Flagler Community Lecture links World War I and social media

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Flagler senior Jeanette Vigliotti and Assistant Professor Wayne Riggs

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL (10/17/2011)(readMedia)-- The Flagler College Community Lecture Series will continue on Nov. 8 at 10 a.m. with an examination of the intersection between the First World War and social media.

The talk, presented by Flagler senior Jeanette Vigliotti, under the guidance of Wayne Riggs, Ph.D., assistant professor of Humanities, is entitled, "The Echo Effect: World War I, Modernism and Social Media."

Vigliotti will discuss how the extreme emphasis on the individual in contemporary literature and social media can be traced to the carnage of World War I. She will describe the parallels between the literature produced following the First World War and the literature created in our increasingly digital society. Vigliotti's exploration of this topic will demonstrate that the "echoes of modernism" directly influence actions and phenomena in contemporary culture and illuminate the narcissism of the younger generation.

Vigliotti is a senior majoring in English with history and creative writing minors. Her interest in exploring the connections between the First World War and contemporary culture was inspired by Riggs' Historical Methods course, as well as a course in Contemporary American Literature taught by Darien Andreu, Ph.D.

Riggs received his Ph.D. and M.A. in modern European history from Marquette University, and his B.A. in history from Grove City College. He specializes in modern Britain, and his dissertation focused on British religion during the First World War. In addition to his teaching service to the college, Riggs serves as coordinator of the Flagler College history program. He is particularly interested in the role of religion in the evolution of social structures and national identities.

The Flagler College Community Lecture Series was established in 2007 and offers educational and cultural opportunities to the St. Augustine community. Topics are provided by local experts and Flagler faculty.

Tickets are $5 per person for a single lecture, or $15 for the semester. Active military personnel may attend at no charge. Lectures begin at 10 a.m. in the Flagler Room at Flagler College, 74 King St. Reservations are required as space is limited. The lecture will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a coffee and pastry reception.

Call (904) 819-6282 or visit www.flagler.edu/communitylectures for reservations or more information.

Flagler College is an independent, four-year, comprehensive baccalaureate college located in St. Augustine, Fla. The college offers 24 majors, 29 minors and two pre-professional programs, the largest majors being business, education and communication. Small by intent, Flagler College has an enrollment of about 2,600 students, as well as a satellite campus at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Fla. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review regularly feature Flagler as a college that offers quality education at a relatively low cost; tuition is $22,500, including room and board. A relatively young institution (founded in 1968), Flagler College is also noted for the historic beauty of its campus. The main building is Ponce de Leon Hall, built in 1887 as a luxury resort by Henry Flagler, who co-founded the Standard Oil Company with John D. Rockefeller. For more on Flagler College, visit www.flagler.edu.