PEN Lecture: “The Search for Home: Reflections of an Immigrant Writer”
Event Category: Presentations/Discussions
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San Miguel PEN 2020 Winter Lecture
Ruth Behar
“The Search for Home: Reflections of an Immigrant Writer”Tue, Feb 4, 6:30pm
In English with Spanish Supertitles
Bellas Artes Second Floor Auditorium
Hernandez Macias 75150 pesos / People under 25 & Migrants Free
A Lifetime of Journeys by an Immigrant Writer in Search of Home
By Signe Hammer
In a time of global displacement, of borders and walls, of compassion fatigue toward refugees and immigrants, how can we write about home? Ruth Behar, Cuban-American anthropologist, poet, and novelist, will consider this compelling question on Tuesday, Feb 4, at 6:30 PM in the second-floor auditorium of the Bellas Artes,
It’s fitting that Behar was named a “Great Immigrant” by the Carnegie Corporation. At the age of 5, she moved with her family from Cuba to New York City. In her years of travel as an anthropologist, she has immersed herself in the cultures of Spain, Mexico and Cuba. She has “returned to the theme of searching for home in many different guises,” even wondering whether “home is an expired concept in these times.”In her talk, she will explore her journeys in search of home, and “reflect on how we can open our hearts and minds to new ways of thinking about belonging in the world.”
Ruth Behar is a cultural anthropologist, writer, poet, and children’s book author. She was born in Havana, Cuba, grew up in New York City, and is the Victor Haim Perera Collegiate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. She was the first Latina to receive a MacArthur “Genius” Award; other honors include a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship and a Distinguished Alumna Award from Wesleyan University.
In addition to many acclaimed nonfiction books about her travels—including An Island Called Home and Traveling Heavy—Behar is the author of two novels for middle-grade readers: the prize-winning Lucky Broken Girl, about a bedridden Cuban immigrant, and the forthcoming Letters from Cuba.
San Miguel PEN is a chapter of PEN International, the organization of writers that fights for freedom of expression around the world. The 150-peso admission helps fund local activities and includes a free glass of wine with dinner afterwards at Vivali’s, across the street at Hernandez Macias 66. Tickets at Ticket Central in the Biblioteca or at the door. For more information, visit sanmiguelpen.com.
Spanish / Español
Conferencia de invierno 2020 del PEN de San Miguel
Ruth Behar
“En búsqueda de un hogar: reflexiones de una escritora inmigrante”
Martes, 4 de febrero, 6:30 p.m.
En inglés con subtítulos en español
Auditorio del segundo piso de Bellas Artes
Hernandez Macias 75
150 pesos / menores de 25 y migrantes gratis
Una vida de viajes por una escritora inmigrante en búsqueda de un hogar
Por Signe Hammer
En una época de desplazamiento global, de fronteras y muros, de fatiga por compasión hacia los refugiados e inmigrantes, ¿cómo podemos escribir sobre el hogar? Ruth Behar, antropóloga cubano-estadounidense, poeta y novelista, reflexionará sobre esta cautivante pregunta el martes 4 de febrero a las 6:30 p.m., en el auditorio del segundo piso de Bellas Artes.
Es justo que Behar haya sido nombrada “Gran inmigrante” por la Corporación Carnegie. A la edad de 5 años, se mudó con su familia de Cuba a la ciudad de Nueva York. En sus años de viaje como antropóloga, se ha sumergido en las culturas de España, México y Cuba. Ella ha “vuelto al tema de la búsqueda del hogar en muchos aspectos”, preguntándose incluso si “el hogar es un concepto caducado en estos tiempos”.
En su conferencia, explorará sus viajes en búsqueda del hogar y “reflexionará sobre cómo podemos abrir nuestros corazones y mentes a nuevas formas de pensar acerca de la pertenencia en el mudo”.
Ruth Behar es una antropóloga cultural, escritora, poeta y autora de libros infantiles. Nació en La Habana, Cuba, creció en Nueva York y es profesora colegiada de antropología con el puesto Victor Haim Perera en la Universidad de Michigan. Fue la primera latina en recibir el premio “Genio” de MacArthur, y otros de sus triunfos incluyen la beca John Simon Guggenheim y el Premio como Alumna Distinguida de la Universidad Wesleyan.
Además de muchos libros de no ficción aclamados acerca de sus viajes —incluyendo Una isla llamada hogar y Viajando pesado—, Behar es autora de dos novelas para lectores de educación secundaria: el premiado Una niña rota con suerte sobre una inmigrante cubana postrada en cama y el próximo Cartas desde Cuba.
El PEN de San Miguel es un centro del PEN Internacional, la organización de escritores que lucha por la libertad de expresión en todo el mundo. El precio de admisión de 150 pesos ayuda a realizar actividades locales e incluye una copa de vino gratis con su cena después del evento en Vívali, enfrente en Hernandez Macias 66. Boletos en la taquilla de la Biblioteca Púbica o antes del evento en la entrada del auditorio. Para más información visite sanmiguelpen.com.
PEN International San Miguel Center
The San Miguel de Allende, Mexico centre of PEN International, a worldwide association of writers fighting for freedom of expression
San Miguel PEN, one of the 145 centers of PEN International, the worldwide association of writers with centers in 104 countries, exists to promote friendship and intellectual cooperation among writers everywhere, fight for freedom of expression and represent the conscience of world literature. San Miguel PEN is in San Miguel de Allende, in the middle of Mexico on the high plateau. It was created in 1979 as a center for English-speaking writers in Latin America in hopes of unifying the English and Spanish linguistic communities within PEN. San Miguel PEN promotes the Spanish language in all its work.
Our Programs:
The PEN Writers in Prison Committee has been a focus of the San Miguel center for over 20 years. In 2002 San Miguel hosted the PEN Writers in Prison Committee’s international conference. This work involves answering countless calls for emergency action to aid those in legal trouble for their writing, including prison and threats of death. San Miguel PEN is also active in International PEN’s Women Writers Committee, its Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee, and the PEN Iberoamerican Foundation (a regional organization). San Miguel PEN sponsors local literary programs and a local scholarship program that helps Mexican children with limited financial resources stay in school. It participates in major Mexican literary events, such as the enormous yearly Feria Internacional del Libro in Guadalajara. PEN members travel at their own expense to represent the group at the United Nations and at international conferences. San Miguel PEN sponsors an annual Winter Lecture Series to fund local activities and help support the international organization. Contact us HERE.
Mailing Address:San Miguel PEN Center Apdo. 287 37700 San Miguel de Allende, GTO Mexico -
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