Ashby Dialogues

This school year, be part of an ongoing exploration into The Last of Us, its sequel and television adaptation, and the online response to these installments. What ethical dilemmas do the games and show present? What possible hope do these characters hold onto, despite their dreary reality? How do fan communities form around those topics of despair and difficult ethical questions?

We will discuss the online reactionary phenomenon known as #gamergate, hearing from several guest speakers who can guide us through fan groups and hate groups alike and how they received The Last of Us Part II in particular. But first, we will begin with collaborative play. In order to discuss fan communities and reception, we need to know the game. 

On every Tuesday evening from September 8 to November 24 (except for Fall Break), from 5 to 6:30 pm, join us in Graham 421 to play through The Last of Us. As we play, we will discuss the game’s major themes, our reactions, and the online discourse surrounding the game.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming nearly every aspect of contemporary life—from science and industry to politics, art, and education. At UNC Greensboro, faculty and students alike are navigating a shifting intellectual and pedagogical landscape where AI tools such as large language models are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Yet beyond pragmatic adoption lies a deeper set of questions: What does AI mean for the future of human creativity, labor, autonomy, and knowledge production?

With roots as both music and movement, celebration and cultural practice, Samba is more than rhythm—it’s an interdisciplinary form connecting politics, culture, and performance. This Ashby Dialogues series brings together faculty from Music, Dance, and Media to explore Samba’s cultural force through concerts, workshops, film, and critical discussion.