Newswise — We all want to know the end of the story, Chilean author Isabel Allende tells us, but life is a never-ending tale. There's always something else on the next page that we need to know.
Her melodious voice can be heard sharing this and other thoughts " along with those of writer Tom Wolfe, poet Maya Angelou and others " in a new online compilation of audio recordings of prominent visitors to the Michigan State University campus.
This archive of the John W. and Joan Eadie Celebrity Lecture Series provides access to 10 years of recordings of these scholars, critics, novelists, poets and artists.
"The College of Arts and Letters initially brought these speakers to the campus, and we are very glad to see them connect to the world," said Patrick McConeghy, acting college dean.
"The original purpose was to bring great minds to campus to enlighten and instruct students, faculty and our fellow citizens in East Lansing," said John Eadie, former dean of the college. "It is appropriate that the series now can reach a limitless audience and become useful in the classroom."
The Celebrity Lecture Series was established at MSU in 1988 by the College of Arts and Letters under Eadie's leadership and the Dean's Community Council. At its 10th anniversary in 1998 and in honor of his stewardship of the arts and humanities, the series was renamed in Eadie's honor. The popularity of the series attracted students, faculty and members of the community, and featured some of the most illustrious scholars, critics, novelists, poets and creative artists of our time.
To promote use in the classroom and learning, the lectures are divided by topics focusing on issues including "American Culture and Society," "Family," and "The Significance of Art." These topics aid users by presenting complex issues from the scholars' first-person perspective.
The Web site for Celebrity Lecture Series was created by MSU's MATRIX: The Center for Humane Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online. The project showcases MATRIX's innovative use of technology to support standardized Web formats and languages that separate data, logic and presentation while maintaining portability.
MATRIX creates and maintains online resources in the arts, social sciences and education, and provides training in computing and new research and teaching technologies. Mark Kornbluh, director of MATRIX, emphasized the significance of new media in this latest project.
"MATRIX's knowledge of audio technology and digital archiving methods allows us to rethink the arts and humanities as we preserve and broadcast them," he said.
To listen to the recordings, visit http://www.matrix.msu.edu/cls. Real Player is required to listen to the files, and is downloadable for free on the site.
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