“That’s what we call magical thinking, Cindi.” - Drue Barker
I first met Drue Barker way back in 2007 when she was interviewing for the director position of the Women’s and Gender Studies program at USC.
As an adjunct instructor in the department, I had already served under both Sue Rosser and Lynn Weber, the only two previous directors.
In meeting Drue I knew that, if she took the job, the culture of the department would change. And it did. Drue was a far more relaxed leader than her predecessors and she showed adjuncts the same respect that she showed full professors. This not only touched and validated me, as a non-PhD instructor, it allowed us to develop a friendship away from the department. This friendship and my knowledge of her love for the arts, particularly opera and contemporary dance, led me to ask Drue to join the board of directors for the Jasper Project in 2020, and I was honored when she accepted.
Drue loved her cottage home in Earlewood and often enjoyed winning Yar of the Month
In addition to being a brilliant academic, frequently enlightening her students and peers as a Marxist-feminist economist, Drue was a fascinating friend. She wore her intelligence like an invitation to anyone she met to engage in discourse. Honest, straight-forward, no-games-played conversation. It didn’t matter whether those involved agreed or disagreed vehemently—the point and purpose was the exchange of ideas. She welcomed opposing viewpoints with the same generosity that she welcomed those more aligned with her own perspective.
Drue loved the arts, having been an avid patron of contemporary dance at Hollins University where she had taught before coming to USC. As a member of the Jasper Project board of directors Drue’s focus was on contemporary dance in Columbia and she was a heart-felt supporter of the new dance company Jasper helped incubate, Columbia Repertory Dance.
Drue enjoying a beer in Berlin
Drue was kind and generous. I don’t think she ever told me no, no matter what I asked of her. She loved my husband Bob maybe more than she loved me, always finding Bob at parties at our house or wherever we were, and talking endlessly about beer, which he brews and she found fascinating (and delicious), and science, something they both had in common.
I am so very sorry to have lost Drue far sooner than we should have, and I’m sure she’s sorry to be gone. She still had stuff to do.
Thank you for your gifts, Drue Barker. We will miss you and say your name forever.
- -Cindi Boiter
~~~
On January 1, 2023, the ever analytic Drue posted the following message on Facebook which included a list of her favorite films. May I invite you to join me in choosing several of Drue’s favorite pieces of film art to watch and enjoy as Drue would have herself. Art unites us all, in this life and the hereafter, whatever we find there.
From Drue:
“FB friends, here is an impromptu list of my some of my favorite movies. It reflects only my tastes and preferences. Not the critics. I realize it is really old and white: sigh, I need to expand my horizons. (I have become way too dependent on Amazon Prime and Netflix.)
But if you are looking for a movie to watch over and over again, these are some suggestions. There are many, many other movies that I love. But they did not pass the criteria of "watched at least 5 times and would watch again!"
These only include movies in the English language. I may make a new list for others that I love in other languages. Also, the list is not ranked!!! It is just in the order of my memory. I love them all.
One note, I love the romcoms from the 30s and 40s. Women were tough, beautiful, and totally cool. They knew what they wanted! Especially Barbara Stanwyck. (One of my favorite actresses.) Can't really relate to the contemporary ones.
Another observation is how versatile Billy Wilder was! Whatever he did, he did well.
So here you go! Happy New Year!!!”
Extravaganzas:
1981 Chariots of Fire Hugh Hudson
1954 On the Waterfront Elie Kazan
1965 Dr. Zhivago David Lean
1957 Bridge Over River Kwai David Lean
1962 Laurence of Arabia David Lean
1939 Gone With the Wind Victor Fleming
1942 Mrs. Miniver William Wyler
Murder:
1944 Double Indemnity Billy Wilder
1950 Sunset Boulevard Billy Wilder
1958 Vertigo Alfred Hitchcock
1954 Dial M For Murder Alfred Hitchcock
1954 Rear Window Alfred Hitchcock
1967 In the Heat of the Night Norman Jewison
1951 A Place in the Sun George Stevens
Comedy:
1960 The Apartment Billy Wilder
1959 Some Like It Hot Billy Wilder
1934 The Thin Man W.S. Van Dyke
1936 After The Thin Man W.S. Van Dyke
1958 Auntie Mame Morton DaCosta
1934 It Happened One Night Frank Capra
1941 Meet John Doe Frank Capra
1945 Christmas in Connecticut Peter Godfrey
1941 Ball of Fire Howard Hawks
Soul Searching:
1948. The Red Shoes Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
194 Black Narcissus Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
1986 Working Girls Lizzie Borden
1973. Badlands Terrence Malick