February 2010
Vernon
Mike
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First Personalities is a series on the First Person Arts Blog where we check up on and catch up with past Festival and Salon presenters and participants.
As a First Person Arts intern and a youngin to the organization, I can neither confirm nor deny whether this is definitely a first for us, but I can say it’s surely a testament to the small family feel of the arts world. I am here to report to you today on one First Person Festival artist writing about a book published by, you guessed it, another First Person Festival artist! The two artists are Daniel Mendelsohn and Ben Yagoda, respectively, and, as if the whole situation weren’t sufficiently meta already, Mendelsohn’s article, entitled “But Enough About Me: What Does the Popularity of Memoirs Tell Us About Ourselves,” referenced Yagoda’s latest book, entitled “Memoir: A History.”
Mendelsohn’s article appeared in the New Yorker; other periodicals and newspapers where you might have read him include The New York Times Book Review and New York Magazine; he is also widely anthologized and has authored six books, including his first, the memoir The Elusive Embrace: Desire and the Riddle of Identity. See his website, linked above, for a complete map of his oeuvre.
Mr. Mendelsohn’s article is a fascinating look at the history of confessional memoirs as a departure from chronology oriented autobiographies. It traces some of the major memoir writers of the Western World, starting with St. Augustine’s “Confessions” and brings us right up to writers of today, like the scandalized James Frey who mixed fiction with truth and to tell (what he thought) was a greater truth. Along the way Mendelsohn touches on historical phenomena such as slave narratives, making the personal political long before the phrase was coined by the 20th century feminist movement. Moreover, he provides keen insight into the evolving psychology and motivations of both memoirist and reader throughout the centuries.
Meanwhile, “Memoir: A History” is the ninth book that Mr. Yagoda has either written or co-edited. You can also find him writing about language and writing in publications such as The New York Times Book Review and Magazine, Esquire, and Rolling Stone. Publishers Weekly describes “Memoirs,” released in November 2009, as “a spirited account of a form of writing that since its inception has been one of the most contested and most popular.” It provides an in depth history of memoir writing in the English speaking world, and the truths that their authors are trying to share with their audience.
-J. Rudy Flesher
Tre tells funny tales about adventures in love 
and New Orleans. He’s also our host at tomorrow’s Slam. Join him and our guest storyteller – 2009’s Best Storyteller in Philadelphia, Ky Mettler – for a night of Emergency-themed stories at L’Etage.
February StorySlam at L’Etage
Tuesday, February 23rd
Doors at 7:30, Slam gears up at 8:30.
Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 for members. $4 well drink specials all night! More info at storyslams.firstpersonarts.org.
Emergencies can bring out the best – or the worst – in us. Listen to 2009’s Best Storyteller in Philly share her tale of Emergency! at next week’s StorySlam. Ky Mettler stormed the Grand Slam with her awesome story about finding an unexpected gender studies mentor in the scruffy, gruffy hitchhiker she once picked up on the side of the road. Tre Rials is Tuesday’s host.
February StorySlam at L’Etage
Tuesday, February 23rd
Doors at 7:30, Slam gets going at 8:30.
More info at storyslams.firstpersonarts.org.
Persepolis
Terrence by Daniel Heyman
So join us at BMFI for Warning: Graphic Content. (Isn’t that a sexy title?) We are bringing together three awesome graphic artists – Daniel Heyman, Jamar Nicholas and Josh Neufeld – to talk about their graphic non-fiction work, which depicts the stories of Iraqi war prisoners, Hurricane Katrina survivors, Geoffrey Canada and personal travels across the globe. Stay tuned for more on these artists on the FPA blog. The evening concludes with a screening of Persepolis. It’s a Philagrafika and One Book, One Philadelphia event, too! Tickets are on sale now. ($15, $10 for FPA members.)
Today I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with August Tarrier. An educator and award winning writer, she is also leading a workshop this coming weekend on memoir writing. We got a little into what she’s been up to, as well her plans for the workshop this weekend.
