Art & Democracy Film Series to show "American Beauty" The next installment of the Art & Democracy Film Series will show "American Beauty" Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. at the Empire Arts Center. Each movie in the series is open to the public and free. Come join us for a discussion about assimilation, ethnic heritage, family expectations, comedy in America, and political correctness. The Art & Democracy Film Series offers us all the opportunity to talk, as a community, about the American experience. What are our values? How do we deal with difference? And, of course, what's art got to do with it? Through fun and accessible movies, audiences will explore, debate, and question the foundations of our democracy and society. Each film is shown at the Empire Arts Center and is free and open to the public. First the group watches the movie together, then the host, Jack Russell Weinstein, director of the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life and Associate Professor of Philosophy at UND, and host of the Prairie Public Radio show “Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life,” interviews a guest about the topic of the film. Then the audience gets the opportunity to talk with Weinstein and his guest, as well as to each other. The conversation is light-hearted and fun, but sophisticated and interesting as well. All perspectives are welcome; the series is non-partisan. The series also provides the opportunity to see how film-makers portray our lives. Is it accurate? Does it exaggerate? Can it help us learn about ourselves or does it interfere with our self-understanding? Previous guests have included Clay Jenkinson, who led a discussion on what it means to be a North Dakotan; Crystal Alberts, who discussed the role of protest and sub-cultures in political life; and Paul Gaffney, who discussed the place of sports in our society with special attention to women athletes and the role of equality in competition. Upcoming movies include (guests will be announced at a later date): October 28: Let The Right One In November 25: Dr. Strangelove More information about the institute and the film series can be found at: www.philosophyinpubliclife.org. Questions can be sent to ippl@und.edu The Art & Democracy films series is sponsored by the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life and the North Valley Arts Council. The Institute is a partnership between The North Dakota Humanities Council and the UND College of Arts and Sciences. -- Jack Russell Weinstein, Associate Professor, Philosophy and Religion, jack.weinstein@und.edu, 777-2887