announcements March 2009 | Vol. VII No. 7

One Civilized Reader Is Worth a Thousand Boneheads

The Center for The Audacity of Nope the Humanities Advisory Board t the end of January, when not My “audacity of nope” has more humble origins; 2008–2009 a single House Republican it springs from my husband’s usual response to the Nancy Berg Associate Professor of Asian and Near voted in favor of the stimu- endless stream of home equity loan offers and the Eastern Languages and Literatures lus plan, Comedy Central’s preprinted check offers from the credit card compa- Ken Botnick Associate Professor of Art Stephen Colbert assumed his nies encouraging us to spend money we do not have Gene Dobbs Bradford best fake-conservative pundit on things we do not need. He opens the envelope Executive Director Jazz St. Louis persona and declared the word singular, looks at the offer and says “nope,” and Lingchei (Letty) Chen Aof the day to be “The Audacity of Nope” (broadcast shreds it. Not that we escaped being caught up in Associate Professor of Modern Chinese Language and Literature January 29, 2009; see www.colbertnation.com). In the bubble that led to the current financial mess. Elizabeth Childs this somewhat rude fake rant, Colbert exclaimed No, we did not. Shortly after our daughter gradu- Associate Professor and Chair of Department of Art History and that “these hard times demand an even larger ated from college and moved out, when we might Archaeology meaningless gesture.… It won’t be easy, but you are have stayed put or even considered a smaller place, Mary-Jean Cowell fighting for a principle! If we can’t have a perfect bill we bought a bigger house. Still, we have avoided Associate Professor of Performing Arts Phyllis Grossman to stimulate the economy—you’d rather have no taking out a home equity loan or running up the Retired Financial Executive economy at all.” totals on our credit cards. Michael A. Kahn And that is what I think Author and Partner I was unhappy when Unfortunately, the current Bryan Cave LLP I saw and heard this. First, these financial institutions Chris King stimulus debate is only an find audacious: How dare we Editorial Director I was disappointed by the The St. Louis American Newspaper blind partisanship of the attempt to hit the reset not take them up on these Olivia Lahs-Gonzales offers? Despite being ignored Director debate. I was reminded of button on a game too many Sheldon Art Galleries a line from Helen Suzman, of us were losing anyway. for years, these invitations Paula Lupkin to debt continue to arrive in Assistant Professor of Architecture who had passed away only Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts twenty-eight days earlier. Suzman, who spent some the mail in envelopes that look as formal as a bill, Erin McGlothlin practically forcing you to open them. I miss the days Associate Professor of German thirty-six years in the South African Parliament Steven Meyer and was known for her early public criticism of when junk mail looked like junk and you could Associate Professor of English throw it away without opening it and without a Joe Pollack apartheid, said she once glanced at the opposition’s Film and Theater Critic for KWMU, benches and saw a shiver running around looking second thought. Writer Anne Posega for a spine to run up. From what I have read of the Now that the consumer economy has slowed Head of Special Collections, Olin Library politics surrounding the economic stimulus propos- so dramatically, our failure to use other people’s Qiu Xiaolong als here and now in the U.S. Congress, I think there money to fund that “once in a lifetime vacation to Novelist and Poet Sarah Rivett are a large number of homeless shivers in search wherever” or that “65-inch flat-panel HD televi- Assistant Professor of English of spines running around both party benches in sion set” only contributes to the problem. But is the Henry Schvey Professor of Drama our capital. But I was also unhappy because I had choice between going into unsustainable debt and Wang Ning already started these notes using the same phrase as watching our neighbors get laid off because we are Professor of English, Tsinghua University James Wertsch Colbert’s word of the day for my title. not buying things? Nope. We do not really have Marshall S. Snow Professor of Arts and Sciences Director of International and Area Studies Ex Officio Ralph Quatrano Interim Dean, Faculty of Arts & Sciences Zurab Karumidze visit our blog site at http://cenhum.artsci.wustl.edu/publications/blog.html Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia editor’s notes continued

not be joined to restore that shattered economic system. This is, however, an opportunity to shift the nation’s priori- ties and expectations and to recognize our country’s chance for creative positive leadership in the world economy and its global environment. We need the audac- ity to say nope to the philosophy that de- pends on satisfying a never-ending array of individualistic material desires, and to strive for a better solution. Unfortunate- ly, the current stimulus debate is only an attempt to hit the reset button on a game too many of us were losing anyway. So I hope at least some of those shivers find their targets before it is too late to make an opportunity out of a choice. Too many of us have opened into now, the solution is to stimulate the this crisis. other formal-looking envelopes and seen economy through some combination of large chunks of our retirement plans a reduction in interest rates (which are Jian Leng and investments disappear into the thin pretty near zero