Scarecrow is thrilled to once again partner with Humanities Washington for this series of FREE online presentations exploring the intersection of popular media, history, and diverse cultures.

Registration is required for these events. Find the registration links below. You will receive the link to login the day before the event.

Please join us for these fun and informative talks!

Drag Culture: Beyond Entertainment with Ceasar Hart

Thursday, September 15, 7:00pm

Typically held at bars and nightclubs, drag is a form of entertainment in which a performer uses clothing and makeup to impersonate a particular gender identity, usually of the opposite sex. Yet drag is so much more than nightclub entertainment—it provides community, instills self-confidence, and can even save lives.

Join drag king performer Ceasar Hart and explore the history of drag culture and why it is so important for many in the LGBTQ+ community. Discover the impact of this art form, and how it can be used not only to raise awareness and advocate for LGBTQ+ acceptance, but also as a powerful vehicle for individual self-expression.

Ceasar Hart (he/him) has been a drag king performer in the Pacific Northwest for over a decade. Alongside graduating recently from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications, he has produced his own drag shows in Grays Harbor and co-hosted stages for both Seattle Pride and Seattle PrideFest.

Hart lives in Grays Harbor.

Register here.

The Samurai Code: How Bushido Changes Lives with Lori Tsugawa Whaley

Thursday, September 22, 7:00PM

Bushido—the way of the warrior—is the code of ethics practiced by the samurai warriors of ancient Japan, a code which includes courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty.

Through her own story of using Bushido to overcome a traumatic brain injury, Lori Tsugawa Whaley shows how the code can help people find hope, resilience, and fulfillment in our rapidly changing world. She explores examples of ancient warriors like Tomoe Gozen and Saigo Takamori, as well as modern-day samurai warriors like the Japanese Americans who survived incarceration during World War II. She shows how Bushido instilled a determination and perseverance in Japanese society that remains evident to this day.

Lori Tsugawa Whaley (she/her) is a third-generation Japanese American and descendant of a samurai warrior. She is an author, speaker, life coach, and storyteller, and is passionate about sharing the code of Bushido and her Japanese heritage at universities, TEDx stages, libraries, and cultural venues across the West Coast. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University.

Whaley lives near Gig Harbor.

Register here.