The Movies of “The Moviegoer”

Through a careful review of the particular scenes referenced in the movies of The Moviegoer, Dr. Schuchardt will unearth the novel’s most poignant symbol:  the dung beetle.  How this little bug serves as the constantly moving symbol through the novel, and how careful attention to the novel’s literary devices and the films referenced -- and how they work together -- will show a rather breathtaking brilliance on Percy’s part for what, Schuchardt will claim, has never been done before or since in symbolism in literature.  Schuchardt’s research, stretching back 15 years, will be supported in its claims by the 2019 publication of Percy’s magnum opus non-fiction work, Symbol and Existence.  This will be a lengthy presentation, almost movie-length, and audience members will be well served by re-reading the novel The Moviegoer prior to attendance.  Anyone in attendance who has not yet read The Moviegoer will have the novel’s ending utterly ruined for them.

To enable all attendees to see all 4 major presentations this talk will be offered in 2 sessions. Once from 8:30 - 10am and again from 10:30 to noon.