Liberal Studies Graduate Program Launches Public Lecture Series

Professor Carolyn Cocca will be the featured speaker in the first, open-to-the-public lecture as part of the new SUNY Old Westbury Master of Arts in Liberal Studies series on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The lecture “Superheroes, Superpowers, and Social Change: How and Why Representation Matters for Gender Equity and Equality” will take place in the College's New Academic Building Room 1100 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., and is free for all members of the community. 

Cocca, of the Politics, Economics, and Law Department, will discuss her research on representations within the superhero industry over the last 75 years - research that was covered in her recent award-winning book "Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation." 

Of the lecture, Cocca said "superheroes have inspired many with their displays of heroism, but they have also embodied inequalities of gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, and ability over the course of history. Female superheroes exemplify this underrepresentation and stereotyping, but at the same time can serve as empowering figures. In exploring how and why representations of female superheroes have changed over time, this presentation will demonstrate how much we need diverse, authentic representations that show us that everyone has power, and that anyone can be a hero."

Old Westbury’s graduate Liberal Studies program's new Public Lecture Series features innovative research by Old Westbury’s MALS-affiliated faculty from a wide variety of disciplines, including Cocca. Presenters will share their expertise as scholars, provide insights into current events, and engage in discussion with audience members. To learn more about the graduate program, or the Lecture Series, contact Amanda Frisken

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