Two Rad Dudes at Two Rad Talks (Tonight!): Griel Marcus & Harvey Pekar

There are two amazing talks tonight by two amazing men.  One is FREE, the other slightly pricey but probably worth it.

Lipstick Traces by Greil Marcus

1. If you don’t know who he is, Greil Marcus is a cultural critic who writes fascinating books, was a rock critic for Rolling Stone Magazine, has written for Artforum and the Village Voice, and has a column in the Believer.  He also happens to have graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in American Studies. Which is exactly what I did, so his successful career gives me some hope that I can make a living with my totally unprofitable skills and focus-lacking interdisciplinary degree.  If you do know who he is, it’s most likely because you read Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the 20^th Century, his (possibly most famous book) about punk rock.  The book had an accompanying soundtrack that was released by Rough Trade Records, who recently signed the Morning Benders, whose lead singer produced my forthcoming album, which also gives me hope about my other low-income career choice.  Thus we come full circle once again so that everything is ultimately about, well, me! Anyway, back to the point, Marus is speaking tonight in the Haight about Van Morrison.

Greil Marcus: When That Rough God Goes Riding: Listening to Van Morrison
Tuesday, April 13th, 7:30pm
The Booksmith
1644 Haight St. @ Belvedere
FREE

Paul Giamatti as Harvey Pekar in American Splendor

2. Harvey Pekar is the comic book writer who wrote the autobiographical American Splendor series, a cult favorite that was made even more famous when Pekar’s life was adapted as a movie. The comic books were illustrated by several famous illustrators, but most notably by Robert Crumb (who also had a movie made about his life). In the hilarious/depressing/ultimately heartwarming film, American Splendor, the curmudgeonly comic book writer is played by everyone’s favorite loser-role star, Paul Giamatti (and Pekar makes a cameo appearance himself). Tonight at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Pekar will be in conversation with Etgar Keret, an Israeli writer (short stories, graphic novels, scripts) probably best known for writing that bizarre but kind of amazing movie Wristcutters: A Love Story, which stars Patrick Fugit (from Almost Famous), that super hot girl who rarely makes any movies, Shannyn Sossamon, and two of my favorite people of all time: Tom Waits and Will Arnett.

The real Harvey Pekar

Anger and Amusement: Etgar Keret and Harvey Pekar in Conversation
Tuesday, April 13th, 6:30pm
The Contemporary Jewish Museum
736 Mission Street (btwn. 3rd and 4th Streets)
Members, $10; General, $15 (includes same-day museum admission)

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