FORUM Magazine: Summer 2020 – Lights, Camera…Florida
Vol. XLIV, No 2 Summer 2020
Cover Story:
Made in Florida, From the Sunshine State…to the silver screen
Florida’s lush, romantic and sometimes mysterious landscapes have provided the backdrop to numerous motion pictures over the decades – from the Oscar-worthy to the less-than-watchable. And at one point, the state had ambitions of becoming the Hollywood of the South. By Bill DeYoung.
Our State of Dreams – For many around the world, visions of Florida – and we Floridians – are shaped by television series set (though not always filmed) in our state. NPR’s television critic explores for FORUM what our state looks like when viewed on the TV screen. By Eric Deggans. Also by Eric Deggans, A reading list of Florida films.
- Spinning life into words that matter – Meet master wordsmith Peter Meinke, Florida’s Poet Laureate and this year’s winner of the Florida Humanities’ Lifetime Achievement Award for Writing. Plus, Meinke’s poem, “Spanish Moss.” By Ron Cunningham.
- Florida Book Awards, The writer’s inspiration – Some of this year’s Florida Book Award winners talk about the challenges, joys and rewards of life as a Florida writer. By Colette Bancroft. A list of the Florida Book Award Winners by Category.
- Lifting their voices, poetically – The power of poetry is celebrated along with the talent of young orators at this year’s state Poetry Out Loud competition. Returning champion Zhaedyn Hodge Sigars shares a poem for his late grandfather, “Legacy (Rene): Elegy to Lyles.” By Colette Bancroft.
- Literary Footsteps, Where the road ended for the King of the Beats – You won’t find his life in Florida documented in his novels, but St. Petersburg and Orlando offered refuge, if no true escape from his demons, in Jack Kerouac’s troubled final years. By Thomas Hallock.
- Heritage Kitchen, The taste of Greece – For this Tarpon Springs family, their Greek traditions live on, recipe after recipe, in their popular restaurant. By Dalia Colón.
- State of Wonder, A solitary walk in a time of crisis – The early morning hours offer this photographer a chance to reflect upon – and appreciate – natural beauty amidst the pandemic. By Joe Jowers.
Delve Into the Florida Humanities’ FORUM Collection at the
University of South Florida St. Petersburg Digital Archive.
