"NEW WEIRD" INVADES COLUMBIA STATE
Event Free and Open to the Public

Columbia State Community College's Stuart Lenig, professor of drama and speech, will discuss the subgenre of the "New Weird" - a combination of fantasy, horror, and science fiction writing. The lecture will take place on Thursday, October 29, at 2 p.m. in room 120 of the Waymon L. Hickman building.

"Usually in weird worlds there are hidden things we don't know, ancient tales we need to learn, and fearful consequences if we don't unravel long dead codes. The weird world is never a safe place for humans," said Lenig, discussing some characteristics of the emerging style.

The "New Weird" has become a popular style of fiction during the past decade. The style originated from the literature of the 1930's pulp magazine, Weird Tales. "The authors of the "New Weird" - Neil Gaiman, Poppy Z. Bright, Clive Barker, and others - saw the world as a creepy and secret place where other dimensions, other creatures, and ancient mythologies threatened to prey upon us," added Lenig.

Columbia State students and the public are invited to join in an informative discussion of this emerging style of writing that has generated a new style of frightening tales and weird worlds. There is no cost to attend.

For more information contact Stuart Lenig at (931) 540-2877 or slenig@columbiastate.edu.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.