Tickets will be available from the Circulation Desk, at the Rosenberg Library on Saturday, January 5, 2008.
2 tickets per person, please.
There are approximately 190 seats available at The Strand Theatre.
Please arrive before 2:00 to ensure that you are seated. This ticket does not guarantee your seat. Others on the waiting list will be given any seats that are not occupied by 1:55 pm.
1/13/2008 “A Lesson Before Dying” - scene from the play and dialogue. Strand Street Theatre, 2317 Ships Mechanics Row, Galveston. 2 pm. Sunday. Phone: 409-763-4591
Presented by Ensemble Theatre of Houston.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A lesson in reading between the lines
A lesson in reading between the lines
By Dale Taylor
The Daily News
Published December 28, 2007
Editor’s note: Every year, Galveston County Reads chooses a book and puts on a series of public discussions. This year’s selection is Ernest J. Gaines’ novel “A Lesson Before Dying,” which won a National Book Critics Circle Award in 1993.
Ernest J. Gaines’ 1993 novel “A Lesson Before Dying” provides fertile ground for discussion as its Jim Crow setting places the reader in the middle of several controversial questions — among them the illegitimacy of race, the death penalty and the inadequacy of U.S. prison systems.The story features two central characters, Grant Wiggins, a teacher who has been charged with reforming a criminal, and Jefferson, the young man who is at the center of the story’s plot because of his unwitting part in a robbery and murder.Wiggins reluctantly accepts an emotional appeal from his aunt and her friend who press him into reforming Jefferson. At his trial, Jefferson is referred to as a “hog” for his involvement in the murder of a store owner. The story revolves primarily around Wiggins’ anger at having been asked to accomplish a task that he is doubtful can be achieved and his eventual acquiescence and visits to Jefferson in jail.Wiggins represents the broader educational and prison systems in this country that also are charged with reforming and acculturating people who have committed crimes. The story’s humanizing of Jefferson from an object to a human is a convincing argument for reforming the American justice system. However, the story also references important social structures.
There are several methods for examining this story; two key phrases seem appropriate as a tool for examining the internal workings — “discourse” and “hegemony.” “Discourse” refers to those words that are used by specialists in their work.The word “discourse” in a literary context focuses on a particular aspect of the society as it relates to the literature. As such, the word “hegemony” is important as well.“Hegemony,” coined by Antonio Gramsci, in philosophy and literature refers to those ways in which society orders itself with some people playing upper, middle or lower class roles on the social and economic ladder. Several key ideas emerge from the novel as we consider the discourse of race — language that defines who is black, white, multi-racial, etc. The story is set in a late 1940s Louisiana community that is galvanized by Jefferson’s trial. Through Wiggins’ internal dialogue, the reader learns how the society of his time is structured.Gaines, through his character Wiggins, makes it clear that whites are considered upper class in the community, and blacks are considered lower class. Certainly there is nothing exceptional in this portrait as the same kinds of social structure appear in novels by Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe and other writers.A middle class in the story — unionized mulattoes or multi-racial characters — plays no special role except as the target of the narrator’s frustration. Even this is not exceptional in that American authors use multi-racial characters to mark and test boundaries. White and black groups are polarized in their respective positions as they vie for power and dignity. The novel ends on a hopeful note as Gaines suggests in Wiggins’ relationship with Paul, a white deputy at the jail, that white youth will see the humanity in blacks.One might read this story as an allegory for the social movement that begins in the late 1940s and ’50s, when young whites and blacks protested invalid hegemonic assignment of human value, or one could see it as a suggestion that Americans have much work left to do.The story makes this point clearly — communities have a responsibility for the care of all of their members, despite a sordid past and an invalid means of ranking members of the “human” race.
Here is a question that might be pondered for this text: To what extent do stories such as this one reinforce existing hegemonies or give us an opportunity to challenge them?
Dale M. Taylor has a doctorate in literature and teaches at Galveston College.
By Dale Taylor
The Daily News
Published December 28, 2007
Editor’s note: Every year, Galveston County Reads chooses a book and puts on a series of public discussions. This year’s selection is Ernest J. Gaines’ novel “A Lesson Before Dying,” which won a National Book Critics Circle Award in 1993.