August Tarrier
Ms. Tarrier currently teaches creative writing and literature courses at Villanova University and community workshops such as ours; she also teaches college level writing courses in New Jersey high schools through a program with Rutgers University. These courses reach out to students in under served populations and provide a unique opportunity to stretch their capabilities.
You may have seen Ms. Tarrier most recently at The Diagram where her short story “Field Notes” was published. Selected by Brian Evenso, he writes of the piece “The story accrues only gradually, the situation subtly transforming as it develops. For me, it shimmers in that space between sense and ambiguity that keeps a story humming in your skull long after you’ve finished reading the words.”
You may also have seen Ms. Tarrier as the winner of the Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Contest for her piece “I Hold You Harmless.” While quite different in both style and content from “Field Notes,” it has a similar haunting quality about it that both amuses the reader, and keeps her on edge.
After covering some of her recent publications we got down to talking shop – workshop that is – and what you, the attendee, can expect out of her’s this weekend. Ms. Tarrier thought back to a workshop that she took at the Omega Institute in NY with Linda Barry, well known and off-beat author and cartoonist. She will, with that author’s permission, be utilizing some of the same exercises that Ms. Barry offered, and that started Ms. Tarrier’s memoir pouring out of her. Students will have the opportunity to write and share during the workshop, as well as share excerpts from pieces already written. Writers will explore how to approach writing about oneself in memoir, as well as cover the sticky subject of what to write down where family secrets, past lovers and more are involved – a clear concern for many a memoirist.
Please don’t hesitate to sign up – or get in touch with us here at First Person Arts if you have any questions – seats are going fast so reserve yours now!
- J. Rudy Flesher
First Personalities is a series on the First Person Arts Blog where we check up on and catch up with past Festival and Salon presenters and participants.
It’s almost Valentine’s Day and while I’m not the biggest celebrator of the holiday, I am completely charmed by former Salon artist Steve Powers and his Love Letters murals. So why not “Ride the Love Train” this Sunday?
The Love Train is a Mural Arts tour on the El, surveying the 50 murals that make up Powers’ Love Letters. Some are silly – Prepay is on. Let’s talk till my minutes are gone- while others are just darn romantic – Forever begins when you say yes. But the words and images all capture the sweetness and vulnerability of being in love, and that’s something worth celebrating every day.
P.S. There are some other Love Letters events this weekend too, like tonight’s opening of the A Love Letter for You art show at 1226 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA from 5:30 until 8:30. Or tomorrow’s book signing with Powers at Exit Skateshop (825 North 2nd Street) from 5-7.
Here is the winning video from Monday night’s Slam at World Cafe Live. Congrats to R. Eric Thomas for wooing over both the judges and our audience.
All of Monday’s videos are on our You Tube Channel (with the exception of our guest storyteller’s, which will be posted shortly!). And there are some great pics on our Flickr site. Photo by Erika Vonie.
Our next slam is Tuesday, February 23rd at L’Etage. Theme is Emergency! and our host is Tre Rials!
The World Cafe Live parking lot is plowed. Doug Didyoung is all set to host. And I’m sure many of you could use a night out after this snowy, housebound weekend and before the snow hits us all over again!
So I’ll see you at tonight’s Slam at World Cafe Live! 3025 Walnut St. Easily accessible via the Market-Frankford El 30th Street stop and regional rail. Doors at 7:30, Slam starts at 8:30. Tickets are $10, $8 for members, with $3 Yuengling draft specials all night!
And here is a FlashSlam of the winner of our last Slam, Alex!
Remember Chris’ winning “mailbox” story? It’s a tough one to forget!
See Chris tell another tale as guest storyteller at Monday night’s StorySlam at World Cafe Live! Doors at 7:30, Slam at 8:30. Grab a great meal off of the World Cafe Live menu – I’m a fan of their burger – or a $3 Yuengling draft, on special all night!
