Waterloo Lecture Series
SPL has partnered with University of Waterloo, Stratford Campus to offer a number of free lectures that are open to the public.
Harry Potter: Heroic Fantasy, Murder Mystery or Videogame
Neil Randall, PHD, Associate Professor, English, University of Waterloo
Wednesday February 15, 2012 | 7-9pm | Library Auditorium | FREE - Register
The Harry Potter series – both books and films – has been categorized both as children’s stories and particularly the later books, as stories of heroic fantasy, but other well-known narrative structures seem to be at play. In this talk, I examine the possibility that J.K. Rowling and the film-version screenwriters, intentionally or unintentionally, drew us in by giving us both classic mysteries and level-based videogames. In fact, this mash-up of story genres might well explain the range of popularity for the stories, ranging from reverence through fascination for some and, for others, frustration and confusion. In other words, maybe Potter is a splendid example of convergence, or maybe it’s just a big mess.
Homer, The Brain and Rhetoric
Randy Harris, PHD, Professor, English, Univeristy of Waterloo
Wednesday March 21, 2012
| 7-9pm | Library Auditorium | FREE - Register
With examples from ads, popular music, television, literature, philosophy, science, and wherever else he can find them, Professor Harris will explore how and why our minds respond instinctively to Homer Simpson, John Lennon, and Sir Isaac Newton, when they put their words into the form immortalized by Horton the Elephant: "I meant what I said and I said what I meant: an elephant's faithful, one-hundred percent."
Thursday Noon Hour Club
The Thursday Noon Hour Club has been meeting regularly at the Stratford Public Library for over thirty years. The presenters may be writers, performers, musicians, historians or people in business. Most are local residents who generously volunteer their time to the "Noon Hour Club". Admission is $1.00. Coffee is available and feel free to bring your lunch. Sessions are on Thursdays and begin at 12:00 noon.
| Date |
Speaker |
Topic |
| September 29 |
Library Staff |
Ignite SPL |
| October 6 |
Joseph Hisey |
Baroque Period and the Building of Rome : Architecture |
| October 13 |
Joseph Hisey |
Baroque Period and the Building of Rome : Sculpture |
| October 20 |
Joseph Hisey |
Baroque Period and the Building of Rome : Painting |
| October 27 |
Mark Wales |
Canada's National Food Strategy |
| November 3 |
James Nichol |
Mastery of Mystery |
| * don't forget to register for the Chistmas Luncheon |
| November 10 |
Dr. Darren Marks |
Holocaust Memoirs |
| November 17 |
Carol Smith & Friends |
Women Composers |
| November 24 |
Christmas Luncheon by Screaming Avocado.
|
| |
Paul Finkelstein |
Nunavut |
| December 1 |
Cheryl MacDonald |
Christmas in Ontario: Legends, Tales and Traditions of Early Canada |
Resumes March 1, 2012 - stay tuned
Good Book Group
The Good Book Group has been meeting at the Library since 1989. They are an ever-changing group of people who enjoy getting together to talk about books. Books are chosen for discussion several months in advance and the upcoming selections are listed below. The group meets on the 4th Tuesday on each month at 7pm at the Stratford Public Library.
2011 / 2012 Reading List
If you are interested in joining, please contact the participant contact, John Patterson at 519-273-3523 for additional information.
