Pick Of The Programme
upfront
Pick Of The Programme
Error , Lies And Adventure Fri 24 May , 7pm One of many talks scrutinising whether our fear of error and lies is a psychological block ; a limit which we allow to block and curb progress . While recognition of mistakes and errors is treated as fundamental to an open , democratically accountable society , is it that errors allow us new ways of thinking and doing , and even inspire ? Perhaps we can celebrate , and not merely learn from error .
HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN
Lloyd Griffiths wrestles with another testing programme of philosophical debate at this year ’ s HTLGI festival , picking out five of his festival highlights .
In an age where words and ideas are subject to demands on commodity and consumption as much as your local supermarket ’ s suspiciously sourced fast food , it ’ s refreshing that How The Light Gets In is continuing in its sixth year to create an intimate and open space where philosophy , public science and debate can flourish organically . Situated on the site of Hay-On-Wye ’ s The Globe , the 11-day-long music and philosophy festival has honed its niche for cultivating a range of intellectual engagements which are at once unashamedly highbrow yet pleasantly participatory . An antidote to the panoptic feel of many corporatised festivals , and lacking the sometimes deferential and stultifying consensus that can affect the Hay Festival which runs concurrently at the other end of town , the Institute Of Art And Ideas ( the festival organisers ) seem to pride themselves on encouraging free thinking . Whether by accident or design , it ’ s the festival ’ s good fortune that the location has an open , unselfconscious feel to it ; the various yurt-like tents cosily located next to The Globe to make for easy access between events and discussions . Amongst the festival ’ s best debates , questions are asked of questions and whether you go as a man of books or enthused amateur , the open-ended nature of the debates mean that the excitement of the festival , and reason for pic : FLASHMUNKI PHOTOGRAPHY
the constant loquacious hum of interested conversation outside the talks , is the vitality with which agendas , assumptions and arguments are challenged . With events featuring political figures such as George Galloway and Diane Abbott and a multitude of scientific and philosophical representation , you can be assured that the debates remain grounded whilst tangential and disjunctive thought are allowed to weave their way . This year ’ s festival theme is Error , Lies And Adventure , and amongst talks on politics , culture , art and philosophy , the programme also sees a fine array of musical talent as part of its live lineup which sees legendary weekend parties , effusive gigs and DJ sets . A few years ago Mount Kimbie previewed their first LP by filling the The Globe ’ s main hall with their unique electro-dance to much rapture , and with artists such as swing-hop maestros The Correspondents and dance music pioneer Andrew Weatherall included , this year ’ s lineup is making advanced purchase of festival tickets seem essential .
How The Light Gets In Festival , Thurs 23 May-Sun 2 June . Tickets : £ 24- £ 68 . Info : www . howthelightgetsin . org
The Decline And Fall Of The American Empire Sat 25 May , 12pm Shirley Williams , Will Hutton and Cory Doctorow explore whether a post-American era in global geopolitics would be stable ? While anti-Americanism tempts us to want change , is this something beyond wish fulfilment ? Is a world without USA as a superpower a blank slate or a dangerous void ?
The Art Of Life Sun 26 May , 12pm Autobiography is perhaps the foremost area that people learn to engage historically in our fast-paced world ( even if it ’ s only with poorly told Peter Kay anecdotes ). This talk will question whether the legacies of historical figures such as Cromwell and Lincoln controlled by those historians who write them are properly real in affecting events .
The Immortal Now Sun 26 May , 7pm Is life really too short ? If you ’ ve ever tried to read Wittgenstein you may suspect otherwise , but as the philosopher said , should we think “ our life has no end in just the way in which our visual field has no limits ”? Is it the greatest human adventure , or the greatest delusion to imagine that we can use reason to transcend our mortality – not biologically but with our attitude towards existence ?
The Devil ’ s Work Tues 28 May , 5.30pm “ Working nine to five , what a way to make a living ”, or so said the philosopher Dolly Parton ( and people say she ’ s just a pair of tits ). Is she right though ? As careers and GDP dominate measures of success , do we stand to lose what early philosophers such as Aristotle called the good life ? Is puritanical toil a character building virtue , prerequisite to economy , culture and personality in any possible world , or should we embrace idleness and seek to foster slow-living to savour life and encourage uniqueness ? pic : FLASHMUNKI PHOTOGRAPHY
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