already) or government Associate Director Wall Street air to be hopeful enough to investment in infrastructure (which is Center for the Humanities take on any more debt. Too many of our supposed to be what the stimulus bill is neighbors opened letters from their hu- about). The idea is that the injection of man resources departments telling them income results in more spending in the Breaking News they no longer had a job or health insur- general economy, which in turn stimu- ance. Too many of our recent graduates lates more production and investment Asia Weekly just announced its opened their newspapers or news web- involving still more income and spend- Ten Best Novels in Chinese for sites, added up the numbers of laid-off ing whose total increase in economic 2008. Two of the novelists earned workers, and wondered how they were activity is a multiple of the original the Ph.D. in Comparative Litera- going to find a job and pay down their investment. ture and Asian and Near Eastern student loans. Others opened ominous- But, all ten-step programs are based Languages and Literatures at looking formal envelopes announcing on an admission of the problem. Just as Washington University in St. Louis that their adjustable-rate mortgage had alcoholics will not stop drinking until and were students of Robert Hegel, been reset well beyond any hope of mak- they have hit rock bottom and admit- the Liselotte Dieckmann Professor ing the payments. We are all recovering ted it, we recovering consumers who of Comparative Literature. Among consumers preaching the audacity of still have jobs must admit that we have the recognized authors are alumni nope now! to go out to dinner rather than cook at Li Yongping, whose novel is entitled But the audacity here is a two-sided home and that we must continue buying The End of a Great River, and Qiu coin. As bad as the audacity of spend- things we do not really need but simply Xiaolong, who wrote Years of Red ing without any regard for the resulting want. I may not, however, be ready to Dust. level of debt (because the value of our concede that my addiction to an audac- Qiu Xiaolong will read from houses was rising), the audacity of nope ity of nope is a problem. I suppose that and sign his newest novel, The (not spending because our houses and is where the Chinese meaning of the Mao Case, on March 24, 8 pm in other investments have lost value or we English word “crisis” comes into play for the Hurst Lounge (Duncker 201) have lost our jobs) is even worse for our me. The Chinese equivalent to “crisis” at Washington University in St. way of life. Apparently, John Maynard is “Weiji,” which actually translates as Louis. The event is free and open Keynes has a ten-step program to help. “crisis and opportunity.” The difference to the public. Please call the Center If Keynes is to be believed, when we is very significant in the present situa- at 314-935-5576 to reserve a seat. consumers can no longer spend due tion. Although we are all hoping to piece Refreshments will be provided. to a depression or a deep recession back together our Humpty Dumpty such as the one we are sinking economy, I suspect the fragments can- book of the month by Gerald Early

The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great comics caused in the post-World War II Comic-Book Scare and How It years of 1948 to 1955, writes: Changed America Created by outsiders of various sorts By David Hajdu [mostly Jews], comics gave voice to their Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2008, makers’ fantasies and discontent in the 434 pages with photos, notes, brash vernacular of cartoon drawings and bibliography, and index word balloons, and they spoke with special cogency to young people who felt like Come mothers and fathers throughout the outsiders in a world geared for and run by land adults. And don’t criticize what you can’t under- Hadju views the comic book dust-up stand as similar to the response to jazz in the Your sons and your daughters are beyond 1920s or to rock and roll in the 1950s: your command. some parvenu art form, attractive to the marginal as both something to create —Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are and something to consume, and at- a-Changin’” tractive to the young because it seems Part 1: “They say you don’t tug on innovative and because it is disliked by Superman’s cape” the mainstream. This is true, but as Because characters like Wonder Danny Fingeroth’s Disguised as Clark an account of the creation of the 19th Woman, Superman, and Batman have Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of century color comic strip in American become such iconic, even revered, figures the Superhero (2007), Paul Buhle’s Jews newspapers. These strips—Hogan’s Alley, in American culture, akin to Huck Finn, and American Comics: An Illustrated Happy Hooligan, and the Katzenjammer Tom Sawyer, Tarzan, Tom Swift, the History of an American Art Form (2008), Kids—with their ethnic stereotypes, characters of Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, Simcha Weinstein’s Up, Up and Oy chaotic, rude illustrations of urban and Nancy Drew, it is hard to imagine Vey: How Jewish History, Culture, and life—were immensely popular with (and harder still even for the older ones Values Shaped the Comic Book Superhero immigrants and the lower classes. This among us to remember) when many (2006), and Arni Kaplan’s From Krakow popularity led to a opposition move- adults, the entire public and Catholic to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books (2008) ment by establishment and blueblood school teaching