Stories of Engagement
Environmental Humanities: Making Science Personal
Dec 2024
Associate Professor of Spanish Cheyla Samuelson says addressing the most pressing environmental issues begins with exploring the similarities and differences between humanities and science. As climate change looms large and casts a shadow of uncertainty over the future of our planet, everyone can benefit from a deeper understanding of scientific concepts that impact us all. How can complex scientific research be made more accessible to people outside of its specialized fields?
Inaugural San Antonio Festival Unites SJSU, City of San José and Local Businesses
Nov 2024
On Sat, Nov 23, the Paseo de San Antonio between S. Fourth and S. Third Streets will be transformed into the San Antonio Festival. The event, dreamed up by San José State Assistant Professor of Advertising Belén Moreno, is the result of her partnerships with the San José Downtown Association, the arts nonprofit Local Color, the City of San José and the pop-up small business incubator Moment. Join us!
Gamifying Democracy: Board Games and the 2024 Presidential Election
July 2024
Against this political backdrop, Experimental Democracies, an event spearheaded by SJSU lecturers Steve Durie and James Morgan alongside experimental philosopher Jonathan Keats, delves into gamifying democracy. Durie, Morgan and Keats want to help attendees analyze and question their political choices.
Yoga Play: Stretching Towards Mindful Consumerism
July 2024
On the surface, the play may seem like a basic story on, well, yoga. However, underneath the layers of satirical comedy, “Yoga Play” provokes its audience to wonder: “Do I really need all the things I buy?”
Spartans Adapt “Hills Like White Elephants” Using AI
May 2024
Shojaei, who adapted Ernest Hemingway’s short story “Hills Like White Elephants” for the class, shares that there’s one important fact that makes this short film unique, if not a little groundbreaking: Shot entirely on a green screen, Shojaei and her class will be experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to create the visual background in post-production.
“Over the Top: Chandelierium” Art Exhibit Features Recycled Material
May 2024
When San José State invested in the opportunity to transform the south tower of the San José Hilton Signia hotel complex into the Spartan Village on the Paseo (SVP), the university’s latest student housing community, SJSU inherited a unique collection of fixtures, ranging from lamps to sconces and even a large chandelier. Professor Shannon Wright’s students reused elements of the chandelier and sconces — including, in one case, eight feet of glass beads — to construct original works of mixed media, sculpture and ceramics.
Spartan Designers’ Work on Display at the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design
May 2024
The robot, which Pries nicknamed “Roberta,” is included in the exhibit, where museumgoers can watch it paint swaths of water in careful lines across a smooth surface. The exhibit features over 100 objects — including 28 3D printed textiles produced in SJSU Assistant Professor of Industrial Design Kohar Scott’s advanced materials class - and more!
“1984” Play Sparks Unique Collaboration Between Humanities and Arts Faculty
April 2024
Read about students from SJSU Assistant Professor of Creative Advertising Bélen Moreno’s class participated in a branded content experience to promote the upcoming production of “1984” at the Hammer Theatre.
Creativity in Motion
Spring 2024
“The stop motion community at large is full of friendly and eager artists who are always looking to make new connections and teach new skills.” Students and faculty in Animation reflect on the inaugural Stop Motion Animation Festival
Dance Beyond the Briar Patch
Spring 2024
“We’re turning on virtuosity,” he says while adjusting the sound of his laptop. “We’re exploring ideas of needing to be exceptional and performative in the way society exists.” Read more about explorations in dance.
San José Rotunda Concert Takes SJSU Compositions to New Heights
April 8, 2024
During one of last winter’s atmospheric rivers, Pablo Furman observed a peculiar noise being emitted from the Adobe building in downtown San José. On this particular morning, the sound of wind whipping between and through the building’s exterior facade created a haunting B minor chord. Ever the composer, Furman recorded the moment and set it aside for when the time came to create a new piece.
“The Kite Runner” Flies Again at the Hammer Theatre, 15 Years Later
March 22, 2024
When “The Kite Runner” Broadway production returns to San José this spring, it creates a natural reunion for cultural advisor Ghilzai and stage adaptation author Spangler and members of the original stage cast like Lani Wong-Bassett, ’07 Advertising.
