Park University plans to create an old-fashioned movie theater setting next week for its final movie screening in "The Big Read," a National Endowment for the Arts initiative celebrating the life of Ernest Hemingway and his book, A Farewell to Arms.
On Wednesday, Nov. 14, Park faculty will moderate a panel discussion before the screening of "In Love and War" at the McCoy Meetin' House, located on the University's Parkville Campus. There will be fresh popcorn and ushers at the event, which is free and open to the public.
As part of "The Big Read," Park has already hosted screenings of the 1932 version of "A Farewell to Arms" and the 1957 version of the movie. The Park panel discussion, "A Farewell to the Academy: Hemingway as Outsider," will begin at 7 p.m. and the screening of the 1996 "In Love and War" is set for 9 p.m.
The Park faculty-led discussion will focus on the relationship between Hemingway and the academic community, which Hemingway regularly distanced himself from. Yet, the academic community has and continues to revere his work. The panel will discuss Hemingway and the idea of praxis, or putting words into action, and the ways in which Hemingway considered himself a scholar of the world. It will also consider the ironic implications in the fact that for generations, academicians have and continue to build literary criticism and careers from Hemingway's works.
Panel moderator Ann Schultis, associate professor and director of library services at Park, will lead the discussion, which will include Dennis Okerstrom, associate professor of English; Jane Wood, associate professor and chair of the English Department; and Jackie Sloderbeck; a senior majoring in English.
"In Love and War" features Hemingway as a boy (Chris O'Donnell) who falls head-over-heels for an older, more experienced nurse named Agnes von Kurowsky (Sandra Bullock) in the crazy mixed-up world of WWI Europe. The 113-minute movie was directed by Richard Attenborough.
"The Big Read" opened last month at the Kansas City Public Library's Central Library with a talk by Kansas City Star senior writer Steve Paul about "The Hidden History of Kansas City's Influence on A Farewell to Arms." The National Endowment for the Arts initiative is in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
Park University, the Kansas City Public Library and the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial developed the Kansas City program in part by a grant from the NEA. Park also received funding for the "The Big Read" from the Sprint Foundation, which helped support the opening event and teachers' study guides.
The Kansas City events this month aim to encourage area residents to read and discuss Hemingway's landmark novel of love and war on the Italian Front during World War I. The program period coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Caporetto, a devastating Italian defeat that served as a climactic moment in A Farewell to Arms.
To reserve a seat for the Park University Big Read event, call (816) 741-2000. For more information about the Park screening or other Big Read events in the Kansas City community, contact Wood at (816) 584-6313, the Kansas City Public Library at (816) 701-3402.
