Newsletter Edition: Fall 2026
Contributed by David Morck, Ellen Jarosz, Gayle O'Hara, Mallory Furnier
The University Library’s newest Special Collections and Archives exhibition invites visitors to consider what imaginary journeys can reveal about real life.
Journeys of the Imagination examines the enduring human tradition of creating and sharing stories about unfamiliar places, remarkable people, and extraordinary events. The exhibition connects ancient epics, including stories of Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and Odysseus, with modern fantasy and science fiction, demonstrating how imagined worlds continue to shape the way people understand themselves and their communities.
Rather than serving only as an escape from reality, fictional journeys can help readers examine it from a new perspective. Strange settings and fantastic characters often illuminate familiar experiences, including loneliness, belonging, conflict, hope, and the desire for a better future.
Storytelling also serves as a way of sharing knowledge. A fictional journey can introduce readers to unfamiliar perspectives, raise questions about society, and create connections between people who may otherwise have little in common. The exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on why certain stories endure and how imaginary worlds become part of our shared cultural experience.
Although the exhibit opened in August, the exhibit reception was held on October 15th, once the semester was in full swing. Opening with a welcome from Library Dean Emy Decker, the three exhibit curators from Special Collections and Archives, Mallory Furnier, Ellen Jarosz, and Gayle O’Hara, were joined by CSUN alumna Minoti Vaishnav for a moderated discussion about Minoti’s screenwriting education at CSUN, how she creates storytelling worlds in a variety of formats, and what continues to inspire her. The reception was well-attended by faculty, staff, students, emeritus professors, and community members. Students asked thoughtful questions about AI in creative work, how to stay focused on your dream, and how to keep writing as you work to pay your bills.
Vaishnav earned a bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Television Arts from CSUN and a master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford. Her work includes short fiction as well as film, television, and audio writing and production. She has written for The Equalizer and True Lies and has developed projects for several major entertainment companies.
Journeys of the Imagination is on view in the University Library Exhibit Gallery during regular library hours throughout the academic year. Visitors are encouraged to spend time with the exhibition and consider how imagined journeys help us interpret the world we know—and imagine the worlds we have yet to create.