establishments, most make clear, comic books were also a types, the Anthony Comstock impulse, librarians, many law enforcement work- highly assimilative art, whatever Jewish decrying the strips as cheap entertain- ers, some politicians and at least one undertones there were in the making of ment, of the same quality as the dime psychiatrist thought they were cheap, superhero characters, (and there are quite novels of the period, and, of course, a dangerous, perverted creations of a a number), that were largely meant to be bad influence on children. Hearst and mindless and soulless, money-grubbing American and to assert not only Ameri- Pulitzer ignored the criticism because popular culture industry that preyed on can nationalism but American virtue. the strips made money by attracting the minds and hearts of children and Superhero comics were about both exile readers. In a world of very little color, adolescents. Comic books exist today and belonging and for young readers, comic strips were a profligacy of pigment but with nothing like the mass presence too, outsiders because of race, ethnic- that simply enraptured the eye. After (comics sold a hundred million copies ity, temperament, or, most profoundly, World War I, the cultural elite changed monthly in their heyday, far more than age, the comics were about becoming its view of comic strips, seeing them as children’s books or magazines) and the American, making difference a mark of a compellingly original American art hysterical controversy (things got so bad responsibility and heroism, of mission form, a re-appraisal that happened for comic book writers could hardly admit and exceptionalism, but a difference that jazz, blues, and rock and roll as well as their profession to people outside of their was always hidden under a sort of white they ceased to be threatening or terribly field without fear of being vigorously banality (Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and novel (and as Europeans or the British condemned, ostracized, even attacked) the other alter egos of the superheroes). said something appreciative about them). that they held between the mid-1930s Superhero comic books were strange Some comic strip artists became highly through the mid-1950s. So, the simplest fantasy obsessions about extraordinary respected popular artists. question might be, what were comic individualism as the totemic superego of Comic books appeared in the 1930s, books? communal order. first, as compilations of comic strips. David Hajdu, whose The Ten Cent The story of comic books is not be Soon, companies sprang up looking Plague is the most comprehensive ac- confused with the story of comic strips for original work to fill the books. count of the cultural convulsion that but Hajdu begins his book by giving Artists, hoping to establish their book of the month continued work in a newspaper strip, came up not commonly thought that they were tween the young and the old, as Hajdu with characters and stories to fill the dangerous. (The fact that comic books characterizes it, between the margin and books. It was a buyer’s market. Art- were in color had a great deal to do with the mainstream that the mainstream ists were plentiful. Most were quite their popularity. As electronic media would inevitably win in an exercise that young. The pay was low. The hours became colorized as a matter of course, combined legitimate concern about a long and the amount of work demanded comic books became less popular simply minor industry’s bouts of irresponsibility prodigious. But young artists such as because, for young people, they were less with strong doses of repression, demoni- Will Eisner (The Spirit, the film noir visually interesting. As a child, I found zation, and panic. of comics—Eisner has been called the the color of comics both sensual and Bans against the sale of comics began Orson Welles of the genre), Lou Fine supernatural.) popping up in various cities and states, (Dollman), Jack Cole (Plastic Man, a with varying degrees of popular and truly remarkable satiric comic book) and legal success. Catholic schools began Bob Kane (Batman, which he mostly sponsoring mass comic book burnings. cribbed from Johnston McCulley’s pulp (The American Catholic church loathed character, Zorro) began to think of the comic books although it did try to pub- creative possibilities of comic books as lish some of its own, with little popular a form, longer narratives of sequential success.) Newspaper and magazine art with splash pages and horizontal and articles were written about the comic vertical panels, a form in which they book menace. Politicians got into the could experiment, try to make drawings act, as they always do if there is an easy do new things, certainly more special target to demonize that cannot defend effects than any film at the time. Then, A boy of the early fifties keeps his fascination with comic-book fright under cover. itself well. (Art is ideal in that respect, the influence of cinema made the idea especially an art that appeals to the of telling a story of montage-like frames Part 2: “I’m a real wild child” young, where the inexpressible meets the even more fraught with the existential inarticulate.) Democratic senator from edginess of modernity. Superheroes reached their peak during World War II. After the war, readers Tennessee Estes Kefauver, an aspirant for Comic books really took off when two and creators both lost interest in them. the presidency, held the first Congres- young Jewish artists from Cleveland— What then emerged were four types of sional hearing on comic books (televised, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster—invented comic books that were highly popular no less) in 1950, part of a larger set of Superman who premiered in 1938. and, in different ways, problematic: hearings on organized crime from which “Children found special satisfaction in crime comics about violent criminals, comic books barely escaped unscathed. Superman,” writes Hajdu, “a fantasy romance comics about love and sex, But the industry could not escape adult wholly unlike other adults, perfect jungle comics about Tarzan-like heroes its most implacable foe, a psychiatrist in his childlike purity, who wields amaz- and heroines fighting or defending named Fredric Wertham, a name still ing powers to undo the wrongness in the natives on the dark continent, and held in infamy by comic book lovers and the grown-up world and who treats the horror comics with lurid depictions of free speech advocates today. Wertham, doing like play.” Superman ushered the gore. Critics considered these worse an urbane man who knew black writers first wave of popular mania for com- by far than superhero comics. The Ralph Ellison and Richard Wright, set ics built around superhero characters. resurgent interest in these comic books up a free psychiatric clinic in Harlem Superheroes would wax and wan in after the war coincided with the rise in in the 1940s (at a time when no one popularity over the next seventy years in juvenile delinquency; sensational stories took mental illness among black people comic books but without them it is quite of depraved and brutal teen crimes, seriously except as a sign of their racial possible comic books would never have the upsurge in street gang violence and inferiority); but if he held advanced caught on at all as a mass phenomenon. teenaged drug addiction, confused and racial views, he was also a relentless The elite and the educational establish- frightened the public. America seemed self-promoter and a fanatical hater ment criticized comic books as low, overrun by wild children. The youth of comic books of all sort because he dumb art, badly drawn, badly written, crime wave, real or imagined, coupled despised and distrusted popular culture. crude fantasy with racist stereotypes: the with the rise of the most sensational He was convinced that they harmed lowest sort of pulp fiction. They were sort of comic books, with blood, violent healthy children and severely damaged bad for children because they ruined death, and buxom women in states of the mentally ill. He thought they were their taste for good literature, although undress, was a recipe for cultural crisis. purveyors of fascism, racism, and por- more adolescents and young adults, by Coupled with the paranoia of the early nography. (Wertham, distressingly, was far, read comic books than chil- years of the Cold War, such a historical both absolutely right and utterly wrong dren. But while comic books moment could hardly have produced in his view. Comic books were loaded were thought to be bad, it was anything other than a confrontation be- with low-grade cheesecake, expressed Events in Branch, East Room, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994- a simplistic love of authority, and were 3300. quite racist. Yet comic books were more March Trail Blazers Book Club will discuss Angels’ Fall than this. Indeed, by the early 1950s, by Nora Roberts. 10am and 2pm, SLCL–Jamestown with comic books about black baseball Bluffs Branch, 4153 N. Hwy. 67, 741-6800. star Jackie Robinson, heroic women You are invited to a book signing with Seth Davis, reporters, detectives, and ingenues in All events are free unless otherwise indicated. Au- CBS sports analyst and Sports Illustrated columnist, modest dress, and heroes that questioned thor events generally followed by signings. All phone author of When March Went Mad. 7pm, Left Bank authority, it might be said that some were numbers have 314 prefix unless otherwise indicat- Books Downtown, 321 N. 10th St., 436-03049. ed. the opposite of what Wertham said they You are invited to a poetry reading with Kevin Prufer. were.) Wertham, like all the other critics, Sunday, March 1 His newest books are National Anthem and Fallen never bothered to ask why young people from a Chariot. His next book, Little Paper Sacrifice, Left Bank Books invites you to a signing with one of is forthcoming. The Poetry and Short Story Reading liked comic books, nor did he bother to China’s most successful journalists, Xinran, author Series is co-sponsored by the UM–St. Louis Center explain why the bad elements of comic of books on the lives of Chinese women, including for Humanities, MFA Program, and Gallery 210. books, which were certainly not exclusive The Good Women of China, Sky Burial, and China Please park in North Millennium garage. 7pm, Gal- to them, were not equally bad for adults Witness. 4pm, 399 N. Euclid, 367-6731. lery 210, 516-5699. or what was it about adults that made Monday, March 2 Observable Readings at Schlafly Bottleworks is them magically more capable of not being pleased to present poets Jericho Brown and Mi- UM–St. Louis Language and Literature faculty cel- deranged by them. His intellectually chael Dumanis. 8pm, Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 ebrate The Poetry of Appetite as they read and dis- Southwest Ave. (at Manchester), 973-0616. irresponsible, poorly researched but bril- cuss some of their favorite works in various languag- liantly polemical 1954 book, Seduction of es, such as French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Latin, and Japanese, along with translations of these Saturday, March 7 the Innocent, did more to wreck the comic The Mystery Lover’s Book Club meets to discuss book trade than anything else. Coupled readings. This event is in honor of National Foreign Language Week. Sponsored by UM–St. Louis Cen- In Dublin’s Fair City by Rhys Bowen. 