LIVE! From City Lights

Daniel Shank Cruz in conversation with Samuel R. Delany, celebrating the U.S. launch of the publication of "Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985," edited by Andrew Nette & Iain McIntyre, published by PM Press. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom and hosted by Peter Maravelis. This session was part of a weekend-long symposium exploring the radical currents of Science Fiction. It was presented by City Lights in conjunction with PM Press. You can purchase copies of "Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985" directly from City Lights here: https://citylights.com/sci-fi-fantasy/dangerous-visions-new-worlds-radical/ Born into a distinguished Harlem family, Samuel R. Delany was a success at nineteen, changing the tone, the content, and the very shape of modern science fiction with his acclaimed novels and stories that bridged the apparent gap between science and fantasy to explore gay sexuality, racial and class consciousness, and the limits of imagination and memory. His vast body of work includes memoir, comics, space adventure, mainstream novels, homosexual erotica, and literary criticism of a high order. He has received numerous honors for his work including numerous Nebula and Hugo Awards, the J. Lloyd Eaton Lifetime Achievement Award in Science Fiction, the Kessler Award, and the Anisfield-Wolf Lifetime Achievement Award amongst others. His fiction includes Babel-17, The Einstein Intersection (winners of the Nebula Award for 1966 and 1967 respectively), Nova, Dhalgren, the Return to Nevèrÿon series, and Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders. Until his recent retirement he was a professor of English and creative writing at Temple University. Daniel Shank Cruz is an author and educator. Cruz is the author of "Queering Mennonite Literature: Archives, Activism, and the Search for Community" (Penn State University Press, 2019. Their research has merged queer theory with Mennonite studies producing illuminating and original work that explores the intersection of critical theory with gender studies and religion. This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation/

Mike Stax in conversation with Michael Moorcock, celebrating the US launch of the publication of "Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985," edited by Andrew Nette & Iain McIntyre, published by PM Press. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom and hosted by Peter Maravelis. This session was part of a weekend-long symposium exploring the radical currents of Science Fiction, presented by City Lights in conjunction with PM Press. You can purchase copies of "Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985" directly from City Lights here: https://citylights.com/sci-fi-fantasy/dangerous-visions-new-worlds-radical/ Michael Moorcock is a writer, best-known for his work in science fiction and fantasy. He is considered one of the leading voices of the genre. He has also published a number of well-received literary novels as well as comic thrillers, graphic novels and non-fiction. He has worked as an editor and is also a successful musician. He is best known for his novels about the character Elric of Melniboné, a seminal influence on the field of fantasy since the 1960s and '70s. As editor of the British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirectly in the United States, leading to the advent of cyberpunk. His publication of "Bug Jack Barron" (1969) by Norman Spinrad as a serial novel was notorious; in British Parliament, some British MPs condemned the Arts Council for funding the magazine. Mr. Moorcock is also a recording musician, contributing to the bands Hawkwind, Blue Öyster Cult, Robert Calvert, Spirits Burning, and his own project, Michael Moorcock & The Deep Fix. In 2008, The Times named Mr. Moorcock in its list of "The 50 greatest British Writers". Mike Stax is a writer, editor, publisher, record producer, and musician. He is the founder and editor of Ugly Things Magazine, and frontman of the musical group The Loons. His work with Ugly Things has been instrumental in the preservation of late 20th century garage, psychedelic, punk, and alternative rock music history. He is currently working as co-writer (with Rick Brown) on a feature film about the seminal 60's psychedelic rock group The Misunderstood. This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation/

Daniel Levin Becker in conversation with Ian S. Port, celebrating the release of his new book "What’s Good: Notes on Rap and Language," published by City Lights Books. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom and hosted by Peter Maravelis. You can purchase "What’s Good: Notes on Rap and Language" directly from City Lights at a 30% discount here: https://citylights.com/city-lights-published/whats-good-notes-on-rap-language/ An early contributor to the groundbreaking lyrics site Rap Genius (now known as Genius), Daniel Levin Becker is an American critic, translator, and editor, and the youngest member of the Oulipo literary collective. He is the author of "Many Subtle Channels: In Praise of Potential Literature" (Harvard UP, 2012) and the translator of, among others, Georges Perec’s "La Boutique Obscure" (Melville House, 2013) and Eduardo Berti’s "An Ideal Presence" (Fern Books, 2021), and co-translator of Frédéric Forte’s "Minute-Operas" (Burning Deck, 2015) and "All That Is Evident Is Suspect: Readings from the Oulipo 1963–2018" (McSweeney’s, 2018). He is a contributing editor to The Believer, senior editor at McSweeney’s Publishing, and English editor for the French nonfiction publisher Odile Jacob. He lives in Paris. Ian S. Port is the author of "The Birth of Loud" (Scribner, 2019), an acclaimed portrait of electric guitar innovators Leo Fender and Les Paul and their impact on music. Ian’s writing has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Village Voice, and many other outlets. A Bay Area native and former music editor of SF Weekly, Ian spent seven years in New York City, and is trying to decide where to live next. Songs included in this event: "Exhibit C (Instrumental)" by Jay Electronica; Decon Records, 2009; produced by Just Blaze "We Major" by Kanye West; Roc-a-Fella Records, 2005; produced by Kanye Wet, Baby Dubb, and Jon Brion "Stay Schemin (Album Version [Explicit])" by Rick Ross; Maybach Music Group, 2012; produced by the Beat Bully This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation/

