The students of Elizabeth Johnston, English/Philosophy Department, have always been fascinated with the mythology surrounding such historical and literary figures as Little Red Riding Hood, Queen Elizabeth, Medusa and Barbie. However, discussions about these figures in classes like “Women in Literature” or “British Literature” never seemed to provide enough time to fully explore their significance across cultures and history. So Johnston decided to put together an honors class that would examine 13 female icons as they are represented in visual, literary, and musical texts.
“The papers produced by the students amazed me,” she says, “and gave me the idea to put together a panel for Scholars' Day.”
Johnston will provide an introduction to the pedagogy of “Female Icons in Popular Culture,” the humanities honors course she designed. The panel she assembled will include the essays of three former students:
Elsa Deutschbein: Elsa’s essay interprets Little Red Riding Hood illustrations as drawn by three different artists in three different times. It explores how these illustrations reflect each illustrator’s view of female sexuality.
Maria DiCastro: Maria’s essay examines the shifting historical representations of the mythological female storm demon Lilith and explores how cultural values influence how Lilith was understood.
Katherine Harrigan: Katherine’s essay argues that, “after World War II, society needed a submissive female icon to combat the strong female icons of the war. Marilyn Monroe’s rise to fame filled that need.”
Scholars’ Day is still a few weeks away but Johnston, who will also serve as the panel’s moderator, can’t wait. “Our students deserve this recognition,” she says.
MCC’s Scholars’ Day will be held 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. March 21 on MCC’s Brighton Campus, 1000E. Henrietta Road. Parking will be available in Lots E and F. For more information, contact Jodi Oriel, assistant director, Campus Center at 585.292.2533 or <"mailto:joriel@monroecc.edu">. More details and a complete schedule of the day’s events are also available at https://www.monroecc.edu/go/scholarsday.
Janet Ekis
College and Community Relations
03/11/2009
Attachments:
 Scholars Day Schedule.doc
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