The Writer in the World
Posted in Symposia
Lannan Literary Festival: March 19-21, 2024
All events are free and open to the public. For accessibility requests, please contact Patricia Guzman, pg654@georgetown.edu.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19TH: GASTON HALL
THE WRITER DISPLACED
4:30PM | The Saxatones
Legendary classics and infectious modern hits, expertly crafted by the vocal talents of the Saxatones.
5:00PM | Freeman’s Anthology: A Celebration!
With Rabih Alameddine, Tania James, Lauren Markham, and moderated by John Freeman. To mark the final edition of Freeman’s journal three writers previously published in its pages gather to discuss ideas of place and displacement. In a globe where people are in constant motion, what are the layers of possibility and peril that come with writing and living on uncertain ground?
6:00PM | The Georgetown University Jazz Ensemble
Savor the rhythmic brilliance of Georgetown’s 20-piece jazz ensemble in this special performance for the Lannan Literary Festival’s opening night.
FEATURED EVENT
6:45PM | An Evening with Pulitzer Prize-winner Viet Thanh Nguyen
Acclaimed author Viet Thanh Nguyen discusses his memoir, A Man of Two Faces, and reflects on the upcoming TV adaptation of his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Sympathizer. With former Newshour host Razia Iqbal.
7:45PM | Book signing and opening celebration
Join us for a reception and book signing with author Viet Thanh Nguyen downstairs in Healy Foyer.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20TH: DISABILITY CULTURAL CENTER
HFSC Garden Level, across from Leo’s (events will be ASL interpreted).
WORLDS BEYOND WAR
5:00PM | Nadia by Christine Evans
Enjoy a dramatized reading of Nadia, a novel by Christine Evans who, along with actress Selma Ducanovic and student Anna Kummelstedt, brings to life the powerful narratives of two survivors of the 1990s Balkan wars who have escaped to London only to discover the ghosts of war have followed. After the performance Christine Evans will be interviewed by broadcaster Georgina Godwin.
DISABILITY WORLDS
Sponsored by the Disability Cultural Center and the Medical Humanities Initiative
6:00PM | The Georgetown University Jazz Ensemble
Vibrant sounds from Georgetown’s coolest jazz quartet.
FEATURED EVENT
6:30PM | An Evening with Sara Nović
Spend an evening in the company of bestselling author and deaf rights’ activist Sara Nović as she talks about her writing life and True Biz, her tale of seismic romantic, political, and familial shifts unfolding against the backdrop of a school for the deaf, with the Washington Post‘s Amanda Morris.
7:30PM | Student performances presented by the Disability Cultural Center
To close the evening, the Disability Cultural Center has invited students to share their own experiences and poetic interpretations of the evening’s theme, “Disability Worlds” through art. Come and be part of the fun.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21ST: COPLEY FORMAL LOUNGE
THE WORLD OUTSIDE/THE WORLD WITHIN
Sponsored by the Prisons and Justice Initiative
4:30PM | Kristin Yung
Join us for a half hour of musical brilliance as pianist Kristin Yung (C’25) takes center stage.
5:00PM | The Writer in the World
Moria, a refugee camp on the Greek Isles, provided the inspiration for two very different creative works from a novelist and a non-fiction writer. Rabih Alameddine and Lauren Markham discuss their motivation and the resulting books with broadcaster Georgina Godwin.
6:00PM | The GraceNotes
Discover the harmonious prowess of GraceNotes, Georgetown University’s pioneering a cappella group for women and gender minorities with two acclaimed albums under their belt, including the latest release, “State of Grace II.”
FEATURED EVENT
6:30PM | The Writer in Prison
Renowned authors Reginald Dwayne Betts (Felon: Poems) and Zeke Caligiuri (This is Where I Am) offer their thoughts on the intersection of literature and the prison system as they discuss the impact of incarceration in shaping their writing lives, creative processes and narratives.
7:30PM | Voices from Within
In this inspiring event, presented in partnership with the Georgetown Prisons and Justice Initiative, writers and artists showcase powerful creative expressions that reflect on their personal journeys through and beyond the prison system.