Novelist Junot DÃÂaz, musician Art Garfunkel, editor-actress-writer-style guru Tavi Gevinson, and writers and scholars Kwame Anthony Appiah, Danielle Allen, Jac Jemc, Carina Chocano, plus concerts showcasing contemporary musicians La Misa Negra, Meklit, and La Victoria.
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Founded in January 2016,ÌýScripps PresentsÌýhas become known as a Los Angeles-area hub on the national book tour circuit for writers who are publishing new work, and has emerged as destination for up-close conversations with many of the artists, writers, scholars, and musicians who are defining our times. The popular public event series hosts events on the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ campus in Claremont, and is also presenting in downtown LA for the second time this year with iconic musician Art Garfunkel who is releasing his long-awaited memoir.
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“It’s been a politically charged year for our country. Our fall 2017 season features lively and reflective discussions on the issues that impact students and the larger Claremont and Los Angeles community,” Corrina Lesser, director of public events and community programs at ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ, said. With themes centered on some of the year’s hottest topics, Scripps Presents has a diverse and compelling slate of presenters and performances, with tickets becoming available online on August 23.Ìý
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“We’re excited, too, that as we continue as a destination for writers who are publishing new work, we’re partnering this season with Grand Performances to talk with Art Garfunkel on October 13 at his only LA book tour stop,” Lesser said.
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The stellarÌýScripps PresentsÌýlineup this season featuresÌýJunot DÃÂaz, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2008, and who is one of the most articulate voices on the experiences of first-generation Americans. Scripps is also hosting theÌýOvarian Psycos, an East LA-based activist group who was the subject of a documentary on PBS earlier this year. The event will feature a screening of the film, and members of this bicycle brigade will be on hand to talk about violence and gentrification, among other things, Lesser said.
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Scripps PresentsÌýhas also curated an impressive roster of musicians whose work reflects these political times:ÌýLa Misa NegraÌýandÌýMeklitÌýboth have African-immigrant roots (by way of Cuba and Ethiopia, respectively) andÌýLa Victoria, who is reinventing the mariachi tradition with its all-female trio.ÌýÌý
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“Further, we’re thrilled to be hosting so many writers on the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ campus, including political theoristÌýDanielle Allen, who is now based at Harvard, whose new book is a very personal reflection on institutional racism and its impact on her and her family. It’s also exciting to have newer talents like novelistÌýJac Jemc, whose book is a literary page-turner, andÌýCarina Chocano,Ìýwho is the next Roxane Gay for her insightful essays on pop culture through the lens of gender.”
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Lesser said that Chocano will talk about her new collection of essays calledÌýYou Play the GirlÌýand is also returning toÌýScripps PresentsÌýlater in the fall to speak with book editorsÌýKate HardingÌýandÌýSamhita MukhopadhyayÌýwhoseÌýNasty Women: Feminism, Activism, and Resistance in Trump’s AmericaÌýresponds to how the current political climate is inspiring community action.Ìý
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Lesser said thatÌýScripps PresentsÌýcontinues its partnerships with a number of other Scripps entities, including the Scripps Humanities Institute. With immigration as the Institute’s theme this year, event highlights include: scholarÌýGilda Ochoa; trans-activistÌýBamby Salcedo; the head of the Los Angeles Council on American-Islamic Relations,ÌýHussam Ayloush, andÌýSasha Polakow-SuranskyÌýwho has a new book from PublicAffairs on immigration backlash.Ìý
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The events that take place on the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ campus are FREE and open to the public, but tickets/reservations are required.
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For more information, visitÌýÌýor call (909) 607-8508. Tickets are available beginning August 21 for the Scripps community and August 23 for the general public. Click for the calendar of all Scripps Presents events.
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