"9 to 5," the Musical, opens at IWU

Music by Dolly Parton in this hilarious, slightly risque musical based on the film that's being staged in a great production at Illinois Wesleyan this week. Jacob plays the teen son. We've seen the rehearsals and it's fun! Scott Susong is doing an amazing job directing. If you remember what it was like to be a working girl or guy in the late 70s (or wonder how things have changed), you'll particularly find this funny. Nov. 13-17 (Tues- Sat) at 8 pm and Nov. 18 (Sunday) at 2 pm. Tickets: $12 Tue - Thurs. $14 on weekend.

Here's an opening preview from the local theatre blog A Follow Spot.

Just so you know, it's rated PG-13.  Jacob's role as teen son is a guy who gives his mom something (in a role originated by Lily Tomlin in the film version) that gets the story moving in an interesting direction, let's just say.  Jacob has explained that he's "playing against type."

Is reading dangerous?

Could reading fiction, especially stories with violence and death, be dangerous?  Mark West, my friend who is a professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, addressed this question on a recent segment of the television show "America Now." Here's the link to 'How reading habits affect personality.'

Mark says if a person habitually reads fiction, its likely a way for them to flee their own reality. It takes you out of your world and puts you into a more exciting world, it's a sense of escape essentially."

One of the appeals of reading is that escape from a typical day into a different world.  Readers learn about how the protagonists solve problems, fight demons, slay dragons.  We all don't have dragons to slay, anymore.  But reading fiction often helps get our wheels turning to think about how we can solve problems -- not with swords and guns -- but intelligently and smartly.

By the way, Mark's office, which is lined with books and objects related to contemporary culture, looks very cool. 

While re-reading Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend for the Dickens seminar this week, I am reminded how the novel often parallels contemporary life.  We are still concerned about dust, dirt and recycling, about the rich and the poor, about choosing the right person to marry. Reading Dickens, we can see how the characters approached their problems, and perhaps how we can avoid some of those mistakes, or perhaps not.

Obituary for my dad, Dr. Stanley V. Susina

My dad passed away on Saturday.  He was a great guy and I was glad to have been able to spend some time My dad and I in our family home in Birmingham, Alabama, a few years ago.with him while he was in the hospital. 

"A man's life of any worth is a continual allegory and very few eyes can see the mystery of life." Jean Keats (1819).  I believe my father's life is an allegory for the good life, what it means to be a good person.  His life showed what is worth living for.

Here's the longer version of his obituary.  The shorter version is in today's Birmingham News.

Stanley V. Susina — a pharmacist, professor at Samford University and University of Illinois, World War II veteran, Lutheran church leader, volunteer, Rotarian, world traveler, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather – died peacefully Sept. 1, 2012.  A resident of Hoover, AL, Stan was born 14 April 1923 in Berwyn, IL, son of Jan and Anna Susina.   He is preceded in death by his siblings, John, George, and Ludmilla (Ryan).  Stan attended public and Slovak schools in Chicago. During World War II, he studied meteorology for the Army at the University of Chicago. He served in the Pacific campaign and Japan, receiving a Bronze star.  He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in the 20th Weather Squad. While he was stationed in Los Angeles, he was a soldier extra in the 1944 film Music for the Millions starring Jimmy Durante.Three generations of Susina guys.

He received bachelor and R.Ph. degrees in pharmacy from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1948.  At UIC, he met his future wife Betty (Knauss) who also graduated in pharmacy. He continued at UIC in pharmacology, receiving a master’s of science in 1951 and a PhD in 1955.  At UIC, he taught for ten years and was promoted to associate professor of pharmacy. He and his family lived in Lombard, IL.  They were active in St. John’s Lutheran church where their children attended school.  In 1962, he became a professor at Samford University’s school of pharmacy (now McWhorter School of Pharmacy) where he also served as acting dean for several years.  He and Betty and their children -- Jan, David, and Margaret -- settled in Hoover.  Betty and Stan were active in the Hoover community.

             Stan taught generations of pharmacy students at Samford and UIC.  At Samford, he received the John Buchanan Award for teaching excellence in 1966, an all-campus award. During the 1960s, Stan developed and taught the first clinical pharmacy courses at Stamford. He earned a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford. He retired in 1992. In 2002, Stan and Betty received the Distinguished Service Award from the McWhorter School.My dad at Karly's wedding two years ago.

A member of national, professional, and scientific organizations, he was president of the Chicago Retail Druggist Association (1960-62) and Jefferson County Pharmacy Association (1984-86).  Recently, he served as JCPA’s secretary. He also served on the Board of Directors of Jefferson County Mental Health Association and Jefferson County Drug Abuse Coordinating Committee. Stan integrated the Jefferson County science fair program. He received the A. H. Robbins Bowl of Hygeia Award for Outstanding Community Service in Pharmacy in 1974.  Joseph Dean, Dean of Samford’s pharmacy school in 1993, wrote, “Stan served as a voice for independent pharmacy practice for more than thirty years while an educator/practitioner in Illinois and Alabama.  Stanley V. Susina is a man worthy of recognition by the profession for his commitment, dedication, and lifelong love of pharmacy and pharmacy students.”

He was 50-year member of The Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills, where he served in many capacities including on the board of elders and the Lutheran Braille Ministry.  He traveled on mission trips with the church to Slovakia, his parents’ native country. In 2007, Betty and Stan received a 25-year service award for volunteering to serve meals at the Firehouse Shelter.Three Susina guys in Aldridge Gardens, having a good time.

Stan was a charter member of Hoover-Riverchase Rotary Club.  Betty and Stan were involved in the Birmingham Audubon Society. He especially enjoyed taking care of the Bluebird Trail and going to Mentone nature camps. Stan learned how to make wine and was well known for his dandelion and elderberry wines. His family still drinks his vintage wines. Stan and his family were Hoover (Green Valley) Country Club members, enjoying tennis and golf. Recently, he volunteered with the Daybreak Grief Support Ministry.  Stan enjoyed reading, particularly mysteries, and was a regular at the Hoover Library.  While he was able, he participated in water aerobics at the Hoover Rec Center.

Stan and Betty traveled throughout the world.  They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on a six-week trip to India.  Often traveling on Friendship Force tours, they visited Central and America, and Europe.  Betty and Stan’s last trip was a National Geographic cruise to Russia three years ago.

 While he was physically color blind, Stan also was color blind in his worldview, interested in helping everyone.  His wife of 63 years, Betty preceded him in death.  He is survived by his children: Jan (Jodie) of Normal, IL; David (Donna) of Alpharetta, GA, and Margaret of Oak Grove, AL.  Stan was deeply involved in the lives of his grandchildren: Nicole (Sam) Swiney, Katie, Karly (Daniel) Sisco, David, Dana, Carey, Jacob, and his great-grandson Harrison Swiney.  Stan Susina will receive a military funeral in a private internment at the Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo, AL. Memorial contributions may be sent to the church, the pharmacy school at Samford University, or the Hoover Public Library.

 

Fall 2012: Adolescent Literature

Welcome back to ISU!  Syllabi for Adolescent Literature, sections 1 and 2, are now availble on my website.  Here's a link.  Looking forward to a great semester learning about great books, films, plays, poems, graphic novels, and multimedia for teens.

Comics philosophy & practice conference

Amazing conference at University of Chicago on comics organized by Hillary Chute and the U of C. A few more sessions tomorrow morning. Great hearing Art Spiegelman, R. Crumb and his wife Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Francoise Mouly, Chris ware, Dan Clowes and now going to hear Alison Bechdel.