February 28, 2017

Hackettstown, N.J., February 28, 2017 – Rutherfurd Hall is pleased to announce the 2017 Centenary University Lecture Series. It will feature Centenary’s own Dr. Joey McMullen, Assistant Professor of English on March 8, 2017 at 7 p,m. This free Lecture Series is made possible by the sponsorship of The House of the Good Shepherd. Rutherfurd Hall is located at 1686 Route 517 in Allamuchy, NJ.

Dr. McMullen will present a lecture titled “Thrones and Thorns: Medieval Myths in the Modern Imagination.” This discussion will explore the simultaneous fascination with and fear of all things medieval in the modern imagination. Two counter-intuitive stereotypes prevail: on the one hand, the medieval is often demonized as a backwards “Dark Ages” and, on the other hand, it is romanticized for the idealized chivalry and bravery of its knights. These contrasting myths permeate modern society, politics, and religion, revealing that the medieval is never truly as distant as we like to believe—it is the too-close cousin whose likeness makes us uncomfortable because in it we encounter aspects of ourselves. We cannot understand ourselves, our “modernity” without reconciling with our past, with the ideas and practices that tend not to go away.

Dr. McMullen joined the Centenary faculty after a brief stint as Lecturer in Medieval Literature at Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. the previous year. Dr. McMullen is the Medieval Specialist in the English Department, but also has interests in ecocriticism, the digital humanities, early modern literature, the history of the English language, and young adult literature. He did his undergraduate work at Bucknell University, where he gained a deep appreciation for the liberal arts education model. He enjoys traveling and hiking, and is an avid ultimate frisbee player.

This lecture will last about one hour and will be followed by a Q/A session. Tea and light snacks will be provided. For more information about this event, please contact Laurie Rapisardi at (908)-852-1894 ext. 338 or visit www.rutherfurdhall.org.

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.

Centenary University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County). The Centenary University School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in two locations: Parsippany and Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey. The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad.

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