THE
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
DURHAM

I'd like to propose a screening series of horror films specifically addressing political themes. The political interpretations of most horror films fall within a rubric of social politics, i.e. gender, identity, and normative investigations. I'm interested in identifying and screening horror films that address a notion of politics as the distribution of power in a society. A draft of a list is below, and suggestions are welcome.

Totalitarianism, McCarthyism, Conformity, and the Red Scare: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

The Horror of War: Jacob’s Ladder

The Corporation: Alien

Consumerism: Night of the Living Dead

Woman as vessel for evil: Rosemary’s Baby

Domesticity as Institution: Blue Velvet

Controlling Technology: Videodrome

Other possibilities: Salo, Pan’s Labyrinth, Homecoming

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Hey all - Alexis told me to post this class schedule for the Durham Workers World branch's series of classes: Peoples Power, Revolution, & Socialism 

Here ya go:

PEOPLE POWER, REVOLUTION, AND SOCIALISM: A series of monthly classes hosted by the Durham branch of Workers World Party

Come learn more about the Public School on Sunday, 29 January, at Fullsteam Brewery (726 Rigsbee Avenue) at 5PM. Find out about its international and local history, its aims and objectives, and about opportunities to take and teach classes. This meeting will involve planning for upcoming courses in February (check back soon on the website for a schedule). It is an open meeting. All are encouraged to attend. 

Gentrification can be understood as a type of encroachment in which more affluent people slowly but persistently take over lower-income or working class neighborhoods and then effectively raise the cost of living. Through the introduction of more expensive businesses and services, escalation of housing costs, and uneven distribution of municipal amenities, gentrification changes the character and composition of neighboorhoods. It pushes former inhabitants, who can no longer afford to live there, to the periphery.

I would like to study histories, theories, and stories of gentrification, and then think about how those histories, theories, and stories correspond to or can be applied to the current situation in Durham County. I would like to include a session on cartography and politics within this class, perhaps teaching participants how to undertake the construction of a map using different tools and technologies.

Many people such as myself have taken a Spanish language class in high school or college but thereafter have not often practiced or used these skills. I would like to take a course that would provide an overview of the basics of Spanish conversation. This course would provide an introduction to conversational Spanish with an emphasis on common questions and responses, etc. related to typical interactions and scenarios. It would emphasize pronunciation. This course would be interactive, encourage group activities, and provide students with ample opportunities to practice and refine their speaking skills. Ideally, this would be an eight to ten week class with meetings conducted at least once a week.  

This course would offer some perspective on the rapid change Durham is currently going through by looking at films depicting gentrification and urban resistance movements. It would be a low-key way for folks to socialize and relax while learning some of the basic history surrounding different examples of gentrification, and to open up discussions about what we see going on around us here in the Triangle and what our own role in the struggle here might be.

Some possibilities for movies include:

• Flag Wars
• the Garden
• The Battle for Brooklyn
• Delivered Vacant
• the Atlanta Way
• Black and Gold

Ideally we would meet once every other week or once a month on Friday nights.

I'm a member of Splat Space, the hackerspace located in Durham. We had an offer from the Circuit-Bending Hackerspace Rock Band, CMKT 4 to do a workshop in DIY electronics. The particular workshop they find to have wide appeal is their contact microphone workshop. The workshop would be taught at Splat Space. There would be a $15 fee to attend the workshop which would pay for the materials provided for the course. We have a supply of soldering irons so the attendee would not be required to bring any additional supplies to the workshop. The class would take place on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012. Included here is the full email from CMKT 4:

The class/presentation will cover electrical equipment and safety, followed by an explanation and description of how to test outlets and fixtures, change fuses, reset breakers, add circuits, add outlets, and add switches.
I will also answer any questions you may have. Let’s shed some light on the mystery of electricity!

Very simple proposal: I'd like to take part in, and if necessary help organize, a class devoted to understanding and perhaps furthering the Occupy Wall Street movement—its means, methods, and effects; its historical context; its appeal and usefulness as a model for organizing (around questions, propositions, and invitations to participate in a discussion that foments action, rather than predetermined messages). 

I think these discussions should take place in the area being occupied, as soon as possible, as frequently as is feasible. 

I'm not sure this requires a teacher so much as someone willing to organize the first meeting. Perhaps we could use a brief text (in conjunction with the Occupied Wall Street Journal?) as the basis for our first conversation.