Lakehead University professors hosting In Conversation talks at the Thunder Bay Public Library

Feb. 1, 2019 – Thunder Bay, Ont.

Lakehead University and the Thunder Bay Public Library have informative In Conversation talks planned for February and March.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, Dr. Michel Beaulieu from Lakehead University’s History department will explore how historical amnesia has contributed to the rise of fake news, at the Mary JL Black Library at 2 pm.

Fake news can mean many things: deliberate misinformation, hoaxes, propaganda, casting doubt on legitimate news for political gain – to name a few. Yet, despite its predominance today, it is not a new phenomenon.

Then on Saturday, March 2 at 2 pm, join Lakehead English professors Dr. Judith Leggatt and Dr. Monica Flegel in the Brodie Library’s Fireside Reading Room for a discussion called: Is Superman an Immigrant?: Race, Ethnicity and the Superhero.

The superhero comic has, since its inception in the 1930s, given life to fantasies of strength, power, and courage. While well-known superheroes such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, and Superman are all white, the genre has also lent itself to explorations of race and ethnicity in relation to nation-building, citizenship, and crime-fighting.

In a discussion of the ethnic and racial backgrounds of superhero comic creators, and the development of characters such as T’Challa (Black Panther), Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), and Miles Morales (Ultimate Spider-Man), this presentation will discuss the role that superhero comics play in supporting and challenging ethnic and racial stereotypes.

In Conversation talks are free of charge and everyone is welcome to attend.