Dr. John Chaston, Associate Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at the University of New Hampshire, presented a program titled “John Chaston on Spain: A Magical Mystery Tour” on August 16, 2011 at the Hampstead Public Library. The talk is just one offering of the UNH Speaker’s Bureau program. Chaston is the director of the UNH Study Abroad Program in Granada, Spain. He lived in Spain for an entire semester in the years 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2010. Projected images, videos and music accompanied his remarks about food, agriculture, Spain as the gem of the Roman Empire, Moorish architecture, and the totally immersive and influential elements of the Catholic Church on Spanish Art and Architecture.
He showed clips of a soccer game, bullfights, and a flamenco dancer performing for tourists in a cave located in Granada. Anyone would come away from this lecture, inspired to know more about the topics he presented and perhaps might wish to travel to the country itself.
In any lecture about so broad a subject as the presenter was tackling, much information would be left out, by necessity. The talk was meant to whet appetites, not satisfy them completely. As a graduate of UNH with a degree in Spanish, who also studied abroad through UNH’s student abroad program in Pamplona (about 40 years ago), I applaud the efforts of the University to reach out in this manner. As it turned out, a young man in the audience, now a sophomore in high school who is studying Spanish, mentioned that he is thinking of majoring in the language. The professor was quick to give him contact information and to invite him to sit in on some Spanish classes. This is great encouragement and the young person seemed to be very pleased.
Spanish mysticism was mentioned, and examples of great paintings were discussed. A few poignant quotes from acknowledged Spanish thinkers and notables such as Unamuno, were added to the mix. I enjoyed every component of the lecture and for Jim, who has never been to Spain, the talk opened up new information, a real service to those of us who are lifelong learners. Kudos to UNH and this professor for encouraging community involvement in the University and its programs. Dr. Chaston plans to offer additional talks about Spanish Art in the future. He can be reached at: jchaston@unh.edu
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
