Nobel Conference 56Cancer Stories
Writing Our Way Forward: A Storytelling Workshop for People With Cancer
Join Gustavus theater and dance professor and storyteller Michele Rusinko for a storytelling workshop on “writing forward.” The workshop is open to people who have received a cancer diagnosis and who are currently at any stage in the process.
How it works: For three Tuesdays in September, you’ll receive a video instruction about story, followed by a prompt for you to write your own story. The following Monday, we’ll meet to share our stories.
Register for a three-part story workshop, to be held virtually in September.
Register and see more details here.
Spoken Word
Poem: English professor Philip Bryant, a 1973 Gustavus graduate, reads his poem “Alyce Lorraine Hampton Bryant,” about his mother and her death from cancer from his book, Sermon on a Perfect Spring Day.
Story: Dr. Patricia English of the Communication Studies Department at Gustavus Adolphus College, reads a story she wrote titled Missing Mother: Cancer and Caretaking about her experience caring for her mother.
Story: A Very Easy Death by Simone de Beauvoir. Read by Dr. Sharon Marquart, Associate Professor of French and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College
Poem: The Poetry of Cancer - adapted by Amy Seham from “The Sick Wife” and “What It’s Like” by poet Jane Kenyon and “The Ship Pounding” by poet Donald Hall. Performed by Robert Gardner, Gustavus Adolphus College Professor emeritus of Theatre & Dance and Judy Gardner, Gustavus Adolphus College Professor emerita of Nursing
Poem: Death Sentience written and read by Matt Rasmussen, Assistant Professor of English at Gustavus Adolphus College
Books on the cancer theme
The staff of the Book Mark, the college's book store, has curated a list of books related to the theme of this year's Nobel Conference. All books are currently in stock for purchase and can be shipped to you. Check out this great selection.
Dance
Dance for Cancer in the Age of Biotechnology
In this work, nursing and dance students collaborated to create a work inspired by narrative interviews with persons who have had cancer. Watch the dance here.
Music and Cancer
Vignette in Twilight >
Dr. Yumiko Oshima-Ryan, a professor in the Gustavus Music Department, performs Tapiola Visions for Piano Left Hand Op. 92: Vignette in Twilight composed by Takashi Yoshimatsu.Dr. Oshima-Ryan explains her inspiration for selecting this piece as it relates to this year's Nobel Conference on cancer.
Gustie Virtual Book Club
The Gustie Virtual Book Club is a great way to engage with other avid Gustie readers from around the world! Participants receive weekly email updates to stay on track with reading and log on to the virtual platform to engage in asynchronous discussion. Our next book club title will align with the Nobel Conference theme this year: the club begins When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi on October 15, and we'd love to have you join us. Click here to join or log in!