10am, SLPL– with Bill Gaines’s disastrous attempt to ter for the Humanities. Park in Lot C. 12:15pm, Room Carondelet Branch, 6800 Michigan Ave., 752-9224. defend his notorious, over-the-top gory 222, JC Penney Conference Center, 516-5699. St. Louis Writers Guild invites you to its March and violent but brilliantly iconoclastic EC River Styx celebrates its second annual Schlafly workshop, So You’ve Written a Book, Now What? Comics at the 1954 Congressional comic Beer MicroFiction Contest, featuring Amina Gau- presented by author of Dregs, Barri Bumgarner. book hearings, the forces for decency tier and Chuck Sweetman. Admission is $3. 7pm, Register in advance at http://www.stlwritersguild.org. 10am, location TBA. won out and the comic book industry, Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust St., 533-4541. like the music industry in the 1980s in a St. Louis County Library hosts the Book Bunch, Authors @ Your Library presents Wilfred Bere- whose selection this month is The Glass Castle by swill, who will read from and sign his book A Reason controversy over dirty lyrics, submitted to for Dying. Books available for sale. 11am, SLPL–Ca- self-regulation and a code that virtually Jeanette Walls. Registration required. 7pm, SLCL– Grand Glaize Branch, Meeting Room 1, 1010 Mer- rondelet Branch, 6800 Michigan Ave., 752-9224. ended the art form as any sort of force in amec Station Rd., 636-225-6454. School counselor Mike Cerkovnik will discuss Mak- American popular culture until the rise ing Learning Whole by David Perkins. 1pm, B&N of the Marvel superhero era of the 1960s Tuesday, March 3 Ladue, 8871 Ladue Rd., 862-2948. that produced Spiderman, the Hulk, Iron Machacek Book Discussion Group welcomes Borders Books will host author Jackie Trottmann, Man, the Fantastic Four, and a host of new members. Call for the current selection. 10am, with her meditation CD, Be Still. 1pm, Borders Sun- others. SLPL–Machacek Branch, 6424 Scanlan Ave., 781- set Plaza, 10990 Sunset Hills Plz., 909-0300. 2948. Hajdu’s book is not the first account of Borders Books invites you to a Publisher’s Associa- Webster Groves Public Library Book Discussion tion Workshop. 1pm, Borders Sunset Plaza, 10990 the rise and fall of comic books. Seal of Group will meet to discuss Boomsday by Christo- Sunset Hills Plz., 909-0300. Approval: The History of the Comic Code pher Buckley. 6pm, 301 E. Lockwood, 961-3784. AUTHOR SHOUT OUT! Local authors will have by Kiste Nyberg (1998) and Comic Book a chance to “pitch” and sell their books to readers Nation: The Transformation of Youth Cul- Wednesday, March 4 who appreciate the vision of hometown talent, vi- ture in America by Bradford W. Wright Washington University Assembly Series pres- sion, and voice. Featured authors include Rebecca (2001), both cover a lot of the same ents Paul Alivisatos. In his talk for the Arthur Holly Carron, Marie Chew-Elliott, Annette R. Crymes, Compton Lecture “Development of New Nanocrystal ground but from somewhat different Jose Sayyed-Fleming, Sheneatha Frison, Linda Molecules for Biological Sensing and Detecting,” he Darnece Jones, Chris and Tom McClarren, Sean angles. Hajdu’s book is rich with voices: will describe his work and the promise it holds for Muhammad, Janet Riehl, Denita Robinson, Linda we hear from the artists, the children and creating new imaging tools in future scientific and Jo Smith, Denise Sumotzy, Tioliendo, and Sheila teens who read comics during this time, medical breakthroughs. 11am, Graham Chapel, WU Young. 3pm, SLPL–Schlafly Branch Library, 225 N. the people who sold them, the people Danforth Campus, 935-4620. Euclid Ave., 367-4120. who opposed them. In this way, the book Borders Book Club will meet in the café to discuss presents a remarkably vivid picture of Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum. 7pm, Borders Tuesday, March 10 Sunset Hills, 10990 Sunset Hills Plz., 909-0300. how people felt about their own actions Jewish Literature: Identity and Imagination: A Reading and Discussion Series (sponsored by and about the stakes involved. A highly Thursday, March 5 Nextbook and the American Library Associa- recommended book. Mystery Lover’s Book Club will discuss Not in the tion) presents “Between Two Worlds: Stories Flesh by Ruth Rendell. 10am, SLCL–Headquarters of Estrangement and Homecoming”; partici- st. louis literary calendar continued pants will discuss Kaaterskill Falls by Allegra Good- 527-2148. Achy Obejas will sign her new novel, Ruins. Obejas man, facilitated by Julia Lieberman. Please RSVP at is an award-winning journalist and novelist, best-sell- 977-3107. 10am, Pius XII Memorial Library (Knights Sunday, March 15 ing poet, and translator (into Spanish) of Junot Diaz’s Room), Saint Louis University, 3650 Lindell Blvd. The BookClub’s 398th discussion will feature The The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. 7pm, LBB, The Tuesday Night Writers’ Critique Group will Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals 399 N. Euclid, 367-6731. meet to read and critique one another’s work. Writers by Michael Pollan. For more information, venue, and Urban Lit Discussion Group will meet to discuss of all levels of experience are welcome. For more in- time email [email protected] or call 636-451- Midnight by Sister Souljah. 7pm, SLPL–Carpenter formation, [email protected]. 