Halloween festivities at the Getty Drive-In

On Friday, Oct. 26, the Grand Rapids Urban Institute of Contemporary Art (UICA) and Celebration! Cinema partnered to present Halloween festivities at the Getty Drive-In Theatre. Guests were able to enjoy six-feature films on all things that go bump in the night, while offering family-friendly fun. 

The film line-up included various features that were for everyone. The drive-in displayed “Hotel Transylvania” and  “Beetlejuice,” as well as “Psycho,” “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Halloween” (1978).  

Starting at dusk from 6 to 7 p.m., there was a trunk-or-treat, and costumes were highly encouraged. Families had the opportunity to travel throughout the parking lot to go trick-or-treating at all participating cars. Families were encouraged to decorate the trunk of their vehicles and provide candy for all children dressed for the occasion. 

Grand Awards celebrates Grand Valley student and faculty member for roles in local theatre productions

On Sunday, Oct. 21, the Grand Awards ceremony honored multiple Grand Valley members as they were awarded for local theatre performances and productions. 

Grand Valley students, faculty, alumni and production were nominated for a variety of categories. These included Outstanding Director of a College Production for “Oklahoma” in 2009, Outstanding College production for “Oklahoma,” as well as Outstanding Lead Actor in a College Production (Casey Huls for Carly in “Oklahoma”), and two nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a College Production, among several other nominations. 

Among these nominations was Torrey Thomas, talent acquisition support in Grand Valley’s Human Resources Department, who won an award for Outstanding Choreography for the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s 2017 production of “Shrek The Musical.”

This year’s ceremony was held at the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids and after 22 years of honoring Grand Rapids theatre productions, this was the last year for the Grand Awards. 

“Life in Frankenstein” and “Blade Runner” explores ontology and politics of life

With Halloween right around the corner, Grand Valley State University welcomed guests Corey McCall from Elmira College and Borna Radnik from Kingston University to discuss the horrific features of Frankenstein and the uneasiness that comes with the monster created as he resists ontological and epistemological categorization. 

Ontology is a branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being; whereas, epistemology is the theory of knowledge dealing with methods, validity and scope. 

McCall and Radnik argued how the functions of Frankenstein serve as a reminder and remainder of the void at the center of being, and they discuss these themes throughout the two films mentioned. 

The event was held in Mackinac Hall and it was LIB 100 approved.