Baldwin Seminar with Dr. Nigel Hatton
A hybrid seminar (12 sessions) meticulously crafted to delve into the profound depths of James Baldwin's works.

Join an immersive exploration of James Baldwin’s timeless literary legacy and meditation on the human condition through close readings of influential texts such as Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni’s Room, and If Beale Street Could Talk. Embark on a transformative literary journey spanning 12 informative sessions, meticulously crafted to delve into the profound depths of Baldwin's trans-Atlantic life and work, from its Harlem origins to his travels through Paris, Istanbul, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and other parts of the globe. From focus on his compelling essays to his germinal novels, and emphasis on his relation to world and American literary traditions, this seminar offers an enriching experience at the seat of Baldwin’s “welcome table.” Facilitated by Nigel Hatton, Ph.D., a contributing editor to the James Baldwin Review, this seminar is limited to 21 people to ensure an intimate setting for discussion, close reading, and occasional short in-seminar writing exercises.

For those who are planning to take the whole seminar, Dr. Hatton recommends purchasing this newly-released James Baldwin box set, published by Vintage International. The novels contained in the box set, Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni’s Room, and If Beale Street Could Talk, and Go Tell It on the Mountain, can also be purchased individually. Library of America has also recently issued a box set edition of Baldwin’s complete writings. The three volumes in the Box Set include Collected Essays, Early Novels and Stories, and Later Novels.

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Class Information

Flexible Options: Choose your preferred approach - choose to enroll in just Module I ($100 for members, $125 for non-member/public) or save $50 by enrolling for the full course (Modules I-IV, $350 for members, $450 for non-members). Registration for Modules II-IV will open up after the second session of Module I (subject to availability).

Hybrid Model: this is a seminar that meets both online (via Zoom) and in-person in the 4th Floor Board Room at Mechanics' Institute. For all each module (I-IV), Dr. Nigel Hatton will be meeting us in-person at Mechanics' Institute during the first session and online for the second and third sessions. Benefit from curated reading materials, aides, and references designed to enhance your understanding and foster meaningful discussions.

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the brilliance of James Baldwin's literary legacy. Reserve your spot today and embark on a journey of enlightenment and discovery!

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Baldwin Seminar Schedule (Tuesdays 5:30 to 7:00 pm PT, August to November 2024)

Foreword. In His Own Words: A James Baldwin Centennial Celebration (August 2, an in-person celebratory event done in partnership with the Museum of the African Diaspora -- $5 for MI/MoAD members, $15 for non-members/public)

Module I. Exploring Baldwin's Life and Early Essays (3 sessions)

• Dive into the foundational aspects of Baldwin's life and early writings, setting the stage for the profound insights to come.

1. August 27 (Instructor will be in-person at Mechanics' Institute)
2. September 3
3. September 10

Module II. Journey through Go Tell it on the Mountain (3 sessions - registration for single session opens on September 4, subject to availability)

• Immerse yourself in Baldwin's groundbreaking debut novel, unpacking its themes and significance in today's context.

1. September 17 (Instructor will be in-person at Mechanics' Institute)
2. September 24
3. October 1

Module III. Unraveling Giovanni’s Room (3 sessions - registration for single session opens on September 25, subject to availability)

• Explore the complexities of love, identity, and society in Baldwin's poignant masterpiece, Giovanni’s Room.

1. October 8 (Instructor will be in-person at Mechanics' Institute)
2. October 15
3. October 22

Module IV. Discovering If Beale Street Could Talk (3 sessions - registration for single session opens on October 16, subject to availability)

• Engage with Baldwin's powerful narrative, now immortalized on screen, and delve into its relevance and impact.

1. November 5 (Instructor will be in-person at Mechanics' Institute)
2. November 12
3. November 19

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About the Instructor

Dr. NIGEL HATTON is a contributing editor to the James Baldwin Review and an associate professor in the Literatures in English section of the Department of Literatures, Languages, and Cultures, and in the Department of Philosophy at the University of California, Merced. His research and teaching span the areas of literature and philosophy, human rights and literature, critical refugee studies, and narrative medicine. His scholarship has appeared in the James Baldwin Review, Literatur in Wissenschaft und Unterricht, A-Line: A Journal of Progressive Thought, Globalization in Literature, Kierkegaard Research: Sources, Reception and Resources, and other publications. He is a contributing author to Departures: An Introduction to Critical Refugee Studies (2022) and co-editor of the Critical Refugee Studies Book Series from University of California Press. He has volunteered as an instructor, tutor, and consultant in California prisons since 2003 and occasionally teaches in the Narrative Medicine program at Columbia University. He has held postdoctoral fellowships at the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute at Harvard University, the Søren Kierkegaard Research Centre at the University of Copenhagen, and the Siebold-Collegium Institute for Advanced Studies (SCIAS) of Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in Germany and worked as a visiting professional in the President’s Chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Dr Hatton’s research, service, and teaching center on human beings as variously conceived of, in, and between literature and philosophy, and the ways in which these ethical and aesthetic conceptions, their authors, their receptions, and their discursive and imaginative circulations across sameness and difference arch and gesture toward the interrogation and prevention of violence and hatred against and among material human beings in the immediate world. At the undergraduate level Dr. Hatton regularly teaches courses on “Human Rights & Literature,” “Literature & Philosophy,” “Existentialism & Phenomenology,” “Readings in Close Reading,” and “African-American Literature & Culture.” Recent graduate seminars include “Narrative Medicine,” “Modernity,” "Cosmopolitanisms,” “Giving and Receiving Accounts of the Self,” and “Narratives of Death.” Dr. Hatton received the dual Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature and The Humanities with a PhD minor in Political Theory from Stanford University, and master’s degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and the Jesuit University of San Francisco.

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About Membership Pricing and Mechanics' Institute

Mechanics' Institute offers both member and non-member registration options for this multi-session storytelling workshop. To join as a member to access the member pricing for this seminar, please join here.

Founded in 1854, the Mechanics’ Institute is one of the oldest institutions on the West Coast of the United States. Its mission is to provide a center for intellectual and cultural advancement. Located in the financial district of San Francisco, it serves individuals and families throughout the Bay Area offering a vibrant library with full-time professional staff, expert instruction and competition in chess, and a full calendar of engaging cultural events, programs, and classes. Anyone can join the Institute for a small annual fee. Many of its activities and services for members are also open to non-members.

For questions about registration, contact [email protected] or 415-393-0103.

Cancellation policy:

For seminars, we reserve the right to cancel at any time and issue a full refund. If you are unable to attend the seminar, please email [email protected] or call 415-393-0103 by Wednesday, August 21, 2024, to receive a full refund less any non-refundable ticketing fees which may be applicable. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. After Wednesday, August 21, 2024 no refunds will be issued.

 

 

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