Reading: Marco Candida

In this recording from March 31, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Marco Candida reads from Diario del sogni. Elizabeth Harris also reads from her English translation of this work, titled “Dream Diary.” Afterwards, Candida answers questions from the audience.

Introduction by Professor Elizabeth Harris.

Reading: Jacqueline Osherow

In this recording from March 31, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Jacqueline Osherow reads “Ch’vil Schreiben a Poem auf Yiddish,” “Science Psalm,” “Analfabeta,” “Hearing News from the Temple Mount in Salt Lake City,” “Slim Fantasia on a Few Words from Hosea,” “Snorkeling at Coral Beach/Fish in the Torah,” “Egrets in Be’er Sheva,” and “Variations on Variations.”

Introduction by Dr. Heidi Czerwiec.

Panel: But Seriously

In this recording from April 1, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Marco Candida, Karen Russell, Jacqueline Osherow, and Greg Williamson participate in a panel entitled “But Seriously.” They discuss a number of topics and answer various questions, including whether or not they think that they write with “wit” and which authors they think are funny/witty and who influence their work. They also talk about whether they think that there is any topic too serious to write about in a humorous fashion or whether certain inherently serious subjects need wit to be palatable. They also discuss the craft of writing, along with whether certain forms of poetry are inherently “witty,” among other topics.

Panel moderated by Dr. Marcus Weaver-Hightower.

Translations provided by Professor Elizabeth Harris.

Reading: Greg Williamson

Reading by Steve Almond

In this recording from April 1, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Steve Almond reads from “Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt,” “Shame on Me (Why my Adolescence Sucked Donkey Cock),” and “Hand Job.” He also talks about his experiences surrounding his resignation from Boston College, in particular he reads his responses to some of the thousands of emails that he received as a result. Finally, he takes questions from the audience.

Introduction by Amanda Conway.

Panel: What’s So Funny?

In this recording from April 2, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Chuck Klosterman, Steve Almond, Karen Russell, and Greg Williamson participate in a panel entitled “What’s So Funny?” They discuss a number of topics, including how to mix comedy and tragedy in the same work, how they navigate between what they find funny and what their audience does not, how sex is used in comedic situations, how poetry and humor work together, how to humorously characterize people (particularly when you are from there and it can be seen as offensive), and what they find amusing about Twilight. They also discuss the role of contemporary media in American culture, among other topics.

Panel moderated by Rex Sorgatz.

Reading by Karen Russell

In this recording from April 2, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Karen Russell reads an excerpt from St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves. She also answers a number of questions from the audience.

Introduction by Bill Murtha.

A transcription of this reading is available at http://www.undwritersconference.org/2009_Russell.html

Reading by Chuck Klosterman

In this recording from April 2, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Chuck Klosterman reads an excerpt from Downtown Owl and Eating the Dinosaur. He also answers a number of questions from the audience on various subjects.

Introduction by Ron Hoff.

Panel: The Comic Ghetto

In this recording from April 3, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Chuck Klosterman, Steve Almond, and Charles Baxter participate in a panel entitled “The Comic Ghetto.” They discuss a number of topics, including what it means to be labeled a “humorist,” how they see their work being influenced by other writers, if they think that they are writing from a particular gendered perspective, the significance of using multiple voices in any given work, the role of personal experience in their writing, how humor is used in literature, and whether there is a limit to the use of humor, among a number of other things.

Panel moderated by Jan Daley Jury.

A Tribute to John Little

Reading by Charles Baxter

In this recording from April 3, 2009 during the 40th Annual UND Writers Conference, “Wit,” Presidential Lecturer Charles Baxter begins by reading a story about French Surrealist poet Robert Desnos in Buchenwald. He also reads excerpts from “Gryphon” and The Feast of Love. He also answers questions from the audience.

Introduction by President Robert O. Kelley.