Into Sunlight: The Impact of War on the Social Body From the Vietnam Era to the Present

HOFSTRA DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA AND DANCE
and the
HOFSTRA CULTURAL CENTER 
present

INTO SUNLIGHT:
THE IMPACT OF WAR ON THE SOCIAL BODY
FROM THE VIETNAM ERA TO THE PRESENT

Thursday, Friday, Saturday
April 14, 15, 16, 2011

An interdisciplinary conference exploring the impact of war and violence on the social body, bringing together diverse perspectives from history, political science, media, trauma studies, dance, somatic studies, visual art and theatre to engage both a public and university audience in active dialogue addressing current conditions of war through the historical lens of the Vietnam Era.

The program consists of three days of lectures, panel discussions, speak-outs, art showings and performance events. The conference will feature as keynote speaker, David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of They Marched Into Sunlight, which beautifully explores the effects of violence on both those in battle and those at home desperately searching for peace.

Initiated by Hofstra Dance faculty member Robin Becker's interest in creating an evening length dance piece drawn from They Marched Into Sunlight, the conference unfolds from the issues and ideas the book addresses. In addition, the Drama program has commissioned a new play, Undeclared History, that will premiere during the symposium, that is based on the oral histories of Hofstra alumni. These two pieces act as focal points for the conference, leading into the body as the site of social disintegration and the arts as a means of recovery.

Keynote Speaker:
David Maraniss   
Pulitzer-Prize winning author of They Marched Into Sunlight

Featured Guest Speakers:
Edward Tick 
Psychologist and author of War and Soul 

Emilie Conrad 
Somatic pioneer and founder of Continuum Movement