Café Humanities is a series of informal discussions about the questions surrounding the humanities field today, led by Columbia University's foremost professors. The discussions are held at the Picnic Market Café at 2665 Broadway (between 101st and 102nd streets).

Space is limited; $10 cover (cash only) includes one drink
Humanities on Us, First Come, First Served
NO RSVP Necessary

To join our Café Humanities event distribution list or for more information about Café Humanities, contact us at cafehumanities@columbia.edu.

Fall 2009 Series on the Upper West Side:

“History Detectives” and Scholarly Historians
American Historian Gwendolyn Wright
September 21, 6–7 p.m.

Gwendolyn Wright, a professor of architecture at Columbia, also is a host of the popular PBS series “History Detectives”, which just aired its seventh season. Although TV is a great way to reach a large audience, many scholars are suspicious of it. Wright will explain the premises of the show and how the experience has affected her teaching.

Why Virginia Woolf Disliked Symbols
Literary Scholar and Critic Edward Mendelson
October 19, 6–7 p.m.

Modern literature was built out of symbols — characters or things with meanings much larger than themselves. Yet Virginia Woolf stood apart from a whole literary movement through her lifelong passionate rejection of the whole idea of symbols and archetypes that drove so much of modern art and thought. What did she have in mind by writing against the intellectual and artistic currents of her age, and how did her attitude toward symbols help to make her one of the greatest writers of her age?

Proust Wars
Literary Historian Elisabeth Ladenson
November 16, 6–7 p.m.

Ever since a number of publishers first rejected Swann’s Way on the basis that no one wants to read 50 pages of description of someone turning over in bed, Proust has elicited violently opposing responses among readers and critics. This talk will trace the history of readings of Proust, including battles over his style, depictions of homosexuality in his vast novel and competing translations.

Spirituality and Americans
Sociologist of Religion Courtney Bender
December 21, 6–7 p.m.

National polls report that growing numbers of Americans consider themselves “spiritual not religious” or “religiously non-affiliated” yet spiritual. What do they mean by this? When did it become possible for Americans to self-identify in this way? What are the implications for American society and politics? By presenting ways to think historically about spirituality in America, this talk will reveal a tangled, interesting story, complete with perplexing implications.