Robert Frost once said that “most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favor.” As the Humanities Program celebrates its 30th anniversary this year we’ve seen a number of truths cycle in and out of fashion. Our seminars continue to challenge all of us to reconsider the notion of truth—both universal and culturally specific—in order to find what is most meaningful in our lives.

I hope you’ll join us this summer as we offer a lively mix of seminars that place current issues into a broader framework of interdisciplinary thought. Join us for a return to classic themes of art, literature, and music taught by outstanding professors from UNC, Duke, and NC State. We’ll kick off the summer with a panel discussion featuring Bill Leuchtenburg and Gene Nichol discussing President Obama’s first 100 days. We’ll explore the history of Venice as a city that defined the modern world with Duke historian John Jeffries Martin. We’ll join Lloyd Kramer to consider the time-honored question of how to define a successful life. Then we’ll reconsider four classic Southern novels as an expression of Southern identity. We’ll trace the cultures of classical music all the way from Mozart to the elevator tunes of Muzak and discuss music’s multiple meanings. And finally, we’ll wrap up our summer session with a view of the American engagement in the Pacific War with Gerhard Weinberg.

I invite you to look through the brochure and find one or more programs that capture your interest. Sign up early to take advantage of our discounts! And when someone asks you what you did this summer, you’ll have some surprising new stories and ideas to share. We look forward to seeing you soon at a weekend seminar in Chapel Hill.

With all best wishes,

Eve M. Duffy
Director