UCR Center for Ideas and Society

05/29/2026

AI and Musical Creativity
Panel Discussion with Kathryn Agnes Huether (UCLA), Frank Duchêne (University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Belgium), and mesmi (Artist, Producer, and Consultant)

📅 June 6, 2026 | 11:30am
📍 CHASS INTS 1113
✉️ Register: audiovisualmusic.ucr.edu

This roundtable brings together scholars and music industry professionals to examine the evolving role of artificial intelligence in musical creativity. Topics include the impact of Al on institutions, industries, and labels, as well as its influence on collaboration, genre formation, and artistic practice.

Part of the Co-Creativity in Music, Sound, and Al Conference

Cosponsored by Center for Ideas and Society, CHASS Dean's Office, UCR RAISE Institute, Departments of Anthropology, Dance, History of Art, Media & Cultural Studies, Music, Theatre, Film & Digital Production

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

How to Compose AI Music That Isn't Mid
Keynote by Eric Lyon (School of Performing Arts, Virginia Tech)

📅 June 6, 2026 | 9:30am
📍 CHASS INTS 1113
✉️ Register: audiovisualmusic.ucr.edu

Alongside ethical and environmental concerns, a central aesthetic critique has emerged: that Al-generated music tends toward the average, often described as "mid." This concern is especially evident in commercial Al music platforms such as Suno and Udio. A primary focus of this keynote is to examine compositional strategies that move beyond this tendency, exploring how artists can engage Al in ways that produce distinctive and compelling musical outcomes.

Part of the Co-Creativity in Music, Sound, and Al Conference

Cosponsored by Center for Ideas and Society, CHASS Dean's Office, UCR RAISE Institute, Departments of Anthropology, Dance, History of Art, Media & Cultural Studies, Music, Theatre, Film & Digital Production

05/27/2026

Co-Creating with AI: Stimulating Human Creativity or Stifling it?
Keynote by Katherine Hayles (Distinguished Research Professor, UCLA)

📅 June 5, 2026 at 3:30pm
📍 CHASS INTS 1113
✉️ Register: audiovisualmusic.ucr.edu

This talk will compare and contrast human cognition with the kinds of cognitions Als evolve through their operations. It will explore the kinds of creativity possible for Al systems in comparison to human creativity. Finally, it will suggest guidelines for using Al to enhance human creativity rather than to stifle it.

Part of the Co-Creativity in Music, Sound, and AI Conference

Cosponsored by Center for Ideas and Society, Dean's Office, UCR RAISE Institute, Departments of Anthropology, Dance, History of Art, Media & Cultural Studies, Music, Theatre, Film & Digital Production

05/27/2026

This Friday!

The UCR Liberal Studies Program and the Center for Ideas and Society are pleased to announce the 2026 UCR Liberal Studies Undergraduate Symposium. This one-day symposium provides an opportunity for Liberal Studies majors to showcase capstone research carried out as the culmination of undergraduate study. The Liberal Studies major allows students to draw from multiple disciplines across the university based on their educational and career goals.

This event is free and open to the public.

05/27/2026

This Thursday!

The Anti-Defamation League and the Racial State (UC Press): An Unscripted Conversation with Author Emmaia Gelman
May 28, 2026 at 2pm PST

with:

Emmaia Gelman, author of The Anti-Defamation League and the Racial State (Founding Director, Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism)

discussants:

- Desireé Melonas (Assistant Prof., UCR Depts of Black Study and Political Science)
- Keith Miyake (Assistant Prof., UCR Dept of Ethnic Studies)
- Emma Stapely (Associate Prof., UCR Dept of English)
- Jaye Austin Williams (Associate Prof., UCR Dept of Black Study)

moderated by Dylan Rodríguez (Co-Director of Center for Ideas and Society, UCR Dept. of Black Study and Dept. of Media and Cultural Studies)

FREE REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4tTD2fn

05/26/2026

Tomorrow!

Join us for Happy Hour as we celebrate five years of leadership with CIS Co-Directors Jeanette Kohl and Dylan Rodriguez. Drop in for appetizers, drinks, and conversation as we mark the end of their co-directorships and the next phase of their successful initiatives.

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Professor Jennifer Doyle for receiving the 2024-25 CHASS Faculty Excellence in Research and/or Creative Activities Award!

To celebrate this milestone, she will be delivering a special college-wide lecture reflecting her award-winning work.

S*x Test
Monday, June 1, 2026
2pm | CHASS INTS 1113

05/18/2026

The Department of Gender & S*xuality Studies and Center for Ideas and Society invite you to join us for a festive gathering in honor of Dr. Crystal Mun-hye Baik’s new book: Before the Fire Dogs Steal the Sun: An Elegy. Dr. Baik (Gender & S*xuality Studies) will be in conversation about the book with Dr. Emily Hue (Ethnic Studies), followed by a reception. Please join us for conversation, cake, and celebration!

Join the raffle to win a free book 📚

Questions: Email [email protected]

05/18/2026

Screening, Conversation & Workshop with Filmmaker Raed El Rafei
Friday, May 29 10:30 a.m.
INTS 1128

The conversation will be moderated by UCR Professors Christophe Katrib (Theatre, Film, and Digital Production) and Courtney R. Baker (Department of English).

Later at 3 p.m., Raed El Rafei will lead a two-hour workshop for UCR students.

Presented by

Cosponsors: Middle Eastern Student Center (MESC), LGBT Resource Center, Department of English, Media and Cultural Studies, Middle East and Islamic Studies (MEIS), UCR ARTS, Center for Ideas and Society (CIS), Political Science, Comparative Literature & Languages.

05/16/2026

Join us for Happy Hour as we celebrate five years of leadership with CIS Co-Directors Jeanette Kohl and Dylan Rodriguez. Drop in for appetizers, drinks, and conversation as we mark the end of their co-directorships and the next phase of their successful initiatives.