7pm, B&N 3232. Branch, 3309 S. Grand Blvd., 772-6586. Crestwood, 9618 Watson Rd. Join a workshop with poet/critic Hadara Bar-Nadov, Wednesday Night Book Discussion Group will Brentwood Public Library Book Club will meet to whose book of poetry, A Glass of Milk to Kiss Good- discuss Away by Amy Bloom. 7pm, SLCL–Cliff Cave discuss Down River by John Hart. 7pm, 8765 Eulalie night, was chosen as the winner of the 2005 MAR- Branch, 5430 Telegraph Rd., 487-6003. GIE Book Prize. 1:30pm, UCPL, 6702 Delmar Blvd., Ave., 963-8630. Evening Book Discussion Group will discuss The 973-0616. St. Louis County Library’s Reader Rendezvous River Wife by Jonis Agee. 7:30pm, SLCL–Oak Bend group will discuss Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. 7pm, Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., 822-0051. SLCL–Tesson Ferry Branch, 9920 Lin-Ferry Rd., Monday, March 16 843-0560. You are invited to a literary reading with Andrew Thursday, March 19 Altschul, Distinguished Visiting Writer at UM–St. A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena de Blasi will HQ Evening Book Discussion will meet to discuss Louis, as he reads from his recent work, Lady La- be the subject of the Book Discussion Group. 2pm, Pompeii: A Novel by Robert Harris. 7pm, SLCL– zarus. Sponsored by UM–St. Louis, Center for the SLCL–Indian Trails Branch, 8400 Delport Dr., 428- Headquarters Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994- Humanities. Park in Lot C. 12:15pm, Room 222, JC 5424. 3300. Penney Conference Center, UMSL, 516-5699. The Writing Program invites you to a reading with The Foreign Literature Discussion Group will meet Natalie Goldberg, writing workshop teacher and au- Visiting Hurst Professor Lydia Davis, who will read to discuss The Radetzky March by J. Roth. Discount thor of the classic Writing Down the Bones, will sign from her fiction. 8pm, Hurst Lounge, Duncker 201, copies of the book are for sale at Borders Brentwood her new book, Old Friend from Far Away. 7pm, LBB, WU Danforth Campus, 935-5190. and Left Bank Books. 7:30pm, Washington Univer- 399 N. Euclid, 367-6731. sity’s West Campus, 7425 Forsyth Blvd., 727-6118. River Styx at Duff’s invites you to “A Night of Irish Saturday, March 21 Wednesday, March 11 Poetry and Music” with Eammon Wall, Nathalie An- Romance Writers of America is proud to host Col- derson, Drucilla Wall, and Gearoid O hAllmurain. Bookies Book Discussion Group will discuss this leen Gleason, award-winning author of the Gardella Admission is $5; for members, students, and seniors, month Take Big Bites by Linda Ellerbee. 2pm, SLCL– Vampire books. Gleason will talk about her path to $4. 7:30pm, Duff’s Restaurant, 392 N. Euclid, 533- Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., 822-0051. publication, with a special emphasis on author public- 4541. ity and promotions. Visitors are also welcome to at- Boone’s Bookies will discuss The Camel Bookmo- tend the RWA general meeting at 10am. 11am, B&N bile by Masha Hamilton. 2pm and 7pm, SLCL–Daniel Tuesday, March 17 Crestwood, 9618 Watson Rd., 843-9480. Boone Branch, 300 Clarkson Rd., 636-227-9630. The Tuesday Night Writers’ Critique Group will Saturday Reading Club invites you to join the group meet to read and critique each others’ work. Writers as they read and discuss African American titles. Call Thursday, March 12 of all levels of experience are welcome. For more in- 383-3021 for selection. 12:30pm, SLPL–Julia Davis SLCL–Indian Trails Branch invites you to join the formation, [email protected]. 7pm, B&N Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Rd. Murder of the Month Book Club, which will be dis- Crestwood, 9618 Watson Rd. cussing The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr. 3:30pm, Buder Branch Book Discussion Group will discuss The book discussion group will meet to discuss 8400 Delport Dr., 428-5424. The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl. 1pm, SLPL–Bud- Shadow Country by Peter Mathiessen. 7pm, SLPL– er Branch, 4401 Hampton, 352-2900. Public Contemplation: A Philosophy and Religion Kingshighway, 2260 S. Vandeventer Ave., 771-5450. Book Discussion Group will discuss On Human Join author Shubha B. Subbarao as she discusses Book Club Meeting will discuss The Tender Bar: Nature by Edward Wilson. 7pm, SLPL–Carpenter Hindu Wedding Rituals: Symbolism and Significance. a Memoir. SLCL–Prairie Commons 7pm, 915 Utz Branch, 3309 S. Grand Blvd., 772-6586. 2pm, SLCL–Daniel Boone Branch Asian Center, 300 Lane, 895-1023. Clarkson Rd., 636-227-9630. Friday, March 13 Visiting Hurst Professor Lydia Davis will give a craft Great Expectations Discussion Group will discuss talk entitled “A Beloved Duck Gets Cooked: Writing Sunday, March 22 Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts. 10am, SLCL– Outside the Mainstream.” She is the author of four You are invited to a book signing with author William Rock Road Branch, 10267 St. Charles Rock Rd., collections of short fiction, including Varieties of Dis- Stage, who will sign his new book, Fool for Life. 1pm, 429-5116. turbance and Break It Down, and a novel, The End Borders Sunset Hills, 10990 Sunset Hills Plz., 909- of the Story. 8pm, Hurst Lounge, Duncker 201, WU 0300. Saturday, March 14 Danforth Campus, 935-5190. Romance Readers Book Club will discuss Sweet Wednesday, March 18 Monday, March 23 Talk by Susan Mallery. 10am, SLPL–Buder Branch, ¡Leamos! Spanish Book Discussion Group will 4401 Hampton, 352-2900. Pageturners Book Club meets to discuss The Tor- discuss Fabulas de una Abuela Extraterrestre by tilla Curtain by T. Coraghessan Boyle. 2pm, SLCL– Daina Chaviano. 