‘The Twilight Zone: Ahead of its Time’ Webinar with Scholar Arlen Schumer
‘The Twilight Zone: Ahead of its Time’ Webinar w/ Scholar Arlen Schumer
“We can feed the stomach with concentrates. We can supply microfilm for reading, recreation, even movies of a sort. We can pump oxygen in, and waste material out. But there’s one thing we can’t simulate, that’s a very basic need: man’s hunger for companionship. The barrier of loneliness. That’s one thing we haven’t licked yet.”
Those are the concluding words of Rod Serling — creator, head writer, narrator, and host of the legendary TV series The Twilight Zone (CBS, 1959-64) — said in the series’ debut episode where an astronaut-in-training hallucinates that he’s totally alone in a deserted American town. If those words sound uncomfortably close to the quarantining we’re all experiencing now, it’s because Serling (1924-75) was a true visionary, a prescient prophet of the small screen, whose many Twilight Zone episodes dealt with the universal, timeless themes of isolation, loneliness, and solitude.
Join New York Adventure Club as we embark on a journey through The Twilight Zone, and how one of the greatest television series of the 20th Century continues to shed a prescient light on 21st Century challenges including today’s global pandemic.
Led by esteemed Twilight Zone scholar and author Arlen Schumer, this trenchant “visualecture” filled with images and video clips from the hit series will include:
- The influence of the Atomic Age on The Twilight Zone, and why its concerns are still relevant today
- A close look at multiple episodes that involve pre- and post-apocalyptic scenarios — both real and imagined by their protagonists — and the warnings they intended to convey to the world
- A discussion on the episodes’ star-studded cast,including Robert Redford and Charles Bronson
- The influence these Twilight Zone episodes had on future television shows, movies, and popular culture
Stick around after the webinar for a Q&A with Arlen, who will be ready to answer any-and-all questions about the Twilight Zone!
See you there, virtually! $10.
*Once registered, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you’re using the latest version of your internet browser — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.
***A full replay will be available after the experience for all registered guests
About Arlen
Arlen Schumer, MFA is one of the foremost historians of comic book art, named by Comic Book Artist magazine in 1998 as “one of the more articulate and enthusiastic advocates of comic book art in America.” His coffee table book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, won the Independent Publishers Book Award for best Popular Culture book.
Schumer is also one of comic book art’s most idiosyncratic practitioners, creating award-winning illustrations for the advertising and editorial markets.
Arlen Schumer is also an esteemed Twilight Zone scholar, and an author/designer of the only coffee table art book about the series, Visions from The Twilight Zone.
“One of the country’s pre-eminent authorities on comics and culture.” —Jon Meyerson, Producer, ABC News’ 20/20
“Nobody speaks about comics with more authority, understanding and love than Arlen does. He is to comics what Pauline Kael was to movies.” —Clem Robins, letterer for DC and Marvel Comics
Testimonials
“The speaker is wonderful and his insights are fantastic. Liked the isolation theme…. so relevant to now.” -Sheryl
“Timely topic. Arlen linked TZ series episodes to events/art/people in the past and had interesting connections to later series and films (and, the past influences on the episodes as well).” -Brent
“I loved all the rich visuals and Arlen’s obvious passion for the material. Very informative.” -Emily
“Great synthesis of today’s events and the messages of the TZ from almost 60 years ago, tied into art and culture of the time. Excellent thesis.” -Ron
“The presenter spoke very clearly. Great summaries of the episodes before he showed excerpts. Great interaction through the chat while videos played. Amazing curation of relevant episodes.” -Rosalie
“Arlen was an excellent presenter. Very enthusiastic and knowledgable!” -Michael
“As always, Arlen’s knowledge and insight. How he seamlessly connected the Twilight Zone episodes highlighted with the themes of loneliness, monotony, isolation, paranoia, fear, which on some level we’re feeling or have felt at some point during this quarantine.” -Hope
“The examples and videos were really well thought out. Excellent presentation style. His passion for the topic was very evident and contagious.” -Len
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