NEWS RELEASE

News Bureau . Schofield Hall 201 . Eau Claire, WI 54702
phone: (715) 836-4741
fax: (715) 836-2900

EAU CLAIRE - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire English Department will hold its eighth annual English Festival, "Textformers: English in Disguise," Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 1, in Davies Center.

The UW-Eau Claire English Festival is one of the largest student-run events of its kind in the nation. This year's festival focuses on communication in popular culture as well as traditional literature.

Festival organizers also are proud to feature a nationally known guest speaker this year. Jon Shear is a writer/director/actor whose film work includes the critically acclaimed independent film "Urbania," which will screen at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Davies Theatre, followed by an address by Shear (suggested donation $1).

The festival will include panels and discussions on topics ranging from films to comic books to music, live music on the mall, a poetry booth sponsored by NOTA, slam poets, a student film festival, an Irish Film Festival and jugglers. Included in the discussions also are a variety of student capstone presentations. Some examples of topics this year are "An Examination of Representation in the Film, 'Spiderman,'" "Feminist Poetry" and "A Devout and Dirty Mind: A Discussion of Religion and Sexuality in the Music of Prince."

For more information about the schedule of events contact Bobby Kuechenmeister, kuechebj@uwec.edu, or D.J. Schuldt, schulddj@uwec.edu, or visit the panel schedule.

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CR/NW

Judy Berthiaume, Director
UW-Eau Claire News Bureau
Schofield 201
(715) 836-4741
newsbur@uwec.edu

Updated: April 28, 2003