Event Description
Drexel will be holding its first ever Writing Festival with events that include writing workshops, multimedia presentations, provocative discussions, live music, and movie screenings.
May 9-May 11
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
List of Events
May 9
3 pm The Writing on the Wall: How to Evaluate Good Writing hosted by the Pennoni Honors College
5 pm Poetry reading by Major Jackson[*]
Major Jackson is the author of four collections of poetry: Roll Deep, Holding Company, and Hoops, finalist for an NAACP Image Award, and Leaving Saturn, winner of the 2000 Cave Canem Poetry Prize and finalist for a National Book Critics Award Circle
7 pm Lyric Workshop and Live Performance sponsored by MAD Dragon Radio
Join Joe Genaro of punk band The Dead Milkmen and a live performance by MAD Dragon's own Johnny Popcorn for a lyric writing workshop followed by a live performance.
May 10:
12:00 pm Listening to Food: A Culinary Writing Workshop with Jonathan Deutsch
Jonathan Deutsch, Professor of Culinary Arts & Food Science at Drexel University and editor of six books including Barbecue: A Global History (with Megan Elias), Culinary Improvisation, and Gastropolis: Food and Culture in New York City (with Annie Hauck-Lawson, leads a workshop in writing about food. Limited space!
1:00 pm Henna Rituals, Secret Codes, and Sacred Jewish Heritage with novelist Nomi Eve and henna tattoo artist Payal Gupta (free henna tattoos!)
Nomi Eve, author of Henna House and The Family Orchard, a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection also nominated for a National Jewish Book Award, will give a multimedia presentation of the sources that inspired her. Followed by henna tattoo artist Payal Gupta, giving free henna tattoos.
2:00 pm Arab and Muslim Voices in America with activist Zainab Al-Suwaij and poet Ahmad Almallah
Zainab Al-Suwaij, Iraqi-American activist and the co-founder and Executive Director of the American Islamic Congress will speak on the importance of religious rights, and interfaith understanding. Poet and scholar Ahmad Almallah will follow with a bilingual poetry reading.
3:00 pm War on Facts: Journalism in the Age of Trump with Journalist Dick Polman
Dick Polman, national political columnist at WHYY/NewsWorks will give a multimedia presentation trying to make sense of the current political climate and its effect on journalists.
4:00 pm Painted Bride Quarterly’s Slam Bam: an Improv Writing Competition
A recurring hit event for lovers of poetry who want to share the power of their words. All welcome to participate!
5:00 pm MAYA magazine’s Launch Reading
Drexel’s undergraduate literary magazine hosts their annual launch reading.
6:30 pm Screening of Almost Famous followed by a discussion of music journalism with Music Journalist Richard Abowitz
Watch the classic film and then join ex-Rolling Stone music journalist Richard Abowitz for what promises to be an exciting discussion. May 11:
12:00 pm Moving Target: a Movement and Writing Workshop with Kirsten Kaschock Kirsten Kaschock, PhD in Dance Studies, and author of four books of poetry and one novel, will lead a workshop in movement and writing.
1:00 pm Making It Up: an Improv and Writing Workshop with Fred Siegel
Performer and professor Fred Siegel will lead a workshop in Improv and Writing. 2:30 pm The Planet Bronx Effect: Queer Comic Books with Ivan Velez, Jr.
Ivan Velez Jr., known for his work with Milestone Media and for creating Tales of the Closet, one of the first comics to depict the everyday lives of LGBT youth, will present a multimedia presentation on Queer Comic Books, followed by a Q&A.
4:00 pm Readings by Drexel English Department Award Winners followed by Award Ceremony
7:00 pm Screening of Buffalo 66 followed by a discussion with Screenwriter Allison Bagnal (co-writer of Buffalo 66)
Join Alison Bagnall, co-writer of the classic film, Buffalo 66, for a screening and discussion of screenwriting. |