Gender, Race, Cultural Identity ‚ Centre of Debate, Discussion During York U. Symposium on Author Toni Morrison's Paradise

TORONTO, Feb. 23, 1999 -- In celebration of Black History Month, York University is hosting a one-day symposium to discuss and debate author Toni Morrison's most recent novel, Paradise Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1999, 9 a.m. ‚ 9 p.m.

The symposium will bring together Morrison enthusiasts and scholars from across Canada and the United States, and from as far away as Australia, to examine a wide range of topics in the novel including: gender, race, religion, spirituality, history, American identity, mothering and friendship.

"The symposium will be of interest to anyone who loves to read and discuss Morrison's fiction," said Symposium Coordinator and presenter Prof. Andrea O'Reilly, whose dissertation on Toni Morrison earned her the Dr. Mary McEwan Thesis Prize and will be released as a book in 2000. "It is most fitting that we will be examining Morrison's work in depth during Black History Month," she said.

Paradise, Morrison's seventh novel, completes the trilogy begun with Beloved and opens, as does most of her novels, with intrigue and suspense.

"I wanted it to open with somebody's finger on the trigger, to close when it was pulled, and to have the whole novel exist in that moment of decision to kill or not," said Morrison.

A Nobel Laureate and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, Morrison is an accomplished author of seven novels and numerous non-fiction articles. Two of her books -- Paradise and Beloved ‚ were featured on Oprah Winfrey's Book Club. Beloved, Morrison's fifth novel was released this fall as a major Hollywood movie starring Winfrey. The film, acclaimed as an artistic and cultural masterpiece, looks promising for an Oscar nomination this spring.

Andrea O'Reilly, an Assistant Professor in the School of Women's Studies at York University, teaches courses on Morrison and on motherhood and has published widely on these topics. She is the editor of Redefining Motherhood, Mothers and Daughters Today, and Mothers and Sons: Feminist Perspectives, and is founding president of the Association for Research on Mothering (ARM).

A wine and cheese reception will follow the symposium. Admission is free and open to the public.

WHAT:
Symposium on author Toni Morrison's latest novel Paradise.

WHEN:
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1999, 9 a.m. ‚ 9 p.m.

WHERE:
McLaughlin College Junior Common Room (Rm. 014),
York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto

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For more information, please contact:

Andrea O'Reilly
Symposium Coordinator
York University
(416) 736-5128

Christy Taylor
Symposium Organizer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 40206

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
YU/016/99