In conjunction with MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and Synergetic Press, City Lights presents "Psyche Unbound," a day-long appreciation of Stanislav Grof. "Comparative and Theoretical Studies" is the third and final session of the day-long symposium in three sessions exploring the life and work of Stanislav Grof, the world’s leading researcher in psychedelic therapy, breathwork, and the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness. This final session explores how the work of Stanislav Grof has been applied and looking toward future paradigms of therapeutic practice. A panel discussion with Tom Riedlinger, Tom Roberts, Diane Haug, Jasmine Virdi and John Buchanan. Moderated by Maria Mangini, with an opening statement from Peter Maravelis. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom on Saturday, January 22, 2022. The event coincided with the launch of the new book: "Psyche Unbound: Essays in Honor of Stanislav Grof" Edited by Richard Tarnas, Ph.D. and Sean Kelly, Ph.D. and published by MAPS, with Synergetic Press. You can purchase copies of "Psyche Unbound: Essays in Honor of Stanislav Grof" directly from City Lights here: https://citylights.com/cognitive-science/psyche-unbound-tribute-to-stan-groff/ Special Thanks to the following for their support of this event: California Institute of Integral Studies, Tam Integration, Psychedelic Seminars, Esalen Institute, Psychedelic Society UK, Psychedelics Today, and DoubleBlind Mag. This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation/

In conjunction with MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and Synergetic Press, City Lights presents "Psyche Unbound," a day-long appreciation of Stanislav Grof. "Psychotherapy and Consciousness" is the second session of the day-long symposium in three sessions, exploring the life and work of Stanislav Grof, the world’s leading researcher in psychedelic therapy, breathwork, and the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness. This session is an overview of the research and main ideas of Stanislav Grof with guests Michael Mithoefer, Roshi Joan Halifax, Charles Grob, Paul Grof and Jenny Wade. Moderated by Janis Phelps, with an opening statement from Peter Maravelis. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom on Saturday, January 22, 2022. The event coincided with the launch of the new book: "Psyche Unbound: Essays in Honor of Stanislav Grof" Edited by Richard Tarnas, Ph.D. and Sean Kelly, Ph.D. and published by MAPS, with Synergetic Press. You can purchase copies of "Psyche Unbound: Essays in Honor of Stanislav Grof" directly from City Lights here: https://citylights.com/cognitive-science/psyche-unbound-tribute-to-stan-groff/ Special Thanks to the following for their support of this event: California Institute of Integral Studies, Tam Integration, Psychedelic Seminars, Esalen Institute, Psychedelic Society UK, Psychedelics Today, and DoubleBlind Mag. This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation/

In conjunction with MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)and Synergetic Press, City Lights presents "Psyche Unbound," a day-long appreciation of Stanislav Grof. "Early Witnesses and Allies" is the first session of the day-long symposium in three sessions, exploring the life and work of Stanislav Grof, the world’s leading researcher in psychedelic therapy, breathwork, and the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness. A storytelling event and tribute with Stanislav and Brigitte Grof joined by Rick Tarnas, Sean Kelly, Rick Doblin, Susan Hess Logeals (Producer of the film "Way of the Psychonaut"), Will Keepin, and Diane Haug. Moderated by David Presti, with an opening statement from Peter Maravelis. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom on Saturday, January 22, 2022. The event coincided with the launch of the new book: "Psyche Unbound: Essays in Honor of Stanislav Grof" Edited by Richard Tarnas, Ph.D. and Sean Kelly, Ph.D. and published by MAPS, with Synergetic Press. You can purchase copies of "Psyche Unbound: Essays in Honor of Stanislav Grof" directly from City Lights here: https://citylights.com/cognitive-science/psyche-unbound-tribute-to-stan-groff/ Special Thanks to the following for their support of this event: California Institute of Integral Studies, Tam Integration, Psychedelic Seminars, Esalen Institute, Psychedelic Society UK, Psychedelics Today, and DoubleBlind Mag. This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: https://citylights.com/foundation/

