Community members are invited to get spooked by history, literature, language and culture during an upcoming humanities festival in downtown Lawrence.
Haunting Humanities is hosted annually by the University of Kansas’ Hall Center for the Humanities.
“Haunting Humanities playfully explores the insights that the study of humanities can bring to everyday life,” Giselle Anatol, interim director of the Hall Center, said in a KU news release. “From candy and cocktails to chilling stories about historical events, it’s an evening with something for everyone.”
A “unique opportunity for scholars to share serious research, nightmarish stories, chilling factoids and joyful revelations,” the festival is like a science fair with Halloween elements, according to the release.
Attendees will receive a map of the venue that will guide them through a series of innovative presentations, activities, games and enactments at their own pace. Food vendors will include Latchkey Deli and April’s Sweet Treats, and the Abe & Jake’s bar will feature a special menu of Halloween-themed cocktails.
All ages are welcome. Each exhibit will be rated G, PG, PG-13 or R in the map to note whether it is deemed appropriate for younger audiences or adults.
Sneak peek of activities planned:
• Cursed Classics: “Learn the secrets of ancient Greek and Roman magic with KU’s Department of Classics. Design a curse to smite enemies or a love charm to capture the heart of a crush. Then use the newly acquired knowledge of the ancient dark arts to decode the spell and enter a draw to win a prize.”
• “On a Dark and Stormy Night”: Crafting the Campfire Story: “Danger lurks in the darkness, so join around the campfire for the telling of a few twisted tales. Don’t have a story to tell? They’ll help participants write one.”
• Making Mary’s Monsters: “For the Making Mary’s Monster escape room, Mary Shelley and those attending embark on a writing contest to see who can pen the best ghost story. Mary, disturbed by a nightmare, begins her masterpiece, ‘Frankenstein.’ In the midst of her work, she is struck by an affliction that visits students, academics, and authors the world over: The dreaded writer’s block. Can participants free her?”
• El Día de los Muertos: Passing on Family History through Art and Storytelling: “Participants will learn about el Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, as they build an ofrenda, a colorful altar to honor our loved ones who have passed away. In Mexican culture, the dead are to be celebrated and not feared. Afterward, participants can take a photo with Lucia, a 12-foot skeleton.”
Haunting Humanities is scheduled for 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Abe & Jake’s Landing, 8 E. Sixth St. in downtown Lawrence. It’s free to attend.
Haunting Humanities is a brainchild of the Public Humanities Roundtable, a loosely knit group of faculty, staff and community partners, according to the release. The group was interested in developing innovative ways for humanities researchers to engage with the public.
Several KU academic departments have partnered with Humanities Kansas, Kansas Public Radio, Abe & Jake’s Landing, the Docking Family, Tom Harper and Friends of the Hall Center to host this year’s event.
Visit hallcenter.ku.edu/haunting-humanities for more information.
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