CENTENARY LECTURERS Börje Vähämäki: “Film, Literature and Finnish Identities” (Clockwise) Thomas A. DuBois: “Finland and the Kalevala” Sharon Franklin-Rahkonen: “The History of Finnish Independence” K. Marianne Wargelin: “Beyond the Atlantic: Finland’s Independence Viewed from Across the Sea” Peter MacKeith: “A House of Finland” A once-in-a-lifetime event like 100 years of Finnish independence deserves to be celebrated, but it should also spur reflection on a remarkable story. In recognition of the centennial of Finland’s declaration of independence, Finlandia Foundation National is pleased to present an expanded Lecturer of the Year program featuring scholars who are experts on topics related to Finland’s national independence and identity. The Centenary Lecturers are available for FFN chapter programs between June 2016 and May 2018. Film, Literature and Finnish Identities innish identities have been comedy, and Tapiovaara’s Juha About Börje Vähämäki formed by historical events (1937) based on Juhani Aho’s F orn and educated in Finland, and trends and by Finland’s novel. Linna’s monumental trilogy Börje Vähämäki received all geographical and political Under the North Star 1-3 (1958-62) B of his academic degrees from Åbo realities. Those identities have is a major milestone. Academy University in Turku, been examined and exposed Finland. In 1975, he accepted a in Finland’s literature and thers include The Diary of a position as professor of Finnish film over time. It is also true Worker (1967) and The Year of O Studies at the University of that Finnishness has in turn the Hare (1977), both directed by Minnesota at Minneapolis, where been shaped and (re)defined Risto Jarva, the latter based on he taught until 1989, after which by momentous films and great Arto Paasilinna’s novel of the same he moved to initiate and head a literary works. Identifying Finnish name. The Kaurismäki brothers Finnish Studies Program at the identities has progressed from represent the transnational stage University of Toronto. He retired rather unified descriptions in in Finnish cinema as shown in 2014. masterpieces by J.L.Runeberg, in clips from their films. And Aleksis Kivi, Minna Canth, finally, Sofi Oksanen’s celebrated Early in his career Börje company, Aspasia Books, Inc., Juhani Aho and Väinö Linna to novel Purge and its film version specialized in Finnish linguistics which has published over 30 expositions of great diversity in will bring the discussion to the and wrote his magnum opus, English titles of relevance to Finland’s linguistic and social present. Existence and Identity (Åbo Finnish studies, including Kivi’s realities, and in international Finland has experienced four wars Academy University Press) as Seven Brothers and the trilogy ideological orientation. In the 21st in its century of independence: well as several articles. However, Under the North Star 1-3 by Väinö century, both Finnish film and The Civil War 1918, The Winter at both Minnesota and Toronto Linna. His translations include A literature have begun to display War 1939-40, The Continuation his teaching dealt mostly with Treasury of Finnish Love Poems, almost non-existent unity in the War 1941-44, and the Lapland War Finnish literature, including the Finnish Short Stories (with Ingrid mosaic of Finnish identities. 1944-45. They have left indelible Kalevala, and Finnish cinema, and Jensen), Red Moon over White Sea so he changed his research focus In my lecture I attempt to capture traces in Finnish identities. F.E. by Laila Hietamies and Fragments accordingly. Over the last four pivotal moments in the history Sillanpää’s novel Meek Heritage of Lappish Mythology by L.L. decades he has written books on of Finland’s film and literature (1919) and Antti Tuuri’s novel Laestadius. He published two the Finnish language, including through clips and quotes that Winter War and its film version audio books of Kalevala poems in the language learning package I find to be interconnected and addressed those two wars. The 2009. Mastering Finnish textbook relevant for aspects of Finnish greatest impact on the Finnish and CD set. He has published He has been awarded the insignia identity. The films I touch on identities was imparted by Linna’s numerous articles on Finnish of Knight of the Order of the White include The Village Shoemakers The Unknown Soldier (1954) and literature and the Kalevala. Rose of Finland, First Class. He (1923) based on Aleksis Kivi’s Edvin Laine’s film rendition of it (1955). The Lapland War still was inducted as the 137th foreign n 1997, Börje founded the awaits its literary and cinematic member in the Kalevala Society of Journal of Finnish Studies, which chronicler. I Finland, founded in 1919. he edited for 12 years. In 1999, he established a small publishing PAST LECTURERS ind more information on OF THE YEAR: Ftheir programs at FinlandiaFoundation.org 2015 Taina Elg with Heli Sirviö Finlandia Foundation National 2014 Suzanne Jurva and is the premier network of Erin Smith, filmmakers of the Finnish-American organizations documentary Yoopera! in the United States. 2013 Yvonne Lockwood, Founded in Pasadena, “Traditional Material Culture in California in 1953, FFN Modern Finnish America” administers grants, scholarships 2012 Glenda Dawn Goss, and programs supporting and “Sibelius: A Composer’s Life celebrating Finnish heritage and and the Awakening of Finland” Finnish-American culture and traditions, and contemporary 2011 Carl Rahkonen, Finnish America. “The Finnish-American Musical Journey” FFN is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information: 2010 Arnold Alanen, FinlandiaFoundation.org “From Finland to North America: Buildings, Landscapes and Cultural Change” 2007-09 Mark Coir and Susan Saarinen, “The Saarinen Finlandia Foundation National Architectural Legacy” P.O. Box 92046 2006 Ben Stout and Fire and Ice, Pasadena, CA 91109-2046 a documentary about The Winter Phone: 626.795.2081 War between Finland and Russia Email: [email protected].