Esmé Hogeveen is our resident for June and July
Esmé is a writer and editor from Tkaronto/Toronto. Her criticism, essays, and creative nonfiction have appeared in frieze, Artforum, Bookforum, The New York Times, Interview Magazine, Spike Art Magazine, TANK Magazine, The LA Review of Books, Another Gaze, and The Toronto Star, among others.
She curates the experimental reading series Oral Method
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Oral Method, an experimental reading series from Toronto, will host writers and artists in London responding to the word 'peasant'.
“‘Peasant,’ when uttered almost invariably carries a host of denigratory synonyms . . . in English English, ‘a lout, a boor, a yokel, a dolt, a churl, a clodhopper’; in Irish English, ‘a bosthoon, a bogman, a culchie’; in American English, ‘hayseed, rube, hillbilly, hick” –Patrick Joyce
But is “peasant”—or any of its synonyms—truly a pejorative? Who are peasants and how might we interpret them today?
On Friday 10th July, Oral Method, a Toronto-based experimental reading series, will host writers and artists responding to these questions at A LOUT, A BOOR, A CHURL at The Writers’ Room, as part of Esmé Hogeveen’s time in residence at The Writers’ Room.
Please come along to hear new writing and performances by:
Lu Rose Cunningham
Abeera Khan
Daisy Lafarge
Lucy Mercer
Lola Olufemi
& Shovel Dance Collective
Doors at 6:30pm and readings + performances at 7pm.
Tickets by PWYC donation
Suggested amounts:
£0 (free)
£5 low income
£10 general
£15 pay it forward
Ticket sales will be split between The Writers’ Room, Oral Method, and the Right to Grow campaign in Hackney.
Textile artist Hannah Zbitnew will also be showing work responding to the same prompt—come see it on the 10th or during visiting hours (12-5pm) from July 7-12 at The Writers’ Room.
Note: The venue is accessible via two flights of stairs and sadly not wheelchair friendly.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Poster by @mkmk.studio ????
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Greetings!
You’re invited to join the Peasant! reading group at The Writers’ Room this June-July.
During 4 sessions (+ 1 bonus film screening), we’ll meet to discuss fiction, nonfiction, and other creative texts responding to the questions: Who are peasants and how do they relate to 21st-century life?
Over the course of the series, we’ll read the entirety of John Berger’s Pig Earth, the first novel (also feat. poetry and political reflections) from his acclaimed Into Their Labours trilogy, which tenderly chronicles European peasant life. We’ll also read excerpts from The Age of Insecurity by Astra Taylor, writer, documentary filmmaker, and co-founder of the Debt Collective; Property Journal by artist, writer, and organizer, Amy Ching-Yan Lam; Finding Albion by Zakia Sewell, writer and NTS and BBC radio host; as well as work from other artists, writers, and thinkers, including Alicia Nauta (Toronto-based artist) and Amanny Ahmad (Palestinian-American artist, foodmaker, and activist)!
As Patrick Joyce (author of Remembering Peasants) writes: “In an age of climate crisis, and the almost untrammelled capitalism and political self-interest driving it, something is to be learned from peasants’ connection to the cosmos”!
We’ll try our best with four sessions that respond to the following topics:
•1) Tues, June 23: Survival & (In)security
•2) Tues, June 30: Homes & Villages
•3) Tues, July 7: Labour & Revolt
•4) Tues, July 21: Stories & (Self) Portraits
•*Public film screening* Tues, July 28: The Gleaners and I, directed by Agnès Varda, with an introduction and short film programme curated by Rita Conry, Co-director of the Offbeat Folk Film Club
•Location + timing: The reading group will meet from 6:30-8:30PM at The Writers’ Room (35 Britannia Row, Essex Road, Islington, N1 8QH)
•Reading expectations: Pig Earth (the Berger novel)is quite a smooth read and we’ll cover approx 50 pages per week + approx 30-50 additional pages of other texts; some weeks, this will include a podcast option and/or visual materials. The hope is to come together and discuss ideas together in an open, friendly way without pressure, academic or otherwise!
•Commitment: There are a limited number of slots, so please reply at your soonest convenience if you’re interested in participating!
Note: we know summer is busy (!) so we understand if you can’t confirm attendance to every session, but please let us know if you anticipate being able to attend all, most, or otherwise
•Cost: Free :)
If you have any questions, please reach out, & please feel free to fwd on to pals or colleagues!
Warmly,
Esmé
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E. Hogeveen
Writer | Editor
esmehogeveen.com
