Humanities Professor Jody Berland will take a critical look at how militarization has become so common in society that it is now seen as the norm. Berland’s lecture, “Cultures of Militarization”, takes place today from 4 in the Vanier Senior Common Room, 010 Vanier College. All are welcome.
The lecture’s title and topic are borrowed from Cultures of Militarization (Cape Breton University Press, 2010), which Berland co-edited with Ryerson Professor Blake Fitzpatrick of the Documentary Media Program. Her work explores how military culture now has such a hold on society that many people cannot remember a time when the military was not a constant presence in their lives.
Right: Jody Berland
This military presence appears either physically or more abstractly through art and society as a whole. As Berland noted in an interview, “While civilian deaths and acts of torture have remained invisible and secret, it’s impossible to miss the images of invasion and imprisonment that circulate the world on the Internet, on TV and in video games.” Her presentation will begin by exploring recent events during the G20 summit in Toronto and then move to a broader examination of militarism in Canadian society.
Cultures of Militarization is a collection of essays penned by 22 international scholars and artists who have each contributed their own perspectives and experiences. Each of the contributions jointly identifies how a military culture brings devastation to communities and individuals.
Berland’s lecture is part of the “Canada: Like You’ve Never Heard it Before” Speakers Series, which features open lectures delivered by York faculty. Produced by the Canadian Studies Program and the Students for Canadian Studies Club, the series has an interdisciplinary focus and promotes undergraduate research and study of Canada.
The series is co-sponsored by Vanier College, Winters College, New College, Stong College, Calumet College, Founders College and the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Submitted by Alison Sanelli, a second-year humanities student