'Tis the season when the pundits come out of the woodwork to proclaim that Christmas is dead, killed off by a bunch of non-believers who have co-opted all the good sales and cookies for their secular holiday celebrations. We hear of a post-Christmas society, where even Santa is a sinner and turkey dinners with family are a pagan ritual that prep us all for a future in hell. It sounds bleak, I guess, though still kinda festive. CentralTrak’s Next Topic series also considers this post-Christian America in their panel discussion “A Far Thing Coming Closer” at 7 p.m. Thursday in their artist residency, 800 Exposition Ave. Artists Richard Bailey, Paul Bryan, Colette Copeland and Michael A. Morris each screen their short films, which examine how our society may be becoming more suspect of things like miracles and acts of God, but still clutches on to the artifacts of belief, like redemption or, say, Christmas spirit. Following that, the artists will discuss their works individually and expand on the themes so relevant to the season — and our culture at large. Admission is free, visit centraltrak.com for more.
Thu., Dec. 4, 7 p.m., 2014