7pm, SLPL–Carpenter Branch, Borders Books is pleased to present author Shawn Tesson Ferry Branch, 9920 Lin-Ferry Dr., 843-0560. Sheldon as he signs his new book, Stranded. 1pm, 3309 S. Grand Blvd., 772-6586. Borders Sunset Hills, 10990 Sunset Hills Plz., 909- Join the Eureka Hills Book Discussion Group, 0300. which meets once a month to discuss a new and Tuesday, March 24 exciting selection. Stop by the Eureka Hills circula- Jewish Literature: Identity and Imagination: A The St. Louis Classical Club will discuss Eurip- tion desk to check out your copy of the next book up Reading and Discussion Series (sponsored by ides’ play Iphigenia at Aulis. 1:30pm, SLCL– for discussion. 6pm, SLCL–Eureka Hills Branch, 103 Nextbook and the American Library Association) Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., 636- Hilltop Village Ctr., 636-938-4520. presents “Between Two Worlds: Stories of Estrange- announcements ment and Homecoming”; participants will discuss Out of Egypt by Andre Aciman, facilitated by Julia Lie- berman. Please RSVP to 977-3107. 10am, Pius XII Speakers for Faculty Fellows Memorial Library (Knights Room), Saint Louis Uni- versity, 3650 Lindell Blvd. Lecture and Workshop Series, 2009 Join the Grand Glaize Library Book Discussion Group as they discuss The Good Women of China Faculty Fellow Lecture But this was a tricky business, since the by Xinran. 2pm, SLCL–Grand Glaize Branch, 1010 Andrea Friedman island remained a colonial possession. Meramec Station Rd., 636-225-6454. This lecture will explore the ways that Associate Profes- Authors @ Your Library presents Charles R. American and Puerto Rican officials Smith, the Library’s Read It Forward author, who sor of History and sought to counter the critique of the an- wrote Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Mu- Women, Gender, ti-colonialist Nationalist Party, includ- hammad Ali and Chameleon. 6pm, SLPL–Carpenter and Sexuality ing their efforts to remake Puerto Rico’s Branch, 3309 S. Grand Blvd., 772-6586. Studies at Wash- political economy and their responses to St. Louis County Library invites you to the Bridgeton ington University Nationalist “terrorism” such as the 1954 Trails Book Discussion Group; the book this month in St. Louis is Matter of Honor by Louis Begley. 7pm, SLCL– assault on the U.S. House of Represen- Bridgeton Trails Branch, 3455 McKelvey Rd., 291- Tuesday, March 17 tatives led by Lolita Lebrón. I suggest 7570. 4 p.m., Women’s Building, Formal that policymakers distinguished the As the Page Turns Book Discussion Group will Lounge masculine, westernized Commonwealth discuss Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris. 7pm, from the feminine, dark Nationalists, SLCL–Weber Road Branch, 4444 Weber Rd., 638- Lecture: Bringing Anti/Colonialism displacing onto anti-colonialists the 2210. Home: Gendering Puerto Rican Na- humiliating dependence of the island as Wednesday, March 25 tionalism in the Early Cold War a whole and signifying the illegitimacy of the entire quest for independence. Bookies Book Discussion Group will meet to dis- In the post–World War II struggle cuss Thunderstruck by Eric Larson. 2pm, SLCL–Oak between the United States and the The events are free and open to the Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., 822-0051. Soviet Union for the allegiance of the public. Please call the Center at 314- Washington University Assembly Series is pleased Global South, American officials sought 935-5576 for a free parking sticker to present distinguished mathematician Robert Os- to make Puerto Rico a “showplace of and to reserve a seat so that we can serman, who will deliver a lecture titled, “How the democracy,” an exemplar of the prom- have an accurate count. Refreshments Gateway Arch Got Its Shape.” 4pm, Steinberg Audi- ises offered by American-style “develop- torium, WU Danforth Campus, 935-4620. will be provided. ment” to the newly visible third world. The Central Book Discussion Group will discuss Ironweed by William Kennedy. Call Popular Library at 539-0396 for details. 4pm, Meeting Room 1, SLPL– Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. You are invited to a book signing with Anne Easter Boone Branch Asian Center, 300 Clarkson Rd., 636- ored at River Styx’s annual Art and Literary Feast at Smith, author of A Rose for the Crown and Daughter 227-9630. Duff’s Restaurant on Monday, May 5. For $45 per of York and author of a new English historical novel, Lynne Greenberg, author of the memoir The Body plate, attendees will feast on fine Duff’s cuisine and The King’s Grace. 7pm, LBB, 399 N. Euclid, 367- Broken, will sign her book. 7pm, LBB, 399 N. Euclid, readings by award-winning writer Pinckney Bene- 6731. 367-6731. dict and renowned poet Mary Jo Bang. All current high school students from the bi-state area are eli- Thursday, March 26 gible. Students may submit up to three poems per Saturday, March 28 entry to River Styx Founders Award each winter; the Poet Kevin Young, author of six books of poems— Meet local author Kyle Beachy. He will be discussing reading period for the Founders Award will reopen most recently, Dear Darkness—will read from his and signing copies of his new book, The Slide. 2pm, on February 1. Winners will be notified in mid-April. work. 1:30pm, Pearson House, Webster University, B&N Ladue Crossing, 8871 Ladue Rd., 862-2948. All entries should be postmarked by March 31. River 8260 Big Bend Blvd., 968-7170. Styx, Founders Award, 3547 Olive St., Ste. 107, St. St. Louis Public Library’s Schlafly Book Discus- Notices Louis, MO 63103. sion Group invites you to join them as they read and 2009 River Styx International Poetry Contest discuss a diverse selection of contemporary literature. A prize of $1,500 and publication in River Styx is Abbreviations The title this month is Mistress of the Art of Death by awarded annually for a single poem. Stephen Dunn STL: Saint Louis; B&N: Barnes & Noble; LBB: Left Ariana Franklin. 