Adult Lecture Series

Tour the four American cities that shaped Edgar Allan Poe’s career during the 1830s and 1840s: Richmond, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Dr. Scott Peeples will examine where Poe lived, why he moved, and how each city’s urban life influenced his writing, particularly The Man of the Crowd and The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

Peeples is professor of English at the College of Charleston and has been writing about Edgar Allan Poe for more than 30 years. His books include The Afterlife of Edgar Allan Poe and The Man of the Crowd: Edgar Allan Poe and the City. His most recent book is How Many Roads: A Life of Bob Dylan.

Please note: this live WebEx presentation will not be recorded.

Professor Kerry Soper explores why Gary Larson’s The Far Side sparked controversy when it upended the comics page in the 1980s, and how its weird humor won over readers and built a devoted fan base.

Soper is a professor in the Department of Comparative Arts and Letters at Brigham Young University. He writes about the history of comedy and satire in comic strips, television, film, and other popular media. His books include Garry Trudeau: Doonesbury and the Aesthetics of Satire; We Go Pogo: Walt Kelly, Politics, and American Satire; and Gary Larson and The Far Side.

Please note: this live WebEx presentation will not be recorded.