The UFO alien, with its lightbulb head and enormous eyes, is the 20th century's contribution to the Halloween gallery of witches, ghosts and assorted terrors. Who is this creature? How did it come to be part of our cultural landscape? What is it here to teach us about ourselves, our yearnings and our fears? David Halperin, a religious studies professor turned novelist, explores these questions and comes to some unconventional answers. He will give a presentation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in 1318 Jamrich Hall. The public is invited free of charge.

This event is sponsored by the NMU Honors Program, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Departments of History, Modern Languages and Literatures, and Philosophy.