La Maison Française of New York University, located at 16 Washington Mews (at University Place), will host several special events in October, including a three-day (October 12-14) visit by novelist, playwright, and critic Hèléne Cixous that will include lectures and a performance. All events, which are free and open to the public, take place at La Maison Française unless otherwise noted. For further information, the public may call 212.998.8750 or visit maison.francaise@nyu.edu
A schedule of events follows:
Tues., Oct. 3, 7 p.m. Lecture: “The Lumière Cinématographe and Edison’s Vitascope: The Beginnings of Cinema and the Clash of Cultures” by Charles Musser, Yale; author of The Beginnings of Cinema. Co-sponsored with Grey Art Gallery.
Wed., Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m. Institute of French Studies Colloquium: “African Perspectives on Slave Trade, Colonial and Post-colonial Debates” by Catherine Coquery-Vidrovitch, historian; author of History of African Cities South of the Sahara.
Thurs., Oct. 5, 7 p.m. Lecture: “The Paradox of Necessary Fictions: To Paul Ricoeur” by Gabriela Basterra, NYU; author of Seductions of Fate.
Thurs., Oct. 12, 5:30 p.m. Jurow Lecture: “The Infinite Taste of Dreams” by Hèléne Cixous, novelist, playwright, critic; author of Portrait de Jacques Derrida en jeune juif. Note venue: NYU Silver Center, Hemmerdinger Hall, 100 Washington Sq. East.
Fri., Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. Performance: “Drums on the Dam,” a staged reading of the English translation of Cixous’s Tambours sur la digue, directed by Kevin Kuhlke, NYU Tisch School; followed by a Q&A with the author, moderated by Judith Miller, NYU. Note venue: NYU Loewe Theater, Tisch School, 721 Broadway, 2nd floor.
Sat., Oct. 14, 2 p.m. Lecture: “The Flying Manuscript” by Helene Cixous. She will speak about her rediscovery of Derrida’s manuscript of his essay in Voiles, their collective work.
Wed., Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m. Institute of French Studies Colloquium: “Art of Darkness: The Opening of the Musée du Quai Branly” by Herman Lebovics, SUNY/Stony Brook; author of Bringing the Empire Back Home.
Mon., Oct., 23, 7 p.m. Discussion: in French and English with novelist Gregoire Bouillier, author of Rapport sur moi (Prix de Flore) and The Mystery Guest (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2006) and editor and translator Lorin Stein.
Mon., Oct. 30, 7 p.m. Lecture: “Artists’ Spaces in the Heart of New York’s Latin Quarter” by Virginia Budny, art historian, Metropolitan Museum of Art; curator of Maison Française exhibition, “Left Bank New York: Artists off Washington Square, 1900-1950.”