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Tracy Bee
College of Arts and Sciences
themes@indiana.edu
812-856-7183

Deborah Galyan
College of Arts and Sciences
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Last modified: Monday, September 9, 2013

Close, Wilson lectures highlight of Themester 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 9, 2013

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Actress Glenn Close and former CIA operations officer Valerie Plame Wilson will both speak at Indiana University Bloomington this fall as part of the College of Arts and Sciences' Themester 2013, "Connectedness: Networks in a Complex World," which focuses on the role of connection as a force in society and in people's lives.

Close will speak Nov. 5 at Whittenberger Auditorium about Bring Change 2 Mind, the organization she founded in 2009 that works to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness. She works closely with both her sister and nephew, who both live with serious mental illness. A time for her lecture will be announced at a later date.

As part of Close's visit, IU Cinema will screen three of her films: "Dangerous Liasions" at 3 p.m. Nov. 2; "Albert Nobbs" at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3; and "The Big Chill" at 7 p.m. Nov. 4. Close is scheduled to introduce "The Big Chill," which is part of the Themester Film Series.

Plame Wilson, Valerie

Valerie Plame Wilson

Print-Quality Photo

Wilson will speak at 7 p.m., Nov. 11, in Alumni Hall on the topic "Connectedness: Modern Intelligence and My Life as a Spy." Her visit is in partnership with Union Board.

No tickets are required to hear Close or Wilson speak, and both lectures are free and open to the public.

"We hope to convey how connections that individuals, organizations and even nations make -- or do not make -- represent a powerful influence on our lives and our cultures. And, how the expansive reach of networks in contemporary society makes the context of our lives even more complex and far-reaching," Themester advisory committee chair Bernice Pescosolido said. "Glenn Close has demonstrated the power of connections with her advocacy organization Bring Change 2 Mind, and has moved beyond the usual anti-stigma campaign emphasis on education to focus on issues of 'connectedness,' including talking about mental illness, forming communities of support, building social relationships and fostering inclusion."

Pescosolido, an Indiana University Bloomington sociology professor, also serves as director of the Indiana Consortium for Mental Health Services Research.

Additional events, exhibits, plays, speakers, panels and lectures are planned as part of Themester. Highlights include:

  • James Fowler, author of "Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives" will give a talk Nov. 7 titled "How Do Social Networks Affect Your Health?"
  • "Lord of the Flies," presented by Cardinal Stage Company, Sept. 11 to 15, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," presented by IU Theatre, Nov. 8 to 16, at the Ruth N. Halls Theatre.
  • Public health expert Bill Darrow, who will speak about his work with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases on Sept. 17, will also introduce "And the Band Played On" Sept. 16 at IU Cinema. Darrow is depicted in the film, which focuses on the U.S. AIDS crisis of the early 1980s.
  • Rutgers University anthropology professor and author Helen Fisher will speak Oct. 1 about romantic connections.
  • Two exhibits will be on display at the Grunwald Gallery through Oct. 11: "Geist und Form: Ten painters from Berlin" and "Imag(in)ing Science" with related curator and artist lectures, and a film series at IU Cinema.

Themester is organized by the IU College of Arts and Sciences. A full calendar of events as well as additional information about Themester 2013 is available online.