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The dawn of a new year is as much a time for joyful celebration as it is an occasion for quiet contemplation. I think both are needed at this moment.

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Poetry becomes more approachable when it reflects everyday language, humor and lived experience. San Diego Poet Laureate and Literature alumna Paola Capó-García explores how graduate study, mentorship and workshops shape her writing and sense of voice.

When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon more than 2,000 years ago, he set history in motion — and coined a lasting metaphor. Professor of History Edward Watts explains its endurance lies in Caesar’s ability to “distill the meaning of a moment concisely and powerfully.”

“I’ve never done a story like this,” shared Distinguished Professor of Music Anthony Davis on the new opera he partnered on with Professor of Theatre and Dance Allan Havis. "We’re presenting the story in a playful way that's meant to be engaging for children and provocative for adults.”

What does it take to cultivate a successful career in animation? For Marge Dean – a Visual Arts alumna who's spent decades in the industry – it’s a mixture of passion and perseverance. Dean will talk about her path on Jan. 31 at the Suraj Israni Center for Cinematic Arts Memorial Lecture.

Teaching Professor of Music King Britt has received a creative project grant from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage to support his multi-sensory exhibition that celebrates the contributions of Black innovators in electronic music.

Research by Professor of Literature Daisuke Miyao is featured in the American Film Institute's new catalog, Behind the Veil. He spotlights Tsuru Aoki and Sessue Hayakawa, two of the first Asian actors to achieve stardom in Hollywood.

Visual Arts alumnus Rajee Samarasinghe was honored at the Film Independent Spirit Awards for his film, “Your Touch Makes Others Invisible,” which centers on the stories of Sri Lankan families who are still looking for their vanished loved ones. 

Literature alumna Robbie Butler recently served as a grand marshal in the City of Long Beach’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. Butler is a leader, author and entrepreneur who is committed to empowering underserved communities.

Are you an early-career arts or humanities scholar seeking support for open access publishing? UC Libraries’ new pilot fund covers eligible publication fees not included in existing UC agreements.

Eight Visual Arts MFA students present work leading to their final thesis in this Mandeville Art Gallery exhibition, which reimagines frames and containers as portals, reversing the gaze so images and objects hold viewers.

Ancient coins travel across borders, empires and time. This talk, hosted by the Center for Hellenic Studies, traces Greek coinage through modern Ukraine to reveal trade and power and how new technologies unlock the ancient past.

The Department of Literature's New Writing Series welcomes alumna poet Paola Capó-García and author Sandra Doller for readings and conversation exploring craft, translation and contemporary literary practice.

It’s all for one, and one for all in this action-packed, swashbuckling adaptation of the classic, "The Three Musketeers." Dive into the royal world of espionage and dark secrets in this exciting Department of Theatre and Dance production.

Sound holograms. Recovery of lost histories. Dance as a biotechnology.

These and more were shared by faculty and students from each department at the inaugural Night of Research and Creative Activities.

See a photo recap >

HISTORY | LITERATURE | MUSIC | PHILOSOPHY | THEATRE AND DANCE | VISUAL ARTS

ANALYTICAL WRITING PROGRAM | CENTER FOR TAIWAN STUDIES | INSTITUTE FOR PRACTICAL ETHICS

INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES | SURAJ ISRANI CENTER FOR CINEMATIC ARTS