This event will center on the themes of Kroc Institute visiting research fellow, Liridona Veliu Ashiku’s book, ‘Balkanization’ and the Euro-Atlantic Processes of the (Western) Balkans: Back to the Future, exploring how the discourse of 'balkanization' has shaped EU and NATO policies toward the region. Through interdisciplinary dialogue, this event will challenge outdated narratives and advocate for sustained engagement with the Balkans, moving beyond episodic attention during crises. By partnering with the Kroc, Nanovic, and Keough-Naughton Institutes, the discussion aims to redefine the Balkans' central role in trans-Atlantic identity, peacebuilding, and global political responsibilities. Panelists:Moderated by Clemens Sedmak, director of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies and professor of social ethicsPresented by Liridona Veliu Ashiku, Kroc Institute visiting fellowRespondent: Gëzim Visoka, associate dean for research and associate professor of peace and conflict studies, Dublin City UniversityRespondent: Carli Steelman, Kroc Institute Ph.D. student (peace studies and sociology)Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.

About the Talk This lecture will tackle the theological understanding of history through the prism of Byzantine historiography and theology. Particular attention will be paid to a selection of historians and to the work of St. Maximus the Confessor and St. Gregory Palamas. The lecture will also consider some modern Orthodox contributions to the theology of history (Fr. Georges Florovsky, Fr. Sergius Bukgakov) and ask what specific contribution the Byzantine tradition can make to the broader field of the theology of history which has been shaped up to this point largely by Western figures and themes. The lecture will be followed by a reception. About the Speaker Marcus Plested (D.Phil., University of Oxford, 1999) is professor of Greek Patristic and Byzantine Theology at Marquette University. Schooled in London, he studied modern history followed by theology at Merton College, Oxford, completing his doctorate under the supervision of Metropolitan Kallistos Ware. He taught for many years at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies and the Faculty of Divinity in Cambridge. He has been a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, and has taught, lectured, and published widely in patristic, Byzantine, and modern Orthodox theology. He is the author or editor of five books to date, the most recent being The Master Builder: Demetrios Koutroubis and the Renewal of Theology in Modern Greece (Limni: Harvey, 2024). About the Series The Mathews Byzantine Lectures, begun in the 2021–22 academic year, bring a distinguished scholar of Byzantine studies to campus each year to deliver a talk, supported by the Rev. Constantine Mathews Endowment for Excellence in Byzantine Christianity in the Medieval Institute. Originally published at medieval.nd.edu.

Panelists Jeffery Angles, Brooke McCorkle, Jessica McManus Warnell, and Yuki Miyamoto will discuss environmental messages in the Godzilla films and books. Professor Amanda Kennell will moderate.Godzilla is a perfect metaphor for what is happening now in the Anthropocene: humankind has wounded nature so seriously that nature has no choice but to fight back. Jeffrey Angles, Interview with Toho KingdomYuki Miyamoto, Professor of Religious Studies and Global Asian Studies, DePaul University Jeffrey Angles, Professor of Japanese, Western Michigan University Brooke McCorkle Okazaki, Assistant Professor of Music, Carleton College Jessica McManus Warnell, the Rex and Alice A. Martin Faculty Director of the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, University of Notre Dame Moderated by Amanda Kennell, Assistant Professor of Japanese, East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Notre Dame Godzilla Fest is a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the 1954 release of the film "Godzilla" by Toho Studios in Tokyo. The giant monster, who attacked Japan after being awakened by hydrogen bomb testing, went on to become a global icon. Godzilla has starred in 38 films and has appeared in comic books, games, novelizations, advertisements, toys, and more. The king of the monsters has also been interpreted widely as a symbol for the destructive nature of humankind—from nuclear war to climate change. Godzilla Fest is organized by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame, the St. Joseph County Public Library, and the Browning Cinema at Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. More information is available at asia.nd.edu/godzilla. In support of the Liu Institute’s growing commitment to sustainability, we will no longer be offering drinks at our public lectures and panels. We encourage audience members to bring their own water bottles or to drink from nearby water fountains. Thank you for your understanding. Originally published at asia.nd.edu.

The School of Architecture is hosting a celebration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and Dia de los Muertos. In honor of all of their Hispanic students on campus there will be a brief panel discussion with architects from Mexico and Central America, moderated by professor, Julio Perez Hernandez. The lecture begins at 5:15 p.m. in the Auditorium at Walsh Family Hall of Architecture.   Reception to follow after the lecture including Hispanic foods from local vendors and the ND Mariachi Band. All are welcome. Originally published at internationalerg.nd.edu.

The Nanovic Institute is thrilled to join Actors From The London Stage, the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, and Shakespeare at Notre Dame in hosting this special presentation in The Art and Scholarship of Academic Storytelling series. Before the performance of Twelfth Night on November 1,  Jenny Thorup Birkett, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of English, will lead a pre-show discussion with Scott Jackson, the Mary Irene Ryan Family Executive Artistic Director of Shakespeare at Notre Dame. All are welcome to join this vibrant discussion to "set the stage" for an amazing performance by Actors From The London Stage, but please ensure you have purchased your tickets. Buy Tickets Now Light refreshments will be offered in the lobby between the conclusion of the lecture and the start of the performance to allow conversations to continue. Then, after the curtain falls, the institute will host a special post-show Q&A with both the actors and the executive director. About the SeriesThe Art and Scholarship of Academic Storytelling series explores the connections between “The Arts” (music, theater, dance, poetry/creative writing, filmmaking, drawing, painting, photography, and sculpting) and “Scholarship” on the topic of storytelling. Story and narrative are critical in the transmission of human ideas and culture. Thus, the institute and its partners across campus seek to understand how these methods of transmitting ideas may be practiced within an academic context. To do so, it seeks out the expertise of practitioners of the arts who do this type of storytelling in their work. Students, faculty, staff, and the general public are all invited to join these events, which are sometimes scheduled in tandem with performances on campus or in the local community, to consider this fascinating topic that cuts across disciplinary lines and appeals to academic and general audiences alike. Originally published at nanovic.nd.edu.

Celebrate Godzilla's 70th anniversary with a talk by Professor Jeffrey Angles, Western Michigan University, who translated the Japanese novellas "Godzilla" and "Godzilla Raids Again" by Shigeru Kayama. Jeffrey Angles is a professor of Japanese at Western Michigan University. He is the author of "Writing the Love of Boys" (Minnesota, 2011) and award-winning translator of Orikuchi Shinobu’s "The Book of the Dead" (Minnesota, 2017) and Hiromi Ito’s "The Thorn Puller." His book of poetry, "My International Date Line" (Watashi no hizukehenkosen ), won the 2017 Yomiuri Prize for Literature, making Jeffrey the first American to win this prestigious prize. Godzilla Fest is a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the 1954 release of the film "Godzilla" by Toho Studios in Tokyo. The giant monster, who attacked Japan after being awakened by hydrogen bomb testing, went on to become a global icon. Godzilla has starred in 38 films and has appeared in comic books, games, novelizations, advertisements, toys, and more. The king of the monsters has also been interpreted widely as a symbol for the destructive nature of humankind—from nuclear war to climate change. Godzilla Fest is organized by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame, the St. Joseph County Public Library, and the Browning Cinema at Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. More information is available at asia.nd.edu/godzilla. Originally published at asia.nd.edu.