Dickinson State University (DSU) invites the community to attend the 2023 Albers Humanities Festival titled “Like, it’s totally the 80s,” April 18 & 20. All events will take place in Murphy Hall – Thompson Auditorium on the DSU campus.

The event celebrates work in the humanities and was named in honor of Everett C. Albers, a DSU professor, member of the North Dakota Humanities Council, and the founder of the Great Plains Chautauqua Society. Albers was a pioneer in arranging dialogs between academic humanities scholars and the general public and was deeply committed to the idea that the humanities belong to all the people of North Dakota and the nation. Since Albers’ death in 2004, DSU has hosted a festival to honor his commitment to the humanities – exploring contemporary and enduring topics through events such as lectures, films, panel discussions, exhibits, and other presentations.

The 2023 festival will consist of a variety of presentations, everything 80s, and a music trivia contest! The full schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, April 18 –

  • 4 p.m. – Gag Me with a Spoon: Re-Thinking Slang and the Great American Novel
    • Kevin Moberg, linguistical approach to Valley Girl speech.
    • Brittany Hirth, the great American novel, with focus on American Psycho.
  • 7 p.m. – Apocalyptic Concerns and Aesthetics: The Cold War in Politics and Pop Culture
    • Steven Doherty, the Cold War and defrosting.
    • Holly McBee, post-nuclear war fashion in movies and music.

 Thursday, April 20 –

  • 4 p.m. - American Top 40: 80s Music Trivia Contest
    • Brian Holder, music trivia contest with multiple rounds and cash prizes!

All events are free and open to the public and are sponsored by Dickinson State University, the Department of Arts and Letters, and the Albers Humanities Institute. 

For more information, including remote options to attend, please contact either Dr. Holly McBee, holly.mcbee@dickinsonstate.edu or Dr. Steven Doherty, steven.doherty@dickinsonstate.edu. More information is available on the Department of Arts and Letters website, 2023 Albers Humanities Festival.