The University of Scranton
National Endowment for the Humanities

Scranton in the Popular Imagination

Keynote Lecture by Jay Parini with Panel and Audience Discussion

Held on Oct.19 at the Scranton Cultural Center, our inaugural event was a lecture by author Jay Parini and a panel discussion with a University of Scranton humanities professor and local community leaders. The speakers explored the forces that contributed to the celebrity of Scranton as "the All-American City" and considered how and if Scranton in the popular and national imagination reflects the Scranton of today.

Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Jay Parini

Jay Parini 
Mr. Parini, a Scranton native and prolific author, is the D.E. Axinn Professor of English and Creative Writing at Middlebury College.

Respondent Panelists

Glynis Johns Glynis Johns
Ms. Johns is the founder and CEO of the Black Scranton Project.

 

Joseph Kraus, Ph.D. Joseph Kraus
Dr. Kraus is a professor and chair of the English and Theatre Department at The University of Scranton.


Maria MacDonald Maria MacDonald
Ms. MacDonald is executive director of the Center for the Living City.

Watch Event Recording

Event Sponsors:

  • The University of Scranton 
  • The National Endowment for the Humanities
  • Lackawanna County 
  • Black Scranton Project
  • Center for the Living City
  • Lackawanna Historical Society
  • WVIA