your first lecture: why stories matter: fairy tale history and the shapes of humanity
event date:
tuesday, may 12, 2026 - 9:00am to 10:00am edt
event location:
virtual / zoom
humans around the world and across time are shaped by the stories they hear. stories around the world and across time are shaped by the people, the cultures, and the moments that create them.
in this lecture, dr. kathryn walton, assistant professor in the department of english at lakehead, shares the story of the evolution of cinderella, one of the most popular fairy tales of all time, from a ninth-century chinese folktale to a 20th-century film phenomenon.
in so doing, dr. walton reveals how stories impact and are impacted by the cultures that produce them, and shows how the study of literature can reveal the intricate shapes of humanity across history and today.