“Ghostly Labor” is a Labor of Love
March 14, 2024
How can dance and music share the rich history of labor in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands with audiences? Nationally recognized Chicana-Native dancer, choreographer and educator Vanessa Sanchez will bring La Mezcla, a women-driven San Francisco-based dance and music company, to San José State’s Hammer Theatre on March 21 and 22 to perform “Ghostly Labor,” a production four years in the making.
Storytelling through the Arts: SJSU's Day of Remembrance
Feb 21, 2024
The arts allows for commemoration and storytelling alongside community members that instills a sense of belonging. Read about the Day of Remembrance to understand the impact of the Japanese-Internment during WWII. SJSU's Day of Remembrance occured on Feb. 19
Laughing My Activism Off
Jan 2024
Check out the intriguing Comics Workshop with comic artist, Breena Nuñez
Your Food, Our Land, His Art
October 2023
Read about alumnus, Oscar Lopez, and his work with the Half Moon Bay farmworker community through a new mural
Yoon Chung Han: Ambassador of Art, Technology and Design
October 2023
Students and community members embedded into using 3D design and printing to communicate their own histories
Downtown Soundscapes
May 2023
Watch Music faculty, Christopher Luna Mega, and students set up an interactive sound installation that engages with the soundscapes of the city as music
The Hidden Life of Water: SJSU Brings Together Art and Science to Mark World Water Day
July 2023
Environmental Studies Department Chair Katherine Cushing, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Costanza Rampini and Director of Sustainability Debbie Andres share insight at the Hidden Life of Water
Theater as Activism: The Beekeeper of Aleppo
July 2023
SJSU’s Department of Film and Theatre hosted a reading and a panel discussion on “The Beekeeper of Aleppo: Representing a Syrian Refugee Story on Stage"
The Making of "Considering Matthew Shepard"
April 2023
Listen in on the moving history of Matthew Shepard as learned and then portrayed by the SJSU Choraliers for their April production.
The Making of "Nisei," RTVF Summer 2023
April 2023
In Summer 2023, students in an undergraduate course in the Department of Radio, TV, & Film at San Jose State University worked on a short film, "Nisei." Watch their process and exploration.
The Meaning of Linguistic Diversity
April 2023
This set of interviews conducted by students of Linguistics and TESOL programs highlights community groups' effort to promote equity, inclusion and social justice as well as personal stories about speaking a particular language, dialect, and accent.
Deep Dive in Five
Nov 2022
Read about how Jazz professor, Aaron Lington, puts together the wonderful Black Cab Jazz Concert Series with students in mind
Spartan Film Studios to Produce Short Film in Honor of Japanese American WWII Soldiers
Nov 2022
Read about this important topic and how students gain important skills & perspective from this film production
Three Pathways to Dance
Nov 2022
Read about the ongoing social justice activities that three of our SJSU Dance majors focus on for their dance careers
The Art of Social Change
Aug 2022
Read about recent alum, John Contreras, and his community work
Latin American Choral Festival
Aug 2022
Read about "Shining a Light on Inclusivity" through music
ArtBoxSJ Collaboration with SUN Board
June 2022
Read about our "Spartan Artists Commissioned to Beautify South University Neighborhood"
Water & Fire Ecoacoustics
May 2022
Listen in as Mark Wong (Master's in Music) describes how he turned wildfire data and his own language into a composition
Diasporic Peoples Writing Collective
April 2022
This SJSU student group offers an opportunity to engage local voices in significant and exciting ways.
Beethoven Ball
April 2022
Watch dancers as they enjoy the Beethoven Ball, featuring Danse Libre and the SJSU Symphony Orchestra
Legacy of Poetry Festival '22
April 2022
SJSU has a long history of poetry & spoken word, which is celebrated every April with this year's theme, "Can Poetry Save the Planet?"
