MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS
The Mirror and the Mask: Portraiture in the Age of Picasso Our appearance and character seem to be immutable, fundamental aspects of ourselves. For centuries, artists strove toward capturing their subjects’ likenesses in the most lifelike portraits possible. During the course of the 20th century, however, the art of portraiture became heavily influenced by modernist, more emotionally expressive movements and by major historical events of the age. In this exhibit, drawings, paintings and sculptures by van Gogh, Matisse and Bacon, among others, reveal how they viewed and interpreted their family, friends and selves in the context of a rapidly modernizing world. Kimbell Art Museum Fort Worth, Tex. Through September 16 817-332-8451 www.kimbellart.org/exhibitions/mirror_and_mask.cfm Mysteries of the Mind: Pathways into Hope Developed in collaboration with psychologists at the University of Arkansas, the exhibit promotes awareness, understanding and tolerance of mental illness. Visitors can learn about the causes of mental disorders through an interactive timeline, starting with historical perspectives and culminating in modern-day scientific understanding. Exhibit activities include a video game that shows its players what it might be like to have an attention, perception or learning disorder. Museum of Discovery Little Rock, Ark. Permanent exhibit 800-880-6475 www.amod.org http://pibhs.uams.edu/programs/Programs_museum.asp
CONFERENCES
115th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association Join thousands of eminent psychologists as they reveal the latest research on behavior and mental health. Volunteer for community outreach activities such as feeding the homeless and partake in the diverse cultural offerings of the city by the bay. Continuing education classes for professionals and dozens of lectures by leading psychologists are also on the program. San Francisco August 17–20 www.apa.org/convention07 39th Annual General Meeting of the European Brain and Behavior Society Neuroscientists from around the world will gather in the shadow of Miramare Castle for this yearly meeting, which aims to bring together all types of research on brain and behavior. A wide range of symposiums highlights topics such as animal memory, childhood ADHD and the way experience shapes the brain and behavior. Trieste, Italy September 15–19 www.ebbs-science.org
MOVIES
Charlie Bartlett After failing to fit in at his new public school, rich kid Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) finally finds his niche by becoming an amateur psychiatrist to his classmates—dishing out both advice and prescription medication. The only opponent to his newfound popularity is the school principal (Robert Downey, Jr.), who suspects Bartlett of drug dealing and despises him for dating his daughter. Despite the movie’s heavy message about teenage drug abuse, critics have hailed the film as light, funny and compelling. MGM Wide release August 3 www.mgm.com/movies.php I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With Jeff Garlin of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame plays James, an overweight, out-of-work actor who struggles with his diet almost as much as he struggles with women. One day, after giving up on Compulsive Eaters Anonymous, he seeks solace in an ice cream parlor and meets Beth (Sarah Silverman), a slightly crazy, sexually aggressive counter girl who might be able to cure James’s disillusionment with more than just free desserts. IFC First Take Limited release September 21 www.ifcfilms.com
WEB SITES/PODCASTS
The Archives of the History of American Psychology A service of the University of Akron, this resource serves as both an academic research library and a public portal into psychology’s origins. The site hosts a photo gallery of the organization’s large instrument and apparatus collection, which features equipment used by psychologists in the 20th century. www3.uakron.edu/ahap Shrink Rap Radio Every week psychology professor David Van Nuys of Sonoma State University interviews a leading psychologist about his or her specialty, covering a broad range of topics from mental health to spirituality and even business leadership. The animated discussions often delve into the personal lives of the host and guests, offering listeners a rare glimpse of the people behind the science. http://shrinkrapradio.com CogSci Librarian This well-written blog focuses on the latest news in cognitive science, sometimes branching out to discuss findings in neuroscience, linguistics and library science. Always writing for the interested nonscientist in an easy-to-read style, the blogger draws her subject matter from a variety of sources, among them scientific journals, articles in the popular press, radio, television, conferences and, of course, books. http://cogscilibrarian.blogspot.com
Our appearance and character seem to be immutable, fundamental aspects of ourselves. For centuries, artists strove toward capturing their subjects’ likenesses in the most lifelike portraits possible. During the course of the 20th century, however, the art of portraiture became heavily influenced by modernist, more emotionally expressive movements and by major historical events of the age. In this exhibit, drawings, paintings and sculptures by van Gogh, Matisse and Bacon, among others, reveal how they viewed and interpreted their family, friends and selves in the context of a rapidly modernizing world.
Kimbell Art Museum
Fort Worth, Tex.
Through September 16
817-332-8451
www.kimbellart.org/exhibitions/mirror_and_mask.cfm
Developed in collaboration with psychologists at the University of Arkansas, the exhibit promotes awareness, understanding and tolerance of mental illness. Visitors can learn about the causes of mental disorders through an interactive timeline, starting with historical perspectives and culminating in modern-day scientific understanding. Exhibit activities include a video game that shows its players what it might be like to have an attention, perception or learning disorder.
Museum of Discovery
Little Rock, Ark.
Permanent exhibit
800-880-6475
http://pibhs.uams.edu/programs/Programs_museum.asp
Join thousands of eminent psychologists as they reveal the latest research on behavior and mental health. Volunteer for community outreach activities such as feeding the homeless and partake in the diverse cultural offerings of the city by the bay. Continuing education classes for professionals and dozens of lectures by leading psychologists are also on the program.
San Francisco
August 17–20
39th Annual General Meeting of the European Brain and Behavior Society
Neuroscientists from around the world will gather in the shadow of Miramare Castle for this yearly meeting, which aims to bring together all types of research on brain and behavior. A wide range of symposiums highlights topics such as animal memory, childhood ADHD and the way experience shapes the brain and behavior.
Trieste, Italy
September 15–19
After failing to fit in at his new public school, rich kid Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) finally finds his niche by becoming an amateur psychiatrist to his classmates—dishing out both advice and prescription medication. The only opponent to his newfound popularity is the school principal (Robert Downey, Jr.), who suspects Bartlett of drug dealing and despises him for dating his daughter. Despite the movie’s heavy message about teenage drug abuse, critics have hailed the film as light, funny and compelling.
MGM
Wide release August 3
I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
Jeff Garlin of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame plays James, an overweight, out-of-work actor who struggles with his diet almost as much as he struggles with women. One day, after giving up on Compulsive Eaters Anonymous, he seeks solace in an ice cream parlor and meets Beth (Sarah Silverman), a slightly crazy, sexually aggressive counter girl who might be able to cure James’s disillusionment with more than just free desserts.
IFC First Take
Limited release September 21
A service of the University of Akron, this resource serves as both an academic research library and a public portal into psychology’s origins. The site hosts a photo gallery of the organization’s large instrument and apparatus collection, which features equipment used by psychologists in the 20th century.
www3.uakron.edu/ahap
Shrink Rap Radio
Every week psychology professor David Van Nuys of Sonoma State University interviews a leading psychologist about his or her specialty, covering a broad range of topics from mental health to spirituality and even business leadership. The animated discussions often delve into the personal lives of the host and guests, offering listeners a rare glimpse of the people behind the science.
CogSci Librarian
This well-written blog focuses on the latest news in cognitive science, sometimes branching out to discuss findings in neuroscience, linguistics and library science. Always writing for the interested nonscientist in an easy-to-read style, the blogger draws her subject matter from a variety of sources, among them scientific journals, articles in the popular press, radio, television, conferences and, of course, books.