This is the second part of the celebration of the life and work of Diane di Prima: a panel discussion celebrating the City Lights publication of "Spring and Autumn Annals" by Diane di Prima with appearances by Sheppard Powell, Ammiel Alcalay, Amber Tamblyn, and Ana Božičević. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom, hosted by Peter Maravelis and moderated by Sara Larsen. This event was sponsored by the City Lights Foundation and Lost & Found: The CUNY Poetics Document Initiative. You can purchase "Spring and Autumn Annals” directly from City Lights at a 30% discount here: https://citylights.com/beat-literature-poetry-history/spring-autumn-annals/ City Lights events calendar: https://citylights.com/events/

A tribute to Diane di Prima, marking one year since her passing in October 2020, with Hanif Abdurraqib, Garrett Caples, Jeanne di Prima, Sheppard Powell, Cedar Sigo, Sunnylyn Thibodeaux, Wendy Trevino, and Jenny Jo Wennlund. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom and hosted by Peter Maravelis. This event was sponsored by the City Lights Foundation and Lost & Found: The CUNY Poetics Document Initiative. You can purchase copies of "Revolutionary Letters" directly from City Lights at a 30% discount here: https://citylights.com/beat-literature-poetry-history/revolutionary-letters-50th-anniver/ Other books by Diane di Prima can be purchased directly from the City Lights Bookstore here: citylights.com/author/diane-di-prima/ City Lights events calendar: https://citylights.com/events/

Christopher W. Shaw in conversation with Ralph Nader, discussing his newly released book "First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat," published by City Lights Books. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom, hosted by Peter Maravelis and moderated by Katherine Isaac. You can purchase copies of "First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat" directly from City Lights at a 30% discount here: https://citylights.com/muckraking/1st-class-the-u-s-postal-service-d/ Christopher W. Shaw is an author, historian, and policy analyst. He has a Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Berkeley, and is the author of "Money, Power, and the People: The American Struggle to Make Banking Democratic" (University of Chicago Press, 2019) and "Preserving the People’s Post Office" (Essential Books, 2006). His research on the history of banking, money, labor, agriculture, social movements, and the postal system has been published in the following academic journals: Journal of Policy History, Journal of Social History, Agricultural History, Enterprise & Society, Kansas History, and Journalism History. Shaw was formerly a project director at the Center for Study of Responsive Law. He has worked on a number of policy issues, including the privatization of government services, health and safety regulations, and electoral reform. He has appeared in such media outlets as the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, New York Post, Village Voice, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Buffalo News, among others. Shaw lives in Berkeley, CA. Named by The Atlantic as one of the hundred most influential figures in American history, and by Time and Life magazines as one of the most influential Americans of the twentieth century, Ralph Nader has helped us drive safer cars, eat healthier food, breathe better air, drink cleaner water, and work in safer environments for more than four decades. Nader’s recent books include "Breaking Through Power" with City Lights, "Unstoppable," and "The Good Fight." Nader writes a syndicated column, has his own radio show, and gives lectures and interviews year round. Katherine Isaac is the Executive Director of the Debs-Jones-Douglass Institute (DJDI) where she advocates for the public good, including a strong and expanded public Postal Service. Previously, Isaac coordinated the Campaign for Postal Banking and A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service at the American Postal Workers Union. She currently serves as Board Treasurer of the Global Labor Justice/International Labor Rights Forum. Isaac is the author of "Civics for Democracy: A Journey for Teachers and Students." This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation

Steven Reigns in conversation with Jonny McGovern, discussing his new book "A Quilt for David," published by City Lights Books. This event was originally broadcast live via Zoom and hosted by Peter Maravelis. You can purchase copies of "A Quilt for David" directly from City Lights at a 30% discount here: https://citylights.com/poetry-published-by-city-lights/quilt-for-david/ Steven Reigns, Los Angeles poet and educator, was appointed the first Poet Laureate of West Hollywood. He has two previous collections, "Inheritance" and "Your Dead Body is My Welcome Mat," and over a dozen chapbooks. Reigns edited "My Life is Poetry," showcasing his students’ work from the first-ever autobiographical poetry workshop for LGBTQ seniors. Reigns has lectured and taught writing workshops around the country to LGBTQ youth and people living with HIV. He worked for a decade as an HIV test counselor in Florida and Los Angeles. Currently he is touring The Gay Rub, an exhibition of rubbings from LGBTQ landmarks around the world, and has a private practice as a psychotherapist. He lives in West Hollywood, CA. Jonny McGovern is a comedian, podcaster and the host/ executive producer of the long-running hit TV series “Hey Qween,” which showcases queer stories and performers. Editors Note: During this event, McGovern hosts a game called "Gaze Upon It," where he compiled a slideshow of images and has Reigns describe and elaborate on them. To see the images discussed, please visit the link below (segment begins approximately 26 minutes into the event): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-1u_jD3-co This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation