"Whether you like it or not, Dudes are emerging as the new, self-determined Class in 21st C. America," explain the authors of "Contemporary Dude Theory" on their blog. Now in its second edition, this compendium of 21st century Dude science helps readers navigate the tricky strata of Dudes, Folks, Dicks, and Monsters, and is penned by Lou Joseph, Mary Lewandowski, and Ian Downey. You might recognize the latter two from The Bloody Noes, the hyper-intelligent and highly entertaining performance art duo who, along with friends, brought the Santanalia Pageant to Rochester audiences this past December.

CDT "concerns itself with the cataloging and observation of the social class of 21st-Century Dudes," and the authors would like to point out "21st-Century Dude is not the same as (but incorporates) the 20th-Century Dude model, a blend of Jeff Lebowski and the common ‘Bro.'"

The long-awaited First Dude Theory Symposium will commence at the Flying Squirrel Community Space (285 Clarissa St.) on Sunday, June 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., followed by a group discussion, final thoughts, and closing address. The event will feature a multimedia presentation of material by serious and amateur Dude theorists, and perhaps even you, if you answered the authors' call for submissions last month. "Our knowledge will not be complete without additional data and perspectives provided by a range of persons," say the authors in a recent press release. Further investigation into dude-related topics will be conducted through community discussion and debate, and pizza will be provided.

The symposium is free to attend. For more information, contact dudetheory@gmail.com or visit flyingsquirrel.rocus.org or dudetheory.blogspot.com, where you can also access the Contemporary Dude Theory booklet. Copies of the second edition are also available for $8; send requests via email.