Texas State University will host its annual Night of Ideas, an evening of thought-provoking talks, creative performances and hands-on workshops, on March 27 at 6:30 p.m. This year, the event will explore the theme “Enlightenment Now!: Ideas and Stories to Make Impact.”
Co-organized with the Embassy of France through Villa Albertine and the Consulat Général de France à Houston, the event will bring together scholars, artists, filmmakers and community leaders for a dynamic exchange of ideas. Activities will take place across the San Marcos campus in the Taylor-Murphy, Lampasas and Comal buildings.
The event will feature 15-minute discussions, 30- to 45-minute workshops, film screenings, exhibitions and musical and creative performances, along with keynote presentations designed to spark dialogue and inspire action. Last year’s program drew nearly 700 attendees and featured approximately 75 performers, speakers and workshop leaders.
Among the featured guests is TXST alumna Orquidea Morales, Ph.D., now an assistant professor at the University of Arizona. Morales researches the intersection of Latine Studies and Horror Studies. She is currently writing a manuscript examining the evolution of La Llorona in Mexican and U.S. film. Morales also co-hosts the podcast Monstras, which explores Latine and Latin American folklore, legends, true crime and the supernatural. During Night of Ideas, Morales will discuss her research and host a screening of The Curse of La Llorona.
Karen Gaytán will also speak at the event. Gaytán is an Emmy-winning documentary film producer and TXST alumna. She will present a preview of her new documentary project, Traviesa, which profiles Laredo’s first Olympian, Jennifer Lozano. Gaytán’s work has been featured on major platforms including Hulu, National Geographic, Apple TV and PBS.
Musical performances will include Mela Sarajane Dailey, a Grammy-winning vocalist known for her work with the choral ensemble Conspirare. Recently featured in Fiddler on the Roof with the Austin Opera, Dailey will perform as part of the evening’s programming. She is also founder of the American Artists Project, which provides music lessons to underserved communities.
International guests Segni Mossi, interactive educators and performance artists from Italy, will lead a creative workshop and performance exploring movement, drawing and expression. Additional workshops will include a session hosted by the Austin Film Festival featuring five filmmakers discussing their journeys in screenwriting, directing and producing. Berkeley sociologist and computer scientist Jeffrey Lockhart will present on communicating knowledge with public audiences at the intersection of computer science, the humanities and the social sciences.
Night of Ideas will also partner with the Gods and Monsters conference, hosted by the Department of Philosophy at TXST, taking place the same weekend.
A full schedule and more information can be found on the Night of Ideas website.