Arts as Emancipatory Education
Mar 2022
Susan Verducci collaborated with Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) to bring the 2022 Young Artist Showcase Competition to this year's conference
Thinking Out Loud
Mar 2022
Étienne Brown and Chelsea Thompto say more about big tech in a Newsweek op ed resulting from their QuickBites appearance in Nov 2021
Talkback with Student Dancers
Feb 2022
Student dancers grapple with questions about identity in the post-performance talkback after Camille A. Brown & Dancers
SJSU Mural Club @ VivaParksSJ
Dec 2021
John Contreras & friends return with the SJSU Mural Club to help kids find their creativity at VivaParksSJ
SJSU Mural Club Slinging Paint @ VivaCalleSJ
Nov. 7, 2021
John Contreras (@john.contreras_91) organizes the SJSU Mural Club's community mural painting corner at the Nov 2021 VivaCalleSJ
San Jose Story Map
May 2021
Welcome to a sneak peek of the San José Story Map, a cultural map of the San José area through art and literature originated by previously unheard voices
Sounds of El Camino Real bring new, diverse perspectives
Sept 24, 2021
Dean Shannon Miller, Marcela Davison Aviles, and Kat Taylor discuss "How do you sing a song of the open road when the road was never open to begin with?" in this San Jose Mercury News opinion piece.
Covid Bubbles: Californians Dress For Emergence
June 18, 2021
Professor Robin Lasser of the Department of Art and Art History has recently completed an art commission, granted by Governor Gavin Newsom, to represent the city of San José, installed as billboards along Highway 101.
A Community Collection of COVID-19 Experiences
June 23, 2021
How will the Bay Area remember the COVID-19 pandemic? For University Archivist Carli Lowe, the pandemic has offered a unique opportunity to interact with history in real time.
Lluvia
June 2021
SJSU's Latin Jazz Ensemble plays "Lluvia" on campus safely and enthusiastically
Teeter Totter Building Bridges instead of Walls
Spring 2021
Using a teeter totter to connect across the U.S.-Mexico border (Expressions p.26)
Future of Alternative Art Exhibits
May 6, 2021
Dorothy Santos, one of the artists who participated in the roundtable, reflects on the future of art exhibits
Last Breaths
March 2021
David Vickerman tells us about how "Last Breaths" by Armando Bayolo becomes part of the immediate social fabric of the world - with appearance by the artist before the Wind Ensemble plays.
Wish You Here Postcards
"Wish You Were Here: A Postcard from Home" invited communities to design postcards from home (Expressions p.36)
Wall of Song
April 2021
This 2021 version of Wall of Song Project's latest growing collective video chorus was developed into a virtual multi-channel video installation for our "FEELING GOOD: Celebrating National Girls & Womxn in Sports Day with a Wall of Song"
Lillian-Yvonne Bertram on code and poetry
April 15, 2021
Lillian-Yvonne Bertram, author Travesty Generator, in conversation Dr. Kathi Inman Berens, uses open-source coding to generate haunting inquiring elegies to Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner, and Emmett Till.
Behind the Scenes of student film "Staying Alive"
April 2021
How does a student film get made? Who's working behind the scenes?
An Exercise in Trust: Book Club Recap
March 8, 2021
On February 21, at 4 PM, members of the Center for Literary Arts community joined our discussion of Trust Exercise led by Patti Johnson Dorton via Zoom.
Our New Day Begun
Jan 28, 2021
See how the Honors Wind Ensemble played concerts of original scores during out COVID-19 shelter-in-place
Creating "The Living"
February 15, 2021
Learn how directors, actors, stage production created a live theatre production of "The Living" during COVID-19 shelter-in-place
SJSU Dance Behind the Scenes
June 23, 2021
What does it take to create a live site-specific performance across campus during the times of COVID-19 shelter-in-place? See how dancers worked tech, learned choreography, and stayed safe for their livestream performances.
Virtual Exhibit of Beethoven's work
Jan 29, 2021
Walkthrough of the virtual exhibition "Beethoven Beyond Borders" created in Mozilla Hubs in celebration of Beethoven's 200th birthday, Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
Hammer Theatre Center Hosts Virtual Letter-Writing
Jan 14, 2021
To honor MLK's legacy while addressing the destructive impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic, staff members from the Hammer Theatre Center invited the public to a virtual gathering to write letters to healthcare workers and patients recovering from COVID-19
The Making of "[dreamer] project: an Undocuplay"
July 10, 2020
Catch a behind-the-scenes look at the SJSU production, [Dreamers] Project: An UnDocuplay.
Bomba: Breaking Barriers with Music and Dance
April 30, 2020
Bay Area Bomba ensemble Taller Bombalele held an online webinar where they taught about the history of Puerto Rican music and dance style Bomba and even showed us a few moves!
It's Alive! Frankenstein Turns 200
Dec 2018
As Frankenstein turns 200, San Jose State explores the complex relationship between the humanities, science and technology.
