Where and When?

Wednesday 24th November at 3pm – Zoom Link (click here)

Discussion

This week, we’ll be thinking about the inherent nomadic qualities of American life, from contemporary #VanLife, transcendentalist escapism, to travel writing and documentary filmmaking. Why, as a nation, does America seem so restless, so keen to be on the road, and out the door? We’ll be thinking about some of the grandest concepts in American culture, from immigration and its associated writings to expats and notions of writing / reading America both across its own vast terrain, and indeed abroad.

Any and all discussions pertaining to immigration, travel, movement, etc. is welcome!

Reading

This week, we’ve chosen (more or less at random) an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s Part’s Unknown, a documentary series that sees the renowned chef travel to both American cities / locales as well as all over the world, discussing local cultures and wrestling with his own native biases and anxieties of being an American citizen. If you have access to Netflix, we are recommending the episode ‘Mississippi Delta’ (Season 3, Episode 7)

Feel free to browse the excellent foreword and parts of Chapter 1 of Jessica Bruder’s Nomandland available via Google Books here: