Recap: 16th Annual FSAC Graduate Colloquium (The Corpus: Bodies on Film/Bodies of Film)

This weekend, MHSOC PhD students Rachel Jekanowski and Dan Leberg spoke at the 16th Annual FSAC Graduate Colloquium, hosted at the University of Toronto. This year’s topic, “The Corpus: Bodies on Film/Bodies of Film”, brought out a diverse and eclectic collection of presentations from fellow grad students from across Canada and the United States. Keynote speaker Melinda Barlow of the University of Colorado-Boulder gave a fascinating and heartfelt talk on women art collectors and curators; if you ever get the chance to hear her speak, go do it!

Rachel’s presentation on digital archives of Yiddish films, and Dan’s piece on neurophenomenology and film acting, both lead to lively conversations during not only the Q&A period after their presentations, but also at the post-conference reception on Saturday night, generously hosted by the University of Toronto’s Cinema Studies Graduate Student Union. Other conference highlights included Dan antagonizing psychoanalytic film theory, Rachel’s impromptu panel on eco-cinema on Saturday night, a particularly-tasty homemade spinach and strawberry salad at the reception, and an opportunity to catch up with MHSOC MA alumnus Georgia Cowan.

All and all, Rachel and Dan left Toronto feeling confident in their projects and ready to close out the remaining six weeks of their coursework back at Concordia. Thanks again to the University of Toronto for being such gracious hosts and for putting together such a large and high-quality event!