The Stories We Tell, the Objects We Keep: What They Reveal About Human Nature

In this virtual talk, four Penn scholars will explore how the narratives we share and the items we collect illuminate history and the human condition and create an important legacy.

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March 14, 2023, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
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Virtual
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Open to the Public
A hand is pulling a book from a shelf lined with rows of yellow hardback books with Chinese characters on the spines.

There is a reason that storytelling is having a moment. Done well, stories evoke a range of emotions, help forge powerful connections, and enable us to better understand ourselves and others. Similarly, the objects we save—from fine art to ephemera—create a mosaic of memory. In this session, four Penn scholars will explore how the narratives we share and the items we collect illuminate history and the human condition and create an important legacy.

  • Zoe Ryan, Daniel W. Dietrich, II Director, Institute of Contemporary Art (Moderator)
  • Brigitte Weinsteiger, Gershwind & Bennett Family Senior Associate Vice Provost for Collections and Scholarly Communications, Penn Libraries
  • Tukufu Zuberi, Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations and Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies, Penn Arts & Sciences
  • Aaron Levy, Senior Lecturer, English and History of Art, Penn Arts & Sciences

Inspiring Impact Series

This program is presented as part of the Inspiring Impact virtual event series, featuring eminent faculty from several Penn's schools, including law, medicine, business, arts and sciences, communications, dentistry, and more. Meet alumni, parents, and friends online to hear how Penn is moving the needle of knowledge through impactful research, scholarship, and practice.