Racial supremacy in sci-fi movies
This Wednesday evening, discussions about racism will go where no racism talks have gone before: into a lecture that will focus on the ideas of racial supremacy in science-fiction movies.
The discussion, entitled “Mixed-Race Representation in Sci-Fi Movies: Monsters, Messiahs, or Something Else?” will take place is Smith Memorial Student Union, room 228 at 7 p.m.
The focus of the evening is a lecture given by 30-year-old Eric Hamako, a graduate student from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a long-time speaker on mixed-race issues. Hamako will discuss race-equality issues is films such as Blade and Underworld.
Hamako has previously been included in projects such as speaking at the “Understanding Whiteness, Recognizing Privilege” conference in Massachusetts. If you can’t make the Wednesday night lecture, Hamako will be presenting again on Thursday, Nov. 8 at Reed College at 7 p.m. in the Vollum College Center.
–Melinda Freeland
Award-winning PSU professor to give reading
Professor Diana Abu-Jaber, a writing and English professor at Portland State, will perform a reading from two of her most recently published books at Portland State on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Smith Memorial Memorial Student Union, rooms 296/298.
Abu-Jaber’s latest novel, Origin, which was released this past June, is a psychological thriller about a string of unexplained infant deaths. On Wednesday, she will read from that novel and her memoir and cookbook, The Language of Baklava.
She has written three novels and writes non-fiction for various magazines. Her 1994 novel, Arabian Jazz, won the Oregon Book Award.
Abu Jaber was recently published in More magazine. Her article is a travel piece and personal essay about finding common ground in a relationship where the person is different from you. She traveled to Capri, Italy for research.
Abu-Jaber said her memoir is about growing up in a food obsessed family lead by a Jordanian immigrant father. Baklava is a Mediterranean pastry that Abu-Jaber said might be served at the reading.
“But don’t quote me on it,” she said.
The event is free and is sponsored by the Middle East studies department.
–Talmage Garn
Today: last day to vote in special elections
Oregon voter’s ballot can still be turned in until 8 p.m. tonight, Nov. 6, by visiting any official drop location and handing your ballot to an election official. Mailed ballots will likely not reach election officials in time if sent today, and they will not count unless they are received before 8 p.m., regardless of when the ballot is postmarked.
The nearest drop sites to Portland State’s campus are the Central Library, located at 801 S.W. 10th Ave., and at Pioneer Courthouse Square, next to Starbucks and across from Nordstrom. Portland citizens who have already registered to vote but are concerned about the ballot deadline can also pick up a ballot from the Multnomah County Elections Office, located at 1040 S.E. Morrison St., and cast their vote at that office.
–Robert Seitzinger