Interpretation, which brings historical analysis and archaeological discoveries of the ancient near east to a popular audience.

Cindy Grafton, Casper College Student
Ms. Grafton is a current non-traditional student at Casper College who has directed her studies in the field of English. She has been a member of the Humanities Festival Committee for many years and continues to be an active participant in the event. This year, she will also share her own biographical account on the topic of sin to be read by a Casper College Theater Student. This is one of the first experiences I have seen this level of engagement with presenting at the event by a student on campus.

Chad Hanson, Ph.D., Casper College Department of Sociology
Dr. Hanson has a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Arizona and a M.A. and B.A. in Sociology from Northern Arizona. He teaches sociology at Casper College. His short stories, essays, and poems have appeared in Third Coast, Pilgrimage, Big Sky Journal, Mountain Gazette, South Dakota Review, Yale Angler's Journal, Talking River, and North Dakota Quarterly, among others. A collection of his stories, Swimming with Trout, is available from the University of New Mexico Press (2007). In addition to writing and publishing literature, Hanson's work also appears in scholarly forums, such as: College Teaching, Thought & Action, Teaching Sociology, The Teaching Professor, The Journal of Higher Education, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Contemporary Sociology. His most recent book is called, The Community College and the Good Society (2010).

A limited list of publications by our presenters, some of which will be available for purchase at the 2012 Festival:

• Shot Down: Capital Crimes of Casper - Charlotte Babcock
• Stealing Ganymede - J. Warren (Joseph)
• Swimming with Trout (2007) - Chad Hanson
• The Community College and the Good Society (2010) - Chad Hanson
• Scarlet Letter - play
• Dumped in a Dump - Cindy Grafton
• Paul V.M. Flesher and Robert Torry, 2007, Film and Religion: An Introduction, Abingdon Press, xii+206 pp.
• Paul V. M. Flesher, 1988, Oxen, Women or Citizens? Slaves in the System of the Mishnah (Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press), xvi + 212 pp.

• Valerie Innella – Chair
• Richard Burk
• Joseph Campbell
• William Conte
• Jennifer Cowell
• Cindy Grafton
• Lisa Icenogle
• Evelyn Miller
• Sue Moore

• Barbara Mueller
• Rebecca Nolte
• Terry Rasmussen
• Garth Shanklin
• Carmen Springer-Davis
• Holly Turner
• Georgia Wheatley
• Jane Young

• Casper College Bookstore
• Casper College Office of Public Relations
• Casper Journal
• Casper Star-Tribune
• KTWO-TV
• KCWY TV-13
• Town Square Broadcasting

• Larry Burger
• Lyndee Colling
• Todd Cotton
• Lee Demorest
• Carolyn Deuel
• Janet DeVries
• Justin Dreslinski
• Arlis Handeland
• Teri Hedgpeth
• Anne Holman
• Nancy Hunt
• Sean McIntosh
• Karen Moenkhaus
• Mike McLemore
• Linda Nix
• Walter and Rebecca Nolte
• Kathleen Nottingham
• Zach Thatcher
• Todd Wykert