The theme of this year’s PEN World Voices Festival (April 28 – May 4) is Literature on the Edge, and as usual the Translation Committee has put together a themed panel (Translation on the Edge) to suggest ways of considering the festival’s theme with regard to translators and translation. A new edition of the ever-popular Translation Slam will be included in this year’s festival as well.
Here’s a complete rundown of the translation-related events. Tickets to any of them can be purchased at a 20% discount using the code PEN2014 (for events at the Public Theater) or PEN14 (for all others).
Tuesday, April 29
Master Class: Adonis and Jorie Graham with translator Khaled Mattawa
In a rare visit to the States, once-imprisoned Syrian author Adonis, considered by many to be the most important Arab poet, will speak with celebrated American poet Jorie Graham and award-winning translator and scholar Khaled Mattawa.
Anspacher, The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street
7:00 p.m.
Friday, May 2
Translation Slam
What happens when a poem migrates into another language, not just once but twice? Find out at the Translation Slam, a perennial Festival favorite! The M.C. will be Michael F. Moore, joined by translators Kerri Pierce, Baba Badji, Emmanuelle Ertel and K.E. Semmel, along with poets Tracy K. Smith and Pejk Malinovski. The slam will feature feats of English-to-French and Danish-to-English translation.
Anspacher, The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street
9:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 3
Translating on the Edge
Translation can be dangerous and subversive from a literary perspective. It can also take on a political or ideological dimension. This panel brings together translators who have worked with texts considered blasphemous, obscene, or otherwise dangerous to offer their views on the place where art meets politics.
With Robyn Creswell, Bonnie Huie, and Sara Khalili, moderated by Heather Cleary for the PEN Translation Committee
The Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, The Cooper Union
41 Cooper Square (Third Avenue @ 6th Street)
1:00 p.m.
Visit www.worldvoicesfestival.org for more information including a complete schedule, and remember the discount codes PEN2014 (for the Public Theater) and PEN14 (for other venues), which will get you a 20% discount on tickets to any of the ticketed events.