Bismarck State College continues Conversations at BSC Sunday, Jan. 22, with a discussion about Henry David Thoreau's "Walden."
The dialogue between BSC President Larry C. Skogen and humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson begins at 3 p.m. in Sidney J. Lee Auditorium. Questions and comments from the audience will complete the conversation.
"Walden" is one of the most important books in American literature and philosophy. This conversation will be a "Walden" primer: why Thoreau wrote it, the book's natural audience, questions Thoreau pondered, and how the book has been used by successive generations of Americans.
"Walden," first published in 1854 as "Walden; or, Life in the Woods," is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and manual for self-reliance. By immersing himself in nature, Thoreau hoped to gain a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection. Simple living and self-sufficiency were his other goals.
Skogen and Jenkinson will emphasize two chapters - "Economy" and "Reading" - and how the concepts have shaped their lives and could shape future lives.
"Economy" is more than a narrative of Thoreau's two-year, part-time sojourn at Walden Pond, Skogen said. It examines what Thoreau called "grossest groceries," things needed to live, how to obtain them, and why they differ from things people merely want or enjoy. Is that concept useful today?
"Reading" is one of the best essays on what reading means and requires in English literature. Jenkinson and Skogen will outline the themes of this chapter and offer personal reflections.
More programs are scheduled Feb. 26, March 25 and April 22. Visit the Conversations at BSC website at bsctalk.com or contact BSC Continuing Education, Training & Innovation at 224-5600 for more information.
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About Bismarck State College
Bismarck State College, an innovative community college in Bismarck, N.D., offers high quality education, workforce training, and enrichment programs reaching local and global communities.
The dialogue between BSC President Larry C. Skogen and humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson begins at 3 p.m. in Sidney J. Lee Auditorium. Questions and comments from the audience will complete the conversation.
"Walden" is one of the most important books in American literature and philosophy. This conversation will be a "Walden" primer: why Thoreau wrote it, the book's natural audience, questions Thoreau pondered, and how the book has been used by successive generations of Americans.
"Walden," first published in 1854 as "Walden; or, Life in the Woods," is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and manual for self-reliance. By immersing himself in nature, Thoreau hoped to gain a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection. Simple living and self-sufficiency were his other goals.
Skogen and Jenkinson will emphasize two chapters - "Economy" and "Reading" - and how the concepts have shaped their lives and could shape future lives.
"Economy" is more than a narrative of Thoreau's two-year, part-time sojourn at Walden Pond, Skogen said. It examines what Thoreau called "grossest groceries," things needed to live, how to obtain them, and why they differ from things people merely want or enjoy. Is that concept useful today?
"Reading" is one of the best essays on what reading means and requires in English literature. Jenkinson and Skogen will outline the themes of this chapter and offer personal reflections.
More programs are scheduled Feb. 26, March 25 and April 22. Visit the Conversations at BSC website at bsctalk.com or contact BSC Continuing Education, Training & Innovation at 224-5600 for more information.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
About Bismarck State College
Bismarck State College, an innovative community college in Bismarck, N.D., offers high quality education, workforce training, and enrichment programs reaching local and global communities.