University of North Texas

A panel discussion and two films sponsored by UNT Libraries are part of the 2010-11 One Book, One Community program reading.

This year’s selection, Flight by Sherman Alexie, addresses themes of Native American culture and family dynamics. Freshmen were given a copy of Flight at orientation, and it will be part of the core curriculum’s required freshman English class.

Free events include:

Panel discussion

• 7 p.m. Sept. 21, Willis Library, first floor. The discussion will touch on themes in Alexie’s book. The three panelists are Tiffany Coleman, director of community services for Denton County Friends of the Family, who will speak about the book’s theme of abuse in families; Linda Holloway, chair of the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work and Addictions, who will discuss the foster care and family themes in the book; and Jonathan Tornhave, an instructor in the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Radio, Television and Film, who will speak about American Indians and the multicultural themes in the book.

Film: Smoke Signals

• 7 p.m., Sept. 29, Chilton Hall, Media Library. Smoke Signals tells the story of the relationship between a father and his son and two reservation-dwelling Native Americans. The two embark on a road trip, which results in both learning about life, death, forgiveness and grief. The screenplay was written by Alexie.

The film received a 1998 Sundance Film Festival award, recognition from the National Board of Review and was named best film by the American Indian Film Festival. (Image courtesy of Miramax)

Film: The Exiles

• Oct.  6, 7 p.m. Chilton Hall, Media Library

The film is an account of problems encountered by Native Americans living in urban areas and caught between two conflicting cultures. The film shows 12 hours in the lives of a group in Los Angeles.

Left, James Duban, rear center, director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, lead a discussion about The Bean Trees, UNT's first One Book, One Community event in 2008.