About this Event
On Dec 17, we present : "How We Experience History" by Prof. Kim Nelson, PhD.
Expect a fascinating evening exploring how films and television shape the way we see, remember, and emotionally connect with the past.
Think about the historical events you feel you know best. Chances are, some of your most vivid images don't come from a history book or a classroom, but from a film or television series. From the sinking of the Titanic to the Second World War, moving images have an extraordinary ability to make the past feel immediate, real, and deeply personal.
But what happens when our understanding of history is increasingly shaped by what we see on a screen?
In this fascinating lecture, Prof. Kim Nelson explores how moving images have transformed our experience of history, from the earliest days of cinema in 1895 to some of the most influential historical films of today. Drawing on examples from James Cameron's Titanic and Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk and Oppenheimer, she'll examine how filmmakers construct compelling versions of the past — and how these powerful visual narratives shape our understanding of shared history.
What do we gain from this more immersive, emotional experience of the past? And what might we lose when history is presented through the persuasive language of film?
💡 About the incredible Prof. Kim Nelson, PhD
Prof. Kim Nelson is a Professor of Film and Director of the Humanities Research Centre at the University of Windsor.
Her research examines how truth and history are represented in moving images. She is the founder and director of the Moving Histories International Network, which brings together scholars exploring the relationship between historical representation, cinema, and public understanding of the past.
She is the author of Making History Move: Five Principles of the Historical Film (2024) and has received research funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Canadian Ministry of Heritage. Her work has also been supported through fellowships at New York University, the University of Windsor, and the Film University Babelsberg in Germany.
In October 2026, CBC IDEAS broadcast her lecture, The Screen Between Us: The Humanities, Togetherness, and Meaning in the Age of AI. She also co-hosts the Moving Histories podcast with fellow historical film scholars Robert Burgoyne and John Trafton.
Join us for an evening exploring the powerful relationship between film, memory, and history — and discover how the stories we watch shape the way we understand the world that came before us.
📅 Date: December 17, 2026
🕡 Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Reid's Distillery
🎤 Speaker: Prof. Kim Nelson, PhD
Join us for an evening exploring the powerful relationship between film, memory, and history — and discover how the stories we watch shape the way we understand the world that came before us.
🎟 Seats are limited! Early bird tickets available for a limited time.
Event venue & nearby stays
Reid's Distillery, 32 Logan Avenue, Toronto, Canada
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.