News and Events

The annual conference gathers teachers and scholars in modern languages to provide a forum for disseminating scholarship and improving teaching in the fields of literary and cultural criticism. This year, the event's theme was “The Humanities is Where Hope Lives.”

Asopjio presented in a symposium panel entitled, “Film as a Limiting or Galvanizing Force of Cultural Knowledge.” There, she shared her research paper on the layers of storytelling in the 1998 animated film, Kirikou and the Sorceress.  

In her paper, “The Art of Storytelling: Reimagining the Simplicity of The Complex Layers in Kirikou,” Asopjio encourages a more complicated reading of a film that is often regarded as a cartoon for children. For Asopjio, the story's complex layers weave a rich tapestry of meaning.

“This was an amazing opportunity, allowing me to revisit my childhood exposure to cultural representation through cinematography and reinterpret its significance through a critical lens,” she shared. “The MMLA conference included a diverse group of scholars, graduates, and undergraduate students with expertise in various areas within the humanities.” 

The paper was originally developed in French for Dr. Hahn’s seminar, The Art of Storytelling (FREN385), last spring. 

As a data science major, Asopjio recognizes the importance of the liberal arts in enriching an educational experience. She has taken classes across disciplines, including African American studies, French, and economics. “The beauty of being at college is the flexibility to take multiple classes that are not directly linked to your major,” she said. “This experience led me to the exploration of a career path at the intersection of the humanities and technology.”