2023-2024 Events
Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton
February 7, 2024
Milam and Travis rooms
2:30 p.m.
Join Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, former Houston Poet Laureate, for a powerful poetry performance exploring themes of identity, resilience, and the human experience. Returning to Houston in recent years.
Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton is an internationally recognized writer, educator, activist, performer, and the first Black Poet Laureate of Houston. Author of multiple works, from theater to opera, to internationally recognized books, Mouton shows there is no boundary for where a story can take you.
JD Pluecker Creative Writing Workshop and Reading
March 5, 2024
Creative Writing Workshop
Milam and Travis Rooms
1:00 p.m.
Join JD Pluecker, an acclaimed poet, artist, and translator, for a creative writing workshop that explores the intersection of writing, art, and queer/trans aesthetics. In this hands-on workshop, Pluecker will guide participants through the process of interdisciplinary writing, showing how to weave together history, translation, and poetic experimentation. This session is designed for writers interested in pushing boundaries, exploring non-normative poetics, and discovering new ways to engage with language as a tool for cultural production and justice.
Pluecker’s work is rooted in the concept of language justice and the cross-border exchange of ideas. Whether you're a seasoned writer or new to creative practice, this workshop offers a space to expand your writing and experiment with new forms of expression.
Reading
TDECU Tour room
2:30 p.m.
After the workshop, stay for an exciting reading by JD Pluecker, whose interdisciplinary approach to writing challenges traditional notions of poetry and language. As a poet, artist, and translator, Pluecker’s work engages with themes of cross-border cultural production, queer/trans identities, and non-normative poetics. His readings often blur the lines between art, performance, and writing, offering a dynamic experience for the audience.
Pluecker’s poetry and art give voice to marginalized stories and explore how language can both bind and liberate, making his work relevant to those interested in cultural justice, identity, and the ways in which words shape the world.
English Department Faculty Reading
March 19, 2024
Milam and Travis Rooms
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Join us to celebrate the brilliant work of UHD’s own Dr. Cesarco Eglin, Dr. Dahlberg, and Dr. Duncan, as they share their recently published books and the recognition they’ve received in their respective fields. This special reading honors their achievements and provides an opportunity to engage with the ideas and themes explored in their new works.
Whether through literary exploration, theory, or cultural insight, each faculty member will read from their latest publications, offering a glimpse into the depth of their scholarship and creative work. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate their contributions to the literary and academic world.
Reading Group: Being Ecological
March 26, 2024
4:00 p.m.
40,000 Windows Cafe
Join us for an engaging discussion of Timothy Morton’s Being Ecological*, a groundbreaking exploration of the relationship between humanity and the natural world. In this thought-provoking work, Morton challenges conventional ways of thinking about ecology and environmentalism, urging readers to rethink how we understand our place within the ecological web.
Through the lens of philosophy, literature, and critical theory, this book opens up conversations about how we can engage more deeply with the world around us, not just in terms of conservation, but through a radical shift in consciousness. Whether you're familiar with Morton’s work or new to the topic, this discussion will offer valuable insights and stimulate critical thinking about how we can live more ecologically aware lives.
If you are a UHD student, you will be eligible to receive a FREE copy of the book. To pick up in advance of the meeting, come to OMB S1064 between 10 - 11 AM on Tuesdays or Thursdays or schedule an appointment with Dr. Anita Raychawdhuri.
Demonic Angels and Angelic Demons
A Lecture by Timothy Morton
April 18, 2024
TDECU Tour Room (Welcome Center)
4:00 p.m.
Join us for a fascinating lecture by Timothy Morton, renowned philosopher and author, as he delves into the complex and thought-provoking concept of "Demonic Angels and Angelic Demons." In this lecture, Morton will explore the intersections of philosophy, ecology, and theology, offering a radical rethinking of concepts we often take for granted. By examining the ambiguities and dualities of angels and demons, Morton challenges traditional narratives and invites us to reconsider how we view good and evil, spirituality, and the material world.
Morton’s work pushes the boundaries of critical thought and encourages audiences to engage with paradoxical ideas in a way that opens up new avenues for understanding the relationship between the human and non-human, as well as the ecological crisis that affects both. This lecture is a must-attend for those interested in philosophical debates, theoretical explorations, and radical thought on contemporary issues
Free and open to the public.