Lecturer to discuss the wisdom of world's indigenous cultures
Cultural anthropologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis will deliver a talk titled "The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in a Modern World" on Tuesday, April 17, at 4:30 p.m. in Evans Hall of Cummings Arts Center. Davis is an ethnographer, writer, photographer and filmmaker described by activist and broadcaster David Suzuki as "a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender of all of life's diversity." His lecture is based on his book of the same name, for which he traveled the world to document the wisdom of indigenous cultures. He has become one of the world's leading crusaders for the protection of what he terms the "ethnosphere," the totality of thoughts, beliefs, myths and institutions brought into being by the human imagination, and his books and films are part of the growing movement to celebrate traditional cultures around the world. Davis came to fame after his investigations of zombies in Haitian vodoun culture led him to write "The Serpent and the Rainbow," a best-selling book and major motion picture. The talk is sponsored by the Sherman Fairchild Program at Connecticut College, which enables cross-disciplinary teaching and collaboration. It is free and open to the public.
April 13, 2012