Promoting cross-cultural awareness, the Denison Museum introduces an exclusive revisiting of the highly publicized and somewhat controversial 2003 "Axis of Evil" film series, organized by Negar Mottahedeh for Duke University. The Denison Museum film series titled "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks, will open with a talk by Dr. Mottahedeh, assistant professor of literature at Duke University, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, followed immediately by the screening of Iranian film "Halfmoon." Free and open to the public, this talk and all film series screenings will take place in the Higley Hall Auditorium (100 Ridge Road) and continue over a period of six weeks.

The original 2003 "Axis of Evil" film series was created in response to President George W. Bush's 2002 State of the Union speech, in which he addressed Iran, Iraq and North Korea as an "axis of evil," sponsoring acts of terrorism and mass destruction. Originally held at Duke University in North Carolina, the 2003 film series highlighted films produced in "axis of evil" countries, providing insights into these countries and their people.

The current film series titled: "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks, has been curated exclusively for the Denison Museum (240 West Broadway). New selections have been added to several of the 2003 series films, and they are meant to coincide with the Denison Museum's current exhibitions: "Dafatir: Contemporary Iraqi Book Art," "Chris Barnard: The Great Divide," "Jamshid Bayrami: Contemporary Iranian Photographs," and the exhibit opening Jan. 18, "Unexploded Ordinances": Afghan War Rugs 1979-2008. In combination with the museum's current exhibitions, "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks will inspire audiences to open the lines of communication through the promotion of cultural awareness, and will allow us to analyze this controversial film series years later.

The "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks schedule of films is as follows:

• Tuesday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m.: "Halfmoon" ("Niwemang"), Kurdish, 2006, directed by Bahman Ghobadi
• Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.: "Passions" ("Bab el-Maqam"), Syria, 2004, directed by Mohammad Malas
• Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m.: "Underexposure," Iraq, 2005, directed by Oday Rasheed
• Tuesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.: "Pulgasari," North Korea, 1985, directed by Sang-ok Shin
• Tuesday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m.: "Lion of the Desert," Libya, 1981, directed by Moustapha Akkad
• Tuesday, Mar. 4, 7 p.m.: "Lista de Espera" ("Waiting List"), Cuba, 2000, directed by Juan Carlos Tabío

- DU -

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Discussion and Film Series: "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks, Higley Hall Auditorium (100 Ridge Road). Discussion of film series, and screening of "Halfmoon," 6 p.m., Tues., Jan. 22. Free and open to the public. For further information contact Amber Schott at (740) 587-6255.

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Film Series: "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks, Higley Hall Auditorium (100 Ridge Road). Screening of "Passions," Syria, directed by Mohammad Malas, 7 p.m., Tues., Jan. 29. Free and open to the public. For further information contact Amber Schott at (740) 587-6255.

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Film Series: "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks, Higley Hall Auditorium (100 Ridge Road). Screening of "Underexposure," Iraq, directed by Oday Rasheed, 7 p.m., Tues., Feb. 5. Free and open to the public. For further information contact Amber Schott at (740) 587-6255.

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Film Series: "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks, Higley Hall Auditorium (100 Ridge Road). Screening of "Pulgasari," North Korea, directed by Sang-ok Shin, 7 p.m., Tues., Feb. 19. Free and open to the public. For further information contact Amber Schott at (740) 587-6255.

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Film Series: "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks, Higley Hall Auditorium (100 Ridge Road). Screening of "Lion of the Desert," Libya, directed by Moustapha Akkad, 7 p.m., Tues., Feb. 26. Free and open to the public. For further information contact Amber Schott at (740) 587-6255.

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Film Series: "Axis of Evil": Aftershocks, Higley Hall Auditorium (100 Ridge Road). Screening of "Lista de Espera," Cuba, directed by Juan Carlos Tabío, 7 p.m., Tues., Mar. 4. Free and open to the public. For further information contact Amber Schott at (740) 587-6255.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575