Political Art and the Public Sphere to screen The Invisible War documentary

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series at the University of Illinois Springfield presents a screening and discussion of the documentary The Invisible War, a film about sexual assault in the United States military.

WHEN: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS

DETAILS: The Invisible War is nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 85th Academy Awards. The 2012 film features interviews with veterans from multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces who recount the events surrounding their assaults. Common themes of their stories include the lack of recourse to an impartial justice system, reprisals against survivors instead of against perpetrators, the absence of adequate emotional and physical care for survivors, the unhindered advancement of perpetrators’ careers, and the forced expulsion of survivors from service.

The survivors and advocates featured in the film call for changes to the way the military handles sexual assault, such as shifting prosecution away from unit commanders, who often are either friends with assailants or assailants themselves.

The PAPS series is a monthly event on the UIS campus hosted by Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky, associate professor of Political Philosophy. The theme of the Spring 2013 Political Art and the Public Sphere series, Women and War, is dedicated to discussions of ignored, marginalized, misrepresented, and underrepresented social and political questions relating to the experiences of women in war.

This event is co-sponsored by the Women’s Issues Caucus. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Gilman-Opalsky at 217/206-8328 or email rgilm3@uis.edu.