Provocate.org

Do we really want to know what people form the Middle East think about the United States? We do if we want to improve relations. (more…)

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Where does imagination reside? Who or what is cultivating the practice of imagination? When are social, religious, and cultural boundaries appropriate? What is needed to unleash public imagination in ways that benefit our communities’ economic, social, and cultural health? These are just a few of the thought-provoking questions that will be explored across the city through performances, dance, panel discussions, exhibits, workshops, and more during the 2008 Spirit & Place Festival. (more…)

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The glory days of the Yiddish Vaudeville stage and beyond are brought to life in this documentary chronicling the bittersweet saga of a legendary theatrical family: the Bursteins. (more…)

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Novels? History? Current events? In addition to being the largest literary event of its kind in Central Indiana, the festival includes an art exhibit and a film series. All programs are open to the public (bring your friends!) and most are free. (more…)

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Details being decided as we speak … perhaps a tried-and-true favorite appearing with a national superstar. (more…)

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Johann Galtung is coming to Indy. The most influential living social scientist, he is the founder of the academic study of peace and conflict studies, a discipline now offered as a major or a minor on virtually every college in America and Europe. He’s the author of more than a hundred books and more than a thousand articles. He is reported to have served as a mediator in more than 40 internaitonal conflicts. Think of one degree of seperation: if an academic uses the word “peace,” either she has read Galtung or she studied withsomeone who read Galtung. But is it all just a “peace racket”? (more…)

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It’s time to get real with theatre. The Globe Theatre, where most of Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed, was open air. You too can watch “The Merchant of Venice” outdoors, resting in a lawnchair that’s way more comfortable than the wooden benches available to the Bard’s noble patrons in Old London. Instead of the “pound of flesh” that agitates Shylock and the other characters in the play, bring a pound of bread and cheese. Or hazelnuts and oranges, which the “groundlings” who clustered around the stage ate. (more…)

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What do al-Husseini, Hitler, and John Rothmann have in common? They are all going to be featured at Barnes & Noble, of course!*

But the similarities pretty much stop there. Hitler and al-Husseini were perpetrators of crimes against humanity, while Rothmann is the humble co-author of Icon of Evil: Hitler’s Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam.

The book, which Rothmann co-wrote with David G. Dalin, was released June 24th. It’s got the goods: near-unlimited linguistic resources, access to primary documents, and all the dirt on the honorary Aryan’s support of Hitler and his Final Solution. It’s a page-turner (according to the author’s in-laws) and it’s got verve (according to their publisher).

Publishers Weekly (the 7th review down) and the Middle East Times have given it stamps of approval.

Rothmann will be at the Clearwater Crossing Barnes & Noble in Indianapolis on July 9th at 7:00 p.m. to talk about his work and perhaps sell a few copies. The event promises to be an interesting and thought-provoking one, and plus there will be food.

Barnes & Noble @ Clearwater Crossing

3748 E 82nd St.

Indianapolis, IN 46240

*Thematically only! No in-person appearances by al-Husseini or Hitler

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Premise # 1: Central Indiana is receiving a grwoing number of refugees, which is a good thing but presents all of us with major challenges. Premise #2: At the same time, Hoosiers are working around the world with refugees and displaced persons. The conclusion from these two premises: We have a unique opportunity to help solve problems of poverty and social conflict globally and locally.

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The Jewish Community Center bills it as “Artist Encounter: A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity!” And they are right… but maybe because the challenges of war and peace that the music addresses have to be addressed right now, or the problems might not be seoved in our lifetime. (more…)

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