Words of Mass Destruction

Above: Don DeLillo, Joan Didion, Kurt Vonnegut, Salman Rushdie, Laurie Anderson.

Involver (media and entertainment activist community) and PEN (national organization of writers) present State of Emergency: Unconventional Readings this Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00pm. An incredible lineup of literary legends convene to address contemporary political threats to freedom of expression.

Scheduled to apprear: Laurie Anderson, Paul Auster, Russell Banks, Michael Cunningham, Don DeLillo, Joan Didion, Ariel Dorfman, Eve Ensler, Jonathan Safran Foer, Barbara Goldsmith, A.M. Homes, A.E. Hotchner, Margo Jefferson, Edward P. Jones, Walter Dean Myers, Francine Prose, Salman Rushdie, Monique Truong, Kurt Vonnegut- and others to be announced!

Fittingly, the reading will be held at Cooper Union's Great Hall, known for its role in American political activism, hosting meetings, speeches, lectures and debates throughout its history. The event is co-sponsored by the Cooper Union Office for Continuing Education and Public Programs.

This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30, however, Gothamist thinks it would be wise to get there early to get in, let alone get a good seat.

The Great Hall at Cooper Union is located at 7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue. For additional information, call the PEN American Center at (212) 334-1660 x107.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By janelle in Arts and Events on August 2, 2004 11:15 AM

Comments [rss]

eavmn

I just got this:

We are working to assemble a digital record of last night - both audio and

video - and it should be available at www.pen.org early next week. Also,

C-Span's Book TV plans to air the event not this weekend, but next weekend.

Please check in with my by Monday as I am waiting for them to let me know

the exact time.

Eric

I heard that they were airing it on TV, on CSPAN and some other channel. Anyone know when and where it airs (or aired)?

evamn

I am curious of the 900 of the 2000 that actually made it in to this event thought of it. I stood in a line that felt like a mobius strip that wrapped around the park twice or was it three times. I was able to finally get close to the door and was the 8th person of actual 6 that were the last to be allowed in.

Finally about an hour later I happened to find a couple sitting outside on the steps coolly sipping wine, beet red from the lack of AC inside. They said it was horrible. The event was amateurish and compared it to an assembly at a high school, and were disappointed that with such a distinguished panel it had great potential was not realized.