JOHN H. KNIGHT

Public Presentations:

Living within the Islamic World:
Many Westerners and Americans have a monolithic view of Islam and its people. This presentation confronts that stereotypical idea by exposing the audience to daily life and interaction with the people of the five countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and those of Afghanistan. Islam, like Christianity, varies considerably even within these five countries—from the most severe, fundamentalist mode with women required to be totally “covered” and off the streets, to quite liberal modes with women in business suits and working in important public and business positions. Based on five years of living and traveling in these countries, working daily with people from all levels of these societies, hiring and firing USAID project national employees, and socializing and partying with them, this presentation—adaptable to any level of audience—uses anecdote and story to help participants understand the rewards and challenges for an American living in Islamic countries. Audience participation will be encouraged, and any topic within John Knight’s experience and research about the subject may be explored with participants.

The Legend of King Arthur:
Fact and Fiction: Except for the Christ story, no other tale has been turned into literature, film and story as often as that of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Since its origins in the conflict between native Britons and the Anglo-Saxon invaders of the 5th-6th centuries, this tale of love and betrayal, chivalry and cowardice, politics and skullduggery has fascinated commoner and royalty alike. The 20th century witnessed an outpouring of novels, poems, movies, television dramas and scholarship about Camelot and its courtly cast of heroines and heroes, villain and rogues. The interest continues into the 21st century. The influence of the Arthurian story has widely influenced literature and popular film, including J. R. R. Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings, C. S. Lewis’ Narnia books (both authors’ works now successful major motion pictures), and the Star Wars series, among many other movies and books. This lively presentation invites audience involvement as it reviews the fact and fiction behind the King Arthur legend from its earliest medieval roots through contemporary literature and film. The presentation is adaptable to any audience.

Future Quest:
Institutional Change as Quest: Homer’s Odyssey, Dante’s Divine Comedy, Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, and Asimov’s science fiction Foundation trilogy, as well as the Indiana Jones and Star Wars films, all rest upon the necessity and challenges of change—personal, spiritual, psychic, societal, political and institutional. This presentation uses the consistent patterns of great quest literature to identify the nature of organizational change and to show why change is generally resisted, avoided, feared, painful, but finally, why it is inevitable and must be embraced to keep any organization healthy and successful. Tailored to business and public non-profit organizations, this interactive session leaves the audience with a new avenue to approach the issue of organizational change by drawing on the literature of the ages that has provided insight into human and organizational conditions for thousands of years.

Grammur, Grammer, or Is that Grammar?:
It still drives kids crazy in school, as it did for all of us now “schooled” adults. English teachers pounded it into our apparently thick heads and lorded it over us as if only the gods themselves knew the answers. Picky, picky, picky! Grammar, that hated and misunderstood stuff. Where does it come from? Why is it apparently so hard to learn, and for some downright impossible? Is it even learnable? And the question most students ask, why learn it at all? This humorous—REALLY!—presentation on grammar uses examples from the greatest writers of the English language, such as Jonathan Swift and William Shakespeare, to show the origins and oddities in the evolution of English usage. Why did Shakespeare write “his” for “its”? How could Swift write “He don’t” for “he doesn’t” and still be considered a great writer and advocate for strict language rules? This light-hearted and well-researched look into English grammar gives you the answers. The presentation is highly adaptable to different audiences, offering interactive and entertaining alternatives to younger and older participants.

Other Public Program Ideas:
John Knight is also available as facilitator, organizer and guide to assist organizations in formulating citizens’ public discussions of important issues, books, and topics touching his areas of his expertise.