WHAT: |
The New School presents a screening of Armor of Light. Abigail Disney's directorial debut follows the journey of an Evangelical minister trying to find the courage to preach about the growing toll of gun violence in America. The film tracks Reverend Rob Schenck, anti-abortion activist and fixture on the political far right, who breaks with orthodoxy by questioning whether being pro-gun is consistent with being pro-life. Reverend Schenck is shocked and perplexed by the reactions of his long-time friends and colleagues who warn him away from this complex, politically explosive issue.
Along the way, Rev. Schenck meets Lucy McBath, the mother of Jordan Davis, an unarmed teenager who was murdered in Florida and whose story has cast a spotlight on "Stand Your Ground" laws. McBath, also a Christian, decides to work with Schenck even though she is pro-choice. Lucy is on a difficult journey of her own, trying to make sense of her devastating loss while using her grief to effect some kind of viable and effective political action--where so many before her have failed.
The film follows these unlikely allies through their trials of conscience, heartbreak and rejection, as they bravely attempt to make others consider America's gun culture through a moral lens. The film is also a courageous look at our fractured political culture, and an assertation that it is, indeed, possible for people to come together across deep party lines to find a common ground.
A Q&A with Ms. Disney, moderated by James Burnett (editorial director and managing director of The Trace), will follow the screening. |
WHO: |
Abigail E. Disney is a recent 2014 New School honorary degree recipient, award-winning filmmaker, philanthropist, as well as the CEO and president of Fork Films. An active supporter of peace building, she is passionate about advancing women's roles in the public sphere. Disney's 20+ films and series focus on social issues, sharing a quality of spotlighting extraordinary people who speak truth to power.
James Burnett is the editorial director and managing director of The Trace, a nonprofit journalism startup covering America's gun violence crisis. Previously, he was a story editor at The New Republic, the news editor for New York, and the top editor of Boston magazine. He is the winner of a National Magazine Award for Single Topic Issue, studied Public Policy at Duke University, and lives in Brooklyn. |
WHEN |
Monday, February 22, 6:00-8:00 p.m. |
WHERE |
The Auditorium at The New School, 66 West 12th Street |
| TICKETS |
The event is free, but members of the media must rsvp with David Rosenberg at [email protected] or 212.229.5667 x 4684.
Tickets for the general public can be ordered on the event website. |
Founded in 1919, The New School was born out of principles of academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. Committed to social engagement, The New School today remains in the vanguard of innovation in higher education, with more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students challenging the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The New School welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and calendar of lectures, screenings, readings, and concerts. Through its online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence. For more information, visit The New School's website.
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