Beyond Borders: The Illusion of Normalcy
in Film challenges the idea of “normal,” especially the narrow
conceptualizations of “normal” that identify, exclude, and punish deviations
from it, leaving only an “illusional” space where no one feels accepted and
safe. This conceptualization greatly hinders the emergence of community,
appreciation of diversity, and respectful, inclusive spaces. To challenge
such an “illusion of normalcy” and to encourage people to re-examine the
perceived borders that work to set us apart, we will screen seven films and
create a space for discussion regarding the historical/societal/cultural/media
strategies that protect and concede to the idea of “normalcy.” Members of
the SU and local communities as well as three featured speakers will contextualize
the films and facilitate discussion.
Admission is free and open to public. All films are screened at the Watson Theater on the SU Campus @ 7 pm. All films will be captioned, and sign language interpreters and film narration will be available.
Download a copy of the Film Fest Poster in PDF (example above)
For more information, please contact: Maho Kasahara at 315-443-0280 (mkasahar@syr.edu) or Zach Rossetti at 315-443-3137 (zsrosset@syr.edu)
Download Supplemental Information - HTML or PDF
Download the Evaluation Form - HTML or PDF
Tentative Schedule:
9/12 - Million Dollar Baby - An ex-fighter is approached by a young woman who is determined to establish herself as a boxer.
9/26 - The Hours - The lives of two different women are affected across the time continuum via a Virginia Woolf novel.
10/10 - The Station Agent - A young man of short stature seeks a life of solitude in an abandoned train station.
10/24 - Elephant Man - The story of John Merrick,
a man with physical differences dubbed “The Elephant Man.”
10/31 - Mozart & The Whale - This film portrays a romance
between two people with Asperger's syndrome.
11/14 - N.E.P.A.L.—Never Ending Peace and Love - An episode from an award-winning Korean collection of six shorts on the theme of identity and discrimination.
11/28 - My Classic Life as an Artist: A Portrait of Larry Bissonnette - This documentary shows a day in the life of Vermont artist Larry Bissonnette.
Featured Speakers:
Michael Chemers, Assistant Professor of Dramatic Literature at Carnegie Mellon University, who specializes in the study of freaks and freak shows will appear on 10/24.
Norman Kunc an internationally well-known Canadian Disability Rights Activist will appear on 11/ 14
Larry Bissonette , a talented artist from Vermont who has the label of autism and is wri t er of the film My Classic Life as an Artist: A Portrait of Larry Bissonnette will appear on 11/ 28.
Funding and Co-sponsors:
Beyond Compliance Coordinating Committee (BCCC), the Center on Disability Studies, Law, and Human Policy, the dis/Ability Law Society, LGBT Center, The Writing Program, Office of Disability Services (ODS), Office of Greek Life and Experiential Learning, the Slutzker Center for International Services, Sociology Department, Facilitated Communication Institute, College of Human Services & Health Professions, the School of Education, and a Division of Student Affairs U.Encounter Grant. This film series is also funded by The Kaleidoscope Project, a diversity initiative between the Divisions of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs to broaden the understanding of diversity and promote healthy dialogue about related issues at Syracuse University.
Accessible Parking and Directions:
Accessible parking is located in the Comstock** lot located on Comstock Avenue next to the Science and Technology building (5 accessible spaces); in the Marion** lot located on Waverly Avenue across the street from Watson (1 accessible spot); and in the Quad 5 lot located between Bird Library and Watson (5 accessible spaces). The best bets for parking are the Marion and Comstock lots.
If possible, those who are not SU students, faculty, or staff, may want to call at least a week in advance to receive a parking permit for the night of the film. Otherwise, the closest lots are the Waverly** lot, the Sheraton Hotel parking garage (entrances on Waverly and University), or the Crouse Irving Memorial (CIM) parking garage (located on the corner of Waverly and S. Crouse). To get to Watson Theater from any of these, simply walk up Waverly past Bird Library and Watson will be the next big building on your right.
Enter Watson through the front entrance on Waverly. There is a ramp at the front entrance and an automatic door with a button. Accessible men’s and women’s restrooms are found on the same floor as the theater.
**SU student permits are valid after 5 pm in this lot.
To view a Campus Parking Map, go to: http://parking.syr.edu/parking/uploads/ACF467.jpg
For more information, please call Maho Kasahara at (315) 443-0280 (mkasahar@syr.edu) or Zach Rossetti at (315) 443-3137 (zsrosset@syr.edu) or Parking Services at 443-4652.
