Read Kendricks Column, PHOTO OPS in the Union-Tribune!

Filmmaker, artist, photographer, writer, Film Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and SDSU lecturer Neil Kendricks has been commissioned to write a new column, PHOTO OPS for the San Diego Union-Tribune. The column will be published every two to three months in the paper's books section. Kendricks describes it as "what I hope will be a comprehensive and engaging column for photographers and artists, photography enthusiasts and general readers alike, who share a passion for delving into the best and most innovative new volumes focused on photography-oriented issues coming from such respected publishers as Aperture, among others." In the first installment, Kendrick reviews the book "Magnum Magnum" which he explains is a a "compendium of legendary photojournalists at the top of their game."

Professor Griswold Reviews Novel for NY Times

Professor Jerry Griswold reviewed M.T. Anderson's “The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing” for New York Times' Sunday Book Review on November 7th, 2008. His review entitled "The War for Independence" compellingly synopsizes the narrative by describing both the novel's aesthetic and intellectual merits. The adolescent novel that Anderson wrote deals with racial relations in revolution era America, among other intriguing subjects. Griswold also describes the impetus inspiring Anderson's project. That is, "the 900 pages [of the volume] have essentially been a meditation on the word “liberty.” It was a term bandied about so much during the Revolution that it became meaningless."

Our First Online Poll: Spring 2009 Classes!

All,

The department messed up (the Chair!) and left a section of English 580, Writing of Poetry off the Spring 2009 list of courses! Can you assist us by taking this poll! Send the chair an email if you want to sign up for a crash list to ADD a section of 580 to the Spring 2009 list of classes!

Cast Your Vote

CRISIS CARNIVAL 2009 ANNOUNCED

The theme for the 16th annual Crisis Carnival has been decided upon, and submissions for the mid-April event are being accepted now until the end of January. Crisis Carnival is an interdisciplinary gradate student conference sponsored by our very own Department of English and Comparative Literature. With a title like THE ECSTASY OF SPEED, this year's conference promises to attract a wide range of accelerating scholars from various fields and institutions.  Hurry up and spread the word, and if you've got something that fits the bill, be sure to rush it on over before your time is up. Visit the Crisis Carnival website instantly for details and up-to-date information.

Jane Hirshfield Rocks the House at SDSU

The Director of our Hugh C. Hyde Living Writers series, the one and only Victoria Featherstone, writes in to report on the success of our last reading for 2008:

Reply-To: Victoria Featherstone
To: "Dr. William A. Nericcio"
Subject: FYI

Dear Bill,

Thought I'd pass this article along to you; I met with the reporter for the Daily Aztec, and the last Tuesday she interviewed Jane Hirshfield. Perhaps you heard that we had an SRO crowd that night in the larger space (LL108), and library personnel had to bring out two more carts of chairs. Luckily we also had many people willing to sit on the floor because that was the only available seating left. Here's the link. Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't express my gratitude to Ilya Kaminsky and Sandra Alcosser for their support of this event.

Best,
Victoria

New Logo Test Run...

click to enlarge; comments welcome!

Charles Hatfield at SDSU, November 6, 2008 Speaking on KAMANDI!!!!

Election 2008 Brush With Fame Edition!

and, now, for equal time!

Bill Nericcio Speaking at City College, Tuesday October 21, 2008

More literature.sdsu.edu propaganda test-driven here before hitting the mothership!

SDSU Continues a Rememberance for Dave Wallace

With all due apologies for posting this in an untimely manner, I would like to once again take a moment to remember Dave Wallace. If you did not have the opportunity to read Joseph Thomas' moving email honoring Wallace's memory, below is another chance to reflect on Wallace's lasting contribution to the literary community.

While I was a graduate student at ISU, I was lucky enough to get to know David Foster Wallace, a wonderful man and an extraordinarily talented writer. A few hours ago, I received the tragic news that he died Friday, a victim of suicide. This is crushing news.

I would consider it a personal favor if you could alert our colleagues about Dave's death. Perhaps next week they could mention his passing to their students and encourage them to investigate his life and work.

I know we value rigorous, cutting edge work here at SDSU. Dave had an incredible intellect and has left us with a rich body of work of fiction and non-fiction that will outlast us all. At only 46 years old, he was much too young to die. We will never have a chance to grapple with a new work by Dave. That loss is almost as terrible as the loss of his witty, vibrant, and gracious self.

Below you will find a link to a short story with some details about his death and his life:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080914/ap_en_ot/obit_wallace

Sincerely,

Joseph Thomas

Fall 2008 Living Writers Reading Schedule

Fall 2008 Living Writers Reading Schedule

Tuesday, September 23rd: Mark Wallace
Award-winning, innovative author Mark Wallace’s recent collection of tales is Walking Dreams. He currently teaches at California State University, San Marcos.

Wednesday, October 1st: Carolyne Wright
Acclaimed poet, Carolyne Wright, will discuss the art of translation and read from her new book, Majestic Nights: Love Poems of Bengali Women.

Tuesday, October 14th: Duff Brenna and Thomas E. Kennedy
Winner of AWP’s Best Novel Award, Duff Brenna’s novels, The Book of Mamie and Too Cool, have been optioned by a filmmaker.



Thomas E. Kennedy has published 25 books. A recent recipient of the Ellie Award, his new essay collection is Riding the Dog: A Look Back at America.



Wednesday, October 22nd: Matt de la Pena
MFA graduate, Matt de la Pena, returns to San Diego State after achieving acclaim and success with his first two novels, Ball Don’t Lie and newly released, Mexican Whiteboy.



Thursday, October 30th: M.L. Smoker ~ The Laurie Okuma Memorial Reading
Assiniboine and Sioux poet M.L. Smoker’s first collection of poems is titled Another Attempt at Rescue. Her poetry has been published in numerous literary journals.



Tuesday, November 18th: Jane Hirshfield
Hailed as “one of our finest, most memorable contemporary poets”, Jane Hirshfield’s honors and awards are numerous, and include the 70th Academy Fellowship for distinguished poetic achievement by The Academy of American Poets.
**This event will take place in the Malcolm A. Love Library, Room LL-108



Events are free and open to the public. Parking is available in conveniently located pay lots. Except for Jane Hirshfield’s appearance, all events will be held in SDSU’s Malcolm A. Love Library, Room 430.

For further information, contact Victoria Featherstone: livingwriters@gmail.com