Since its beginning in 2009, the Arts and Humanities Colloquium Series has engendered conversations about ideas among members of the Arts and Humanities Faculty and their communities both at VIU and in the mid-Island region. Our presenters have shown how important the arts and humanities are to understanding today’s world. We are delighted to share exciting scholarly and creative work with our audiences and invite you to join us in 2025-26.
Fall 2025
“Theatre and Criminological Theory, an interdisciplinary study of Antigone”
September 19, 10-11:30am, Malaspina Theatre
Eliza Gardiner, Theatre
Why do people commit crimes? This colloquium presentation shares research on Vancouver Island University’s interdisciplinary course that integrates Criminological Theory with Participatory Theatre. In her talk, Eliza explores the underlying causes of crime, using game, improvisation, and Theatre of the Oppressed methods in her reading of the fifth-century Greek tragedy, Antigone. The plots, characters and intellectual statements of this dramatic work provide the chance to use theatre as a vehicle to inspire dialogue about factors that influence behaviour, prevention strategies, and treatments. After having the opportunity to analyze the actions of tragic heroines according to criminological theory, we can understand more about contemporary offences - especially those relative to civil disobedience, justifiable rebellion, and violations against the social construct.
“Living Between Worlds: Métis Counselling Experiences”
October 31, 10-11:30am, Malaspina Theatre
Delani Valin, VIU Class of 2018 (BA, Creative Writing; MA, Professional Communication from Royal Roads University, 2024), author of Shapeshifters (2022)
“I take my medicine. As a child I used chicken soup, fizzy ginger-ale, saccharine bubblegum syrup. Now, I swallow Ativan, Klonopin, Effexor—chemical compounds that keep me from death by shallow breath. I’ve been reading what my ancestors have known for centuries: the benefits or rat root, rosehips, seneca, sage. Harvesting rhizomes, stems, and leaves to treat colds, coughs, pain. How to use sweetgrass to focus nervous energy, how to decoct nettles for tea.” (Délani Valin)
In this colloquium presentation, Délani explores Métis experiences of counselling through the lens of her Master’s thesis research and her lived experience. Blending poetry, storytelling, and community voices, the presentation weaves together reflections on identity, agency, power, and belonging within therapeutic contexts. By centering Indigenous knowledge systems alongside Western mental health frameworks, Délani invites a reimagining of care that honors both tradition and self-determined healing.
“Two Truths and A.I.”
November 28, 10-11:30am, Malaspina Theatre
Leon Potter, Theatre
Two and a half years ago, A.I. was an abstract concept which quickly escalated and has grown exponentially, but what is its place in the arts? Is it a tool? A barrier? A threat? Or an assist to the creative mind? The Theatre and Creative Writing departments collaborated on an early experiment called “Two Truths and A.I.”: three short plays, two written by people, one by A.I., and the audience guesses which is which. The results in the early days of Chat GPT3 were fascinating, so join us, and let’s see where it is now.
Please email Bryn.Skibo@viu.ca if you would like to be added to our mailing list.
- Listen to Conversations in the Arts & Humanities, the Colloquium Series podcast
- View past Colloquium presentations on YouTube
- View posters from past seasons
