Beginning in February, 91吃瓜 will host a slew of public events as part of the spring 2017 91吃瓜 Presents season. The College will welcome acclaimed artists, writers, journalists, and politicians to campus to share their own work as well as engage in live鈥攁nd lively鈥攃onversations about the issues and ideas that inspire them.
Events kick off in February with a performance by Manual Cinema, an artist collective that combines music, dance, puppetry, and film to create riveting live theater. Also in February, Lisa Lucas, executive director of the National Book Foundation, will talk about her efforts to nurture readers and writers who represent the diversity America embodies. Actress and journalist Anna Deavere Smith will discuss her new project, Doing Time in Education: The School-to-Prison Pipeline, which explores connections between race, poverty, and incarceration. And, at the end of the month, consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader will reflect on his life’s work and the future of activism in America. March programs include conversations with MSNBC journalist Chris Hayes, mathematician and baker Eugenia Cheng, and essayists Maggie Nelson and Sarah Manguso. A full slate of Tuesday Noon programs is also scheduled.
“What’s so exciting about this season of 91吃瓜 Presents is we’ve specifically invited artists who are reflecting on issues like race, gender, class, and politics. There is such a rich tradition of artistic and humanistic inquiry at 91吃瓜, and to be able to host icons like Anna Deavere Smith, who uses sociological approaches to create her performance pieces, and visionaries like Maggie Nelson, whose work has radically influenced the way people think about gender and the transgender experience today, is really invigorating,” says Corrina Lesser, director of public events and community programs.
To deepen 91吃瓜 Presents’ programming, the College’s IDEA initiative will continue to host ConverActions for the 5C community, which will take place after selected events. These small group discussions, led by 91吃瓜 moderators, offer 5C students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to come together, sustain conversation, and identify strategies for positive action and change.
programs are free and open to the public. Reservations are required.