Ernest J. Gaines’ 1993 novel “A Lesson Before Dying” provides fertile ground for discussion as its Jim Crow setting places the reader in the middle of several controversial questions — among them the illegitimacy of race, the death penalty and the inadequacy of U.S. prison systems.The story features two central characters, Grant Wiggins, a teacher who has been charged with reforming a criminal, and Jefferson, the young man who is at the center of the story’s plot because of his unwitting part in a robbery and murder.Wiggins reluctantly accepts an emotional appeal from his aunt and her friend who press him into reforming Jefferson. At his trial, Jefferson is referred to as a “hog” for his involvement in the murder of a store owner. The story revolves primarily around Wiggins’ anger at having been asked to accomplish a task that he is doubtful can be achieved and his eventual acquiescence and visits to Jefferson in jail.Wiggins represents the broader educational and prison systems in this country that also are charged with reforming and acculturating people who have committed crimes. The story’s humanizing of Jefferson from an object to a human is a convincing argument for reforming the American justice system. However, the story also references important social structures.
There are several methods for examining this story; two key phrases seem appropriate as a tool for examining the internal workings — “discourse” and “hegemony.” “Discourse” refers to those words that are used by specialists in their work.The word “discourse” in a literary context focuses on a particular aspect of the society as it relates to the literature. As such, the word “hegemony” is important as well.“Hegemony,” coined by Antonio Gramsci, in philosophy and literature refers to those ways in which society orders itself with some people playing upper, middle or lower class roles on the social and economic ladder. Several key ideas emerge from the novel as we consider the discourse of race — language that defines who is black, white, multi-racial, etc. The story is set in a late 1940s Louisiana community that is galvanized by Jefferson’s trial. Through Wiggins’ internal dialogue, the reader learns how the society of his time is structured.Gaines, through his character Wiggins, makes it clear that whites are considered upper class in the community, and blacks are considered lower class. Certainly there is nothing exceptional in this portrait as the same kinds of social structure appear in novels by Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe and other writers.A middle class in the story — unionized mulattoes or multi-racial characters — plays no special role except as the target of the narrator’s frustration. Even this is not exceptional in that American authors use multi-racial characters to mark and test boundaries. White and black groups are polarized in their respective positions as they vie for power and dignity. The novel ends on a hopeful note as Gaines suggests in Wiggins’ relationship with Paul, a white deputy at the jail, that white youth will see the humanity in blacks.One might read this story as an allegory for the social movement that begins in the late 1940s and ’50s, when young whites and blacks protested invalid hegemonic assignment of human value, or one could see it as a suggestion that Americans have much work left to do.The story makes this point clearly — communities have a responsibility for the care of all of their members, despite a sordid past and an invalid means of ranking members of the “human” race.
Here is a question that might be pondered for this text: To what extent do stories such as this one reinforce existing hegemonies or give us an opportunity to challenge them?
Dale M. Taylor has a doctorate in literature and teaches at Galveston College.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Daily News Coverage in December!
For those of you who missed Heber's column on Our View, section B, page 8:
Have you read a good book lately?By Heber Taylor The Daily News
Published December 26, 2007
Do people still read for pleasure? Do good things happen when people get together to discuss — and even argue about — books?Galveston County Reads has shown that good discussions are still possible in the age of electronic entertainment and instant gratification.Every year, the organization chooses a book and puts on a series of public discussions. The theory is that we become a better community if we turn off the TV for a couple of evenings, read the same book and discuss it.In an age where we’re bombarded by predictable sound bites, it’s refreshing to hear differing — but well reasoned — perspectives on topics that affect us all.It’s interesting, challenging and free.To get in on the fun, all you have to do is read the book.This year’s selection is Ernest J. Gaines’ novel “A Lesson Before Dying,” which won a National Book Critics Circle Award in 1993. It was chosen for Oprah’s Book Club 10 years ago.The story, set in Louisiana in the 1940s, is about Jefferson, an uneducated black man who is going to be executed for the murder of a white man. It’s also the story of Grant Wiggins, a young teacher who visits him in jail and tries to give him a sense of his own humanity before he dies.How do you give people in prison a sense of their own humanity? Is it a religious quest or something else? Characters in this novel disagree on that point.Is the value of people in prison something we even think about today?Critics have had vastly different assessments of the value of this book. We suspect there might be a disagreement or two among readers of this page.We’ve got three invitations:First, read the book.Second, check the schedule of events and commit to making at least one. As you see, the first discussion is set for Jan. 2. But don’t worry. “A Lesson Before Dying” is a quick read.Third, drop us a line. We’d love to fill an installment or two of “Word on the Street” with your views about his book.
He concludes by posting the events and book discussions.
One event he missed was:
3/11/08 A Lesson Before Dying: An interactive videoconference with Ernest Gaines. Facilitated by John Gorman. Galveston College, Auditorium FA-207, 4015 Ave. Q, Galveston. Sponsorship and refreshments provided by Galveston College. 7 pm
All events are free and open to the public. Please join us!
