Explore the magic of Walt Disney through his theme park and movies at McHenry County College’s latest Experts and Insights educational speaker series “To Infinity and Beyond: The World of Disney” Thursday, March 16 at 6 p.m. The session, held in the College’s Luecht Auditorium, will be presented by Film instructor Jim Stockwell and Social Science instructor Rob Allare.
Attendees will discover the history behind the two coastal locations and the rides that inspired (and were inspired by) the most successful canon of films in American cinema. The session will also discuss why Disney considered imagination the most valuable tool in creating anything.
“Rob and I are big Disney fans, both the man behind the magic and the magical world itself,” said Stockwell. “Rob will provide great insight into what made this man into the icon he is, while I’ll discuss elements of his films and the influence he had over future filmmakers and animators. We’ll also look at his legacy through his theme parks and the expansion of the Disney ‘World’.”
Jim Stockwell has been with MCC since 2003. He served 11 years as an adjunct before becoming full-time in 2014. He teaches Introduction to Film, Introduction to Speech, and Advanced Film. In addition to his class load, he coaches both the women’s and men’s tennis teams and advises both the Film and Chess Clubs.
Rob Allare is in his eighth year at MCC. After spending a decade in the consumer goods industry, he decided to go back to college to get his undergraduate and graduate degrees in history from Northern Illinois University. He currently teaches American History but has taught other classes as well. His hobbies include running, playing guitar, and traveling with his family.
The session is free and open to the public. Registration is requested but walk-ins are welcome.
The next Experts and Insights sessions include “Renewing Shakespeare from the Page to the Stage” on April 20 and “Stuck in an Echo Chamber? How to Find Your Way Out” on May 18.
Interested participants can register and learn more at www.mchenry.edu/experts. If you need an accommodation or a sign language interpreter, please contact MCC’s Access and Disability Services department at (815) 455-8766 or disabilityservices@mchenry.edu.
The Experts and Insights series originally started in 2019 as an opportunity for the community to experience the high quality of education and expertise provided by MCC’s faculty as they present topics in their fields of study.