Center Stage
Playing by the Rules: The Cultural Policy Challenges of Video Games, October 26-27. For its 2001 Arts and Humanities in Public Life Conference, the Cultural Policy Center has assembled a group of experts in policy, law, and the arts from the academic, nonprofit, and corporate sectors to discuss the social impact of video games. Roundtables and panels will address issues such as the regulation of violent games, the uses of video games in education, and video games as an art form. Chicago Policy Center; call 773/702-4407.

Chamber music series, from October 12. The University of Chicago Presents kicks off its season with the Tokyo String Quartet performing an all-Brahms program on October 12. Other autumn performances include Austria's Hagen Quartet October 26 and Polish contralto Ewa Podles and pianist Garrick Ohlsson in an all-Russian program November 16. The University of Chicago Presents; call 773/702-8068.

Crossing Borders: Modern Photographs from Central Europe, through December 16. Exploring in part the stylistic synthesis of pictorial and modernist styles, this exhibition highlights Central European photographs made between the two World Wars. Featured artists include Jaromír Funke, Imre Kinski, Jaroslav Rössler, and Joseph Sudek. Smart Museum; call 773/702-0200.

Humanities Open House, October 27. The 22nd annual open house will feature more than 50 presentations, lectures, and performances by Chicago faculty and staff. University President Don M. Randel will deliver the keynote address on the relationship between music and poetry. Humanities Division; call 773/702-4847.

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