Have you read a good book lately?By Heber Taylor The Daily News
Published December 26, 2007
Do people still read for pleasure? Do good things happen when people get together to discuss — and even argue about — books?Galveston County Reads has shown that good discussions are still possible in the age of electronic entertainment and instant gratification.Every year, the organization chooses a book and puts on a series of public discussions. The theory is that we become a better community if we turn off the TV for a couple of evenings, read the same book and discuss it.In an age where we’re bombarded by predictable sound bites, it’s refreshing to hear differing — but well reasoned — perspectives on topics that affect us all.It’s interesting, challenging and free.To get in on the fun, all you have to do is read the book.This year’s selection is Ernest J. Gaines’ novel “A Lesson Before Dying,” which won a National Book Critics Circle Award in 1993. It was chosen for Oprah’s Book Club 10 years ago.The story, set in Louisiana in the 1940s, is about Jefferson, an uneducated black man who is going to be executed for the murder of a white man. It’s also the story of Grant Wiggins, a young teacher who visits him in jail and tries to give him a sense of his own humanity before he dies.How do you give people in prison a sense of their own humanity? Is it a religious quest or something else? Characters in this novel disagree on that point.Is the value of people in prison something we even think about today?Critics have had vastly different assessments of the value of this book. We suspect there might be a disagreement or two among readers of this page.We’ve got three invitations:First, read the book.Second, check the schedule of events and commit to making at least one. As you see, the first discussion is set for Jan. 2. But don’t worry. “A Lesson Before Dying” is a quick read.Third, drop us a line. We’d love to fill an installment or two of “Word on the Street” with your views about his book.
He concludes by posting the events and book discussions.
One event he missed was:
3/11/08 A Lesson Before Dying: An interactive videoconference with Ernest Gaines. Facilitated by John Gorman. Galveston College, Auditorium FA-207, 4015 Ave. Q, Galveston. Sponsorship and refreshments provided by Galveston College. 7 pm
All events are free and open to the public. Please join us!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Galveston County Reads Events Schedule Announced
The following special events have been scheduled for the 2008 Season of Galveston County Reads:
1/13/08 A Lesson Before Dying. Scene from the play and dialogue. Presented by Ensemble Theatre of Houston. Strand Theatre, 2317 Ships Mechanics Row, Galveston. 2 pm
1/22/08 A Lesson Before Dying. Film. Rosenberg Library, Randall Rm., 2310 Sealy, Galveston. 6 pm
1/29/08 A Lesson Before Dying. Three Professors Panel Discussion: Not Your Typical English Class! Presented by Michael Berberich, Stephen Curley, and John Gorman. Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium, 2310 Sealy, Galveston. 7 pm
2/7/08 Family Dynamics of Black Male Incarceration. Panel discussion with Yoni Benson, Linda Ferguson, Leah Fanuiel, Robert Caraway, Charlie Baldwin, and James Dennis. Facilitated by Jason Glenn. Central Cultural Center Library, 2627 Ave. M, Galveston. Sponsorship and refreshments provided by the UTMB Office of Diversity and International Affairs. 6 – 8 pm
3/11/08 A Lesson Before Dying: An interactive videoconference with Ernest Gaines. Facilitated by John Gorman. Galveston College, Auditorium FA-207, 4015 Ave. Q, Galveston. Sponsorship and refreshments provided by Galveston College. 7 pm
All events are free and open to the public. Please join us!
1/13/08 A Lesson Before Dying. Scene from the play and dialogue. Presented by Ensemble Theatre of Houston. Strand Theatre, 2317 Ships Mechanics Row, Galveston. 2 pm
1/22/08 A Lesson Before Dying. Film. Rosenberg Library, Randall Rm., 2310 Sealy, Galveston. 6 pm
1/29/08 A Lesson Before Dying. Three Professors Panel Discussion: Not Your Typical English Class! Presented by Michael Berberich, Stephen Curley, and John Gorman. Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium, 2310 Sealy, Galveston. 7 pm
2/7/08 Family Dynamics of Black Male Incarceration. Panel discussion with Yoni Benson, Linda Ferguson, Leah Fanuiel, Robert Caraway, Charlie Baldwin, and James Dennis. Facilitated by Jason Glenn. Central Cultural Center Library, 2627 Ave. M, Galveston. Sponsorship and refreshments provided by the UTMB Office of Diversity and International Affairs. 6 – 8 pm
3/11/08 A Lesson Before Dying: An interactive videoconference with Ernest Gaines. Facilitated by John Gorman. Galveston College, Auditorium FA-207, 4015 Ave. Q, Galveston. Sponsorship and refreshments provided by Galveston College. 7 pm
All events are free and open to the public. Please join us!
