Name: Writing, Democracy, and Global Threats to Both
Start: 2024-09-18T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-08-31T19:17:19-05:00
Location: Iowa City Public Library: Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm

09/18/2024 12:00pm 09/18/2024 1:00pm Writing, Democracy, and Global Threats to Both Join International Writing Program (IWP) director Christopher Merrill and 2024 Fall Residents Lyuba Yakimchuk (Ukraine) and Tabish Khair (India/Denmark), three writers with unique voices and experiences, offering fresh insights into how democracy shapes and is shaped by culture, identity, and the written word. In this engaging conversation, the panel will discuss how poets, playwrights, screenwriters, performance artists, academics, and others view democracy, as well as how they persist during the most difficult of times. The trio will share why creative expression is vital for democracy in their home countries as well as the risks to artists’ lives and the societies in which they live when authoritarian leaders seek to limit democratic freedoms. Yakimchuk and Khair will read from their original work. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., join us for social connection and a meal! Registration will help us know how much food to provide: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/gyb6zea Cosponsorship between the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, UI International Writing Program, and the Iowa City Public Library. Iowa City Public Library Iowa City Public Library America/Chicago public

In-person event + Livestream
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Join International Writing Program (IWP) director Christopher Merrill and 2024 Fall Residents Lyuba Yakimchuk (Ukraine) and Tabish Khair (India/Denmark), three writers with unique voices and experiences, offering fresh insights into how democracy shapes and is shaped by culture, identity, and the written word. In this engaging conversation, the panel will discuss how poets, playwrights, screenwriters, performance artists, academics, and others view democracy, as well as how they persist during the most difficult of times. The trio will share why creative expression is vital for democracy in their home countries as well as the risks to artists’ lives and the societies in which they live when authoritarian leaders seek to limit democratic freedoms. Yakimchuk and Khair will read from their original work.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m., join us for social connection and a meal! Registration will help us know how much food to provide: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/gyb6zea

Cosponsorship between the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, UI International Writing Program, and the Iowa City Public Library.

If you need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the Library.

This event is open to the public.