7pm, SLPL–Schlafly Branch Library, will judge. All entries will be considered for publi- Bank Books; SLCL: St. Louis County Library; SLPL: 225 N. Euclid, 367-4120. cation. Submit up to three poems totaling no more St. Louis Public Library; SCCCL: St. Charles City than 14 pages with a $20 entry fee, which includes County Library; UCPL: University City Public Library, Friday, March 27 a one-year subscription to River Styx. Must be post- WU: Washington University, WGPL: Webster Groves Meet with your peers and the St. Louis Writers & marked by May 31, 2009. River Styx, International Public Library. Performing Guild and learn how to enhance your Poetry Contest, 3547 Olive St., Ste. 107, St. Louis, MO 63103. Check the online calendar at cenhum.artsci.wustl. writing skills. 10am, SLPL–Baden Branch, 8448 edu for more events and additional details. To Church Rd., 388-2400. River Styx announces its fourth annual Founders advertise, send event details to litcal@artsci. Let’s Chat: Book Discussion will discuss Peony Award, an annual prize given to the best poem by a wustl.edu, or call 935-5576. in Love. Registration required. 2pm, SLCL–Daniel high school student. The winning poem will be hon- announcements

Conference on Man the Hunted: The Evolution of Sociality, Altruism, and Well-Being

Washington University will host a conference March 12–14, Saturday, 2009, on Man the Hunted: The Evolution of Sociality, Altruism, March 14, and Well-Being, coordinated by R. W. Sussman (Anthropology) 9:00 a.m. to and C. R. Cloninger (Psychiatry). It will bring together a num- noon, consists ber of distinguished scholars from a diversity of disciplines. of a round- Most primates live in social groups. This is recognized as table discus- a predator protection mechanism. The more eyes and ears to sion open to detect predators and the more animals to mob them, the better the public and the group is protected. Early humans have traditionally been free of charge thought of as hunters. However, because of a number of factors, (Laboratory it is more likely that they, like most other primates, were prey Science Build- species. Sociality, cooperation, interindividual dependency, and ing, Room mutual protection are all part of the toolkit of social-living prey. 300). Cooperation and altruism are often assumed to be among hu- Conference participants are as follows: Dan Blazer, Duke; manity’s essential and defining characteristics. However, it has K. M. Cloninger, Anthropaideia Foundation; Brian Ferguson, been difficult to account for the origins of altruistic motives and Rutgers; Douglas Fry, Åbo Akademi; Finland; Agustin Fuentes, behavior. Scientists have found data on altruistic behavior in Notre Dame; Paul Garber, U. Illinois; Walter Goldschmidt, many animal species, as well as in human societies, that do not UCLA; Donna Hart, UMSL; David Hay, U. Aberdeen; Helen conform with models based on competition and the evolution- Herrman, U. Melbourne; Sita Kedia, U. Colorado; Bruce ary drive to pass on selfish genes. There is ample evidence that Knauft, Emory; Martin Kowalewski, Museo Argentino de the benefits of cooperation in vertebrate societies show parallels Ciencias Naturales; Katherine MacKinnon, SLU; Juan Mezzich, to those in human societies where altruism between unrelated NYU; Mary Pavelka, U. Calgary; Telmo Pievani, U. Milan; individuals is frequent and social institutions are often main- James Rilling, Emory; Bernard Wood, George Washington tained by generalized cooperation and reciprocity. U.;.Seth Pollak, Charles Snowdon, Karen Strier, U. Wisconsin; C. R. Cloninger, Lauren Munsch, Jane Phillips-Conroy, R.W. We will review recent debates about the nature and origins Sussman, Washington U. of cooperative behavior and the idea that unselfish cooperative behavior has evolved in group-living animals. We will explore Robert Wald Sussman is Professor of Anthropology and Environ- many of the mechanisms nonhuman primates and humans have mental Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. evolved as protection against predators, including cooperation and sociality, and discuss how behavioral, hormonal, neuropsychiatric, and developmental Non-Profit Org.

Financial assistance for this project has U.S. Postage mechanisms related to our evolution as been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, and the Regional a prey species might be affecting mod- Arts Commission. PAID St. Louis, MO ern human and nonhuman primate The Center for the Humanities Permit No. 2535 behavior. We will attempt to integrate Campus Box 1071 and synthesize information on the Old McMillan Hall, Rm S101 proximate and evolutionary underpin- One Brookings Drive nings of human cooperative behavior, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 altruism, and sociality. In a shrinking Phone: (314) 935-5576 world, the proper mechanisms for fu- email: [email protected] ture peaceful global interactions neces- http://cenhum.artsci.wustl.edu sitate a better understanding of how, when, and why humans cooperate. The conference begins with a two- day workshop, March 12–13, at the Knight Center. The Knight Center charges a $40 half-day and $70 full- day attendance fee. Please contact R. W. Sussman ([email protected]) or C .R. Cloninger ([email protected]).