Galveston County Reads Book Discussions Set
The following book discussions have been scheduled for the coming year:
1/02/08 Mosquito Cafe, 628 14th, Galveston. 7 pm
1/08/08 St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1010 35th St., Galveston. 7 pm
1/10/08 Starbucks, 2808 61st St., Galveston, 5:30 pm
1/12/08 Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, 2803 53rd St. Galveston. 10 am
1/19/08 LaMarque Public Library, 1011 Bayou Rd., LaMarque. 9 am
1/23/08 Moore Memorial Public Library. 1701 Ninth Ave. North, Texas City. 7 pm
1/24/08 Mod Coffee House, 2126 Postoffice St., Galveston. 7 pm
1/30/08 Helen Hall Library, 100 West Walker, League City. 2pm
2/05/08 St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1010 35th St., Galveston. 7 pm
2/11/08 Westminster Presbyterian, 5127 Ave. U, Galveston. 7 pm
2/12/08 Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, 2803 53rd St. Galveston. Noon
2/13/08 Rosenberg Library– McCullough Rm., 2310 Sealy, Galveston. Noon.
2/13/08 Midsummer Books, 2309 Ships Mechanics Row, Galveston. 5:30 pm
2/19/08 Friendswood Public Library, 416 South Friendswood Dr., Friendswood. 7 pm
2/27/08 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 502 Church St., Galveston. 7 pm
3/01/08 Y’a Bon Village Coffeehouse, 2828 Church St., Galveston. 2 pm
3/04/08 St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1010 35th St., Galveston. 7 pm
3/06/08 Tiki Book Club, Public Safety Bldg, 747 Tiki Dr., Tiki Island. 7 pm
All discussions are free and open to the public. Come join the fun!
1/02/08 Mosquito Cafe, 628 14th, Galveston. 7 pm
1/08/08 St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1010 35th St., Galveston. 7 pm
1/10/08 Starbucks, 2808 61st St., Galveston, 5:30 pm
1/12/08 Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, 2803 53rd St. Galveston. 10 am
1/19/08 LaMarque Public Library, 1011 Bayou Rd., LaMarque. 9 am
1/23/08 Moore Memorial Public Library. 1701 Ninth Ave. North, Texas City. 7 pm
1/24/08 Mod Coffee House, 2126 Postoffice St., Galveston. 7 pm
1/30/08 Helen Hall Library, 100 West Walker, League City. 2pm
2/05/08 St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1010 35th St., Galveston. 7 pm
2/11/08 Westminster Presbyterian, 5127 Ave. U, Galveston. 7 pm
2/12/08 Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, 2803 53rd St. Galveston. Noon
2/13/08 Rosenberg Library– McCullough Rm., 2310 Sealy, Galveston. Noon.
2/13/08 Midsummer Books, 2309 Ships Mechanics Row, Galveston. 5:30 pm
2/19/08 Friendswood Public Library, 416 South Friendswood Dr., Friendswood. 7 pm
2/27/08 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 502 Church St., Galveston. 7 pm
3/01/08 Y’a Bon Village Coffeehouse, 2828 Church St., Galveston. 2 pm
3/04/08 St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1010 35th St., Galveston. 7 pm
3/06/08 Tiki Book Club, Public Safety Bldg, 747 Tiki Dr., Tiki Island. 7 pm
All discussions are free and open to the public. Come join the fun!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
December Meeting on Monday
December meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 10th.
Book Nomimation Committee: 3:00 Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium
GCReads Committee: 4:30 Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium
Book Nomimation Committee: 3:00 Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium
GCReads Committee: 4:30 Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
November meetings and training session
Galveston County Reads: Lesson Before Dying
Mark Your Calendars:
Monday, November 12 @ 3pm - Book Nomination Committee meets to discuss next year's book! Meets in Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library
@4:30 pm - General Committee meeting to tie up loose ends. Meeting in Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library
@6:00 pm - Book Discussion Leader Training with Dr. John Gorman. Please RSVP to Karen kstanley@rosenberg-library.org Phone: 409-763-8854 x119. Meeting in Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library
Mark Your Calendars:
Monday, November 12 @ 3pm - Book Nomination Committee meets to discuss next year's book! Meets in Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library
@4:30 pm - General Committee meeting to tie up loose ends. Meeting in Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library
@6:00 pm - Book Discussion Leader Training with Dr. John Gorman. Please RSVP to Karen kstanley@rosenberg-library.org Phone: 409-763-8854 x119. Meeting in Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library
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