Bookworm Literary Festival 2019 Looks to Be One of the Best Yet
Great news for bibliophiles – The Bookworm Literary Festival 2019 schedule has been announced, and it looks to be one of the best events yet.
Opening on Friday, Mar 15, and closing out on Sunday, Mar 31, the festival comprises of dozens of back-to-back events, including readings, Q&A sessions, live podcast recordings, slam poetry performances, and panel discussions.
This is The Bookworm's 12th Literary Festival
If the thought of sitting around a dusty room talking about long-dead writers turns you off, then you're in for a treat: the festival features events that tackle some of the most pressing, compelling, and interesting societal issues of the day, including big data, feminism, climate change, and international geopolitics.
A veritable who's who of local and international authors and academics will all converge on Beijing's favorite bookshop over 16 days, and while the final details of the festival are still being hammered out, we've been given a sneak peek at the schedule and dug out some of the highlights:
The Bookworm Literary Festival 2019 Highlights
AI Superpowers: China's Silicon Valley, and the New World Order – with Lee Kai-Fu
World-renowned AI expert Lee Kai-Fu will discuss why China's unprecedented advances in artificial intelligence are likely to disrupt the current world order, and why future Sino-US relations hinge on the superpowers embracing the great responsibility that comes with this new technology.
Sham Marriages: Why Lesbians and Gays Wed in China – with Dr. He Xiaopei
So called “cooperative marriages,” where gays and lesbians in China marry one another, is a growing trend in a country where homosexuality is legal, but same-sex marriage is not. Dr. He will discuss her research into this phenomenon, the underlying reasons behind it, and how society’s attitude can and might gradually shift.
Sojourners to China – with Paul French and Jeremiah Jenne
Famed author of Murder in Peking, Paul French (pictured above), and long-time Beijinger, historian and regular the Beijinger contributor Jeremiah Jenne discuss some of the many various writers, historians, royals, stars, and artists who have spent time in the Middle Kingdom, as well as their own time and travels.
Science Fiction in the Age of Algorithms – with Zhang Feng, Chen Quifan, Que A and Blake Stone-Banks
In the era of sensors, Internet, cloud, big data, and algorithms, everything on the planet is being measured, calculated, projected and, very often, commoditized. What are the wildest and most powerful visions and concepts that science fiction has provided with regard to our future in the digital age?
Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot – with Peter Crane
Perhaps the world’s most distinctive tree, the ginkgo is a botanical oddity and a widely recognized botanical “living fossil.” Wild ginkgo exists only in China, but today it is beloved for the elegance of its leaves, prized for its edible nuts, and revered for its longevity. Crane examines the cultural and social significance of the ginkgo: its medicinal and nutritional uses, its power as a source of artistic and religious inspiration, and its importance as one of the world’s most popular street trees.
Last Boat out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution – with Helen Zia, in conversation with Ni Ching-Ching
Members of the last generation to fully recall the mass exodus from Shanghai after the end of the civil war have revealed their stories to Chinese American journalist Helen Zia (pictured above), who interviewed hundreds of exiles about their journey through one of the most tumultuous events of the 20th century.
The Past, Present, and Future of Chinese Hip-Hop – with Harikiri, Liu Yi-Ling in association with SupChina
Chinese hip-hop, which has gained headlines in the past year (see: "hip-hop ban"), took root many decades back, during a time when Chinese emcees dared to be defiant and countercultural. With rap music gaining mainstream credibility in the PRC, is the genre in danger of being co-opted? What does the future hold for China's rappers?
How to Get Published: The Agent's View – with Kelly Falconer
In this talk, literary agent and former editor Kelly Falconer will explain the ins and outs of the publishing industry, and how to pitch yourself, and your work, to agents and editors.
Green Poems for a Blue Planet – a performance by Martin Kiszko
In this event, aimed at kids eight years old and over, the UK's "Green Poet" will save the planet through the power of poetry. From disappearing tigers to lost whales, from football to "poo power," Kiszko says of the show: "I hope this show will provoke a thought, raise a smile, start a conversation, spark an idea, spur us into action, or simply turn on a few 'green lights.'
Babies to Bookworms: Raising Kids to Read in the Digital Era – with Antoinette Portis and Sarah Brennan
Two bestselling children's authors will discuss the ways to engender a lifelong love of reading, as well as looking at the science behind what reading does to the brain, as opposed to digital technologies.
India: Democracy VS. Development – moderated by Wu Huizhong, with Anand Krishnan, Ray Zhong, and Yang Lu
India has claimed China's spot as the world's fastest-growing major economy, and as it grows, it might just offer an alternative model for any country seeking balance between the need for development and democratic institutions. Or, if China has anything to say about it, India could serve as a cautionary tale. Anand Krishnan (pictured above), Ray Zhong, and Yang Lu will debate what the future holds for the world's second most populous country.
These talks and workshops are just the tip of the iceberg. The Literary Festival will also live podcast recordings by both Sinica and NüVoices, Spittunes events and live music, a discussion by a panel of international journalists, and plenty more. The festival will close with the beloved Literary Quiz on Sunday night, so devotees can put their knowledge of all things bookwormy to the test.
Tickets will cost around RMB 60 for events and RMB 200 for workshops. Stay tuned for more updates on this as they appear, including detailed schedule information, ticket purchasing, and more.
READ: The Bookworm's New Manager David Cantalupo Looks Back on His 30 Years in China
Images: The Bookworm (via facebook.com), Blangua.com, angryasianman.com, asianreviewofbooks.com, SCMP.com
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