“Lights, Camera, Language” debuts March 3

The Libraries has partnered with the Language Diversity Ambassadors to present “Lights, Camera, Language!”—a documentary film series screened in the Hill Library Auditorium featuring work that deals with how language interrelates with culture and ideology.

Films can help us grapple with complex social and scientific phenomena. The "Lights, Camera, Language" series explores modern films and documentaries which take a close look at concepts related to language. Films cover a wide range of topics, from dialects and accents, to the way we understand the world, to social scientific research and beyond.

“Our hope is to use film as a vehicle to bring new ways of thinking about language to a broader audience,” writes Kees Koopman of the Language Diversity Ambassadors. “Scientists are historically bad at making their fields accessible, so this film series is part of a broader practice of translating good science into a format that is easily understood and interacted with.”

After each film, there will be a supplemental presentation or discussion and a Q&A.

“We’re excited about this new partnership with the Language Diversity Ambassadors and are glad we can host them in our space for this film series,” says Lara Fountaine, Community Engagement & Visitor Relations Librarian. “I think students will learn a lot by exploring the ways in which language and linguistics enhance films.”

The schedule for the spring 2022 semester features:

“Talking Black in America”
Thursday, March 3, 7:00 p.m., Hill Library Auditorium
“Talking Black in America” (2017) follows the unique story of one of the most misunderstood and marginalized dialects in the United States. Speech varieties from the Black communities reflect a rich history reaching back to pre-colonial African languages, revealing the influence of Southern and British Englishes. “Talking Black in America” tells a human story of oppression, creativity, and resilience. Visit the film’s website for more information. 

We will be joined by the documentary's executive producer and William C. Friday Distinguished University Professor of English Walt Wolfram, as well as producers Neal Hutcheson and Danica Cullinan and audio specialist Marissa Morgan.

“Arrival”
Friday, March 25, 7:00 p.m., Hill Library Auditorium
A screening of the 2016 science fiction feature film “Arrival” will be scheduled later in the semester. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the movie follows linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) as she attempts to decipher an alien language and avoid political conflict between the many nations on Earth. This film invites viewers to consider how language may change the way we think.

“First Language”
Thursday, April 14, 7:00 p.m., Hill Library Auditorium
“First Language” (2014) takes a close look at the precarious positioning of the Cherokee language. The Eastern Band of Cherokee discuss their relationship with their language, its near disappearance, and the subsequent extraordinary steps they've taken to save it. This film discusses the cultural importance of languages and how we can work to preserve them. Visit the film’s website for more information.