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Humanities

Sonja Drimmer lecture on Mar. 4, 2026

This lecture will be held virtually in Dr. Nina Horisaki-Christens’ AH C170A course.  All are welcome to attend! Recolonizing the Museum and the GLAM-work of AI This talk addresses the partnerships forged between the GLAM sector and the tech industry, which have been an essential component of AI’s development, particularly in the field of computer vision. It argues that this partnership reprises the colonialist origins of the Euro-American museum for the modern global economy.

Who are the Tanguts and why do they matter? Writing, Religion, and Cultural Exchange in the Xia Kingdom

The Tangut Xia kingdom flourished in the Ordos region and the Gansu Corridor between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. This talk will provide an introduction to the Tangut Xia kingdom, its unique writing system, and its dynamic religious traditions, highlighting the complex Chinese and Tibetan cultural interactions that shaped its historical development. By integrating elements of Chinese and Tibetan cultures, the Tanguts forged a unique religious and cultural amalgam. The Tangut Xia kingdom flourished in the Ordos region and the Gansu Corridor between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. Despite its relatively brief existence, it developed a distinctive literary culture and…

The Fumes of Mars: Book discussion with artist and writer Katerina Angelopoulou

The Fumes of Mars: Book discussion with artist and writer Katerina Angelopoulou Saturday, March 28, 2026 10:00 A.M. Los Angeles / 8:00 P.M. Greece Via Zoom RSVP Here This discussion will be moderated by Professor Sharon Gerstel, Director, UCLA SNF Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture and Dr. Eirini Kotsovili, Senior Lecturer, Global Humanities, Simon Fraser University. One of the deadliest wildfires ever recorded took place on July 23, 2018 in Mati, just 30 km from the historical center of Athens. Writer and artist Katerina Angelopoulou survived the fire, and her book, The Fumes of Mars, combines her photographs…

Neuroprotective Greek Herbs: Bridging Neuroscience and Cultural Heritage

Neuroprotective Greek Herbs: Bridging Neuroscience and Cultural Heritage a seminar organized by Anastasia Tsingotjidou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) March 7, 2026 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. 314 Royce Hall, UCLA RSVP Here This seminar brings together researchers from neuroscience, pharmacology, biology, veterinary medicine, nutrition, and plant biodiversity to explore the neuroprotective potential of traditional Greek herbs. Through a combination of in-person and online presentations, the program highlights translational research, from animal models and isolated bioactive compounds to nutritional approaches and cultural heritage. The seminar concludes with a culinary demonstration using Cycladic herbs, emphasizing the connection between Greek history, daily life, and brain…

“Seeing Like a Merchant: Jews and Greeks from Ottoman to Greek Rule” by Paris Papamichos Chronakis (Royal Holloway, University of London)

Seeing Like a Merchant: Jews and Greeks from Ottoman to Greek Rule Lecture by Paris Papamichos Chronakis Lecturer in Modern Greek History, Department of History Royal Holloway, University of London Presented by the UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies and cosponsored by the UCLA SNF Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture February 24, 2026 2:00 P.M. 314 Royce Hall, UCLA Campus This event is part of the Maurice Amado Program in Sephardic Studies This event is moderated by Aomar Boum, Professor, Maurice Amado Endowed Chair in Sephardic Studies, UCLA Department of Anthropology RSVP here How did the…

Biennial Yarshater Lecture Series: Frantz Grenet

Ancient Iran and Central Asia: Interactions and Shifting Identities March 4–11, 2026 A Series of Four Lectures at 4:00 pm Royce Hall 314 RSVP Link: https://forms.gle/fiCSCpULf7H3nJ6H8 The Pourdavoud Institute and Yarshater Center welcome Frantz Grenet (Collège de France) in March to deliver the four-part Biennial Yarshater Lecture Series on the theme, “Ancient Iran and Central Asia: Interactions and Shifting Identities.” Lecture 1: Wednesday, March 4, 4:00 pm PST A World between Worlds: Geography, History, and Identity of the Early Kušāns (First Century CE) This geographic and historical introduction to the Kušāns focuses on the multiple cultural affiliations and identities of…

El gesto y la razón: La teoría de los medios de Simón Rodríguez

El pensador sudamericano Simón Rodríguez (1769-1854), recordado como maestro de Simón Bolívar, desarrolló en su obra un proyecto pedagógico y político para fundar las nuevas repúblicas sudamericanas. Para presentarla, utilizó singulares composiciones tipográficas que configuran un modo alternativo de escritura. Esta charla explora la imbricación entre educación, republicanismo y experimentación escritural, y sus implicaciones teóricas. Se muestra que la obra de Rodríguez contiene una reflexión sobre cómo los objetos, los cuerpos, las exteriorizaciones técnicas y sus propiedades mediales le dan forma al sujeto y la comunidad política, revelando así la manera en que una compleja teoría de los medios sustenta…