Here they are, nine necessary know-abouts for the week ahead. It’s wake-me-up-when-September-ends B9:
➤ Is there a nonfiction writer in America with more market muscle and more critical scrutiny than Malcolm Gladwell? The Canadian-reared journalist for The New Yorker became a household name in the 2000s, thanks to his big-selling books “The Tipping Point,” “Blink” and “Outliers.” Gladwell, 62, visits Santa Cruz next Tuesday, Oct. 14, to talk about his latest project, a sequel of sorts, titled “Revenge of the Tipping Point.” Two things we know about Gladwell are that his provocative ideas about the hidden links between social phenomena sell books, and that a lot of reviewers are going to paint him as an entertainer whose science is a bit suspect. The new book, like its original namesake, is all about overlaying the metaphor of contagion and epidemics on social science, with points to make about cheetahs, bank robbers and forgotten TV shows. The book is popular with Malcolm-ophiles, but Gladwell’s hometown paper, The New York Times, headlined its review “Is Malcolm Gladwell Out of Ideas?” It also accuses him of “fatty, sugary pseudo-thinking” (though, not everyone is so grouchy when it comes to the book). Either way, Gladwell faces his public Tuesday at the Rio Theatre in a show presented by Bookshop Santa Cruz.
➤ This weekend, your waking life can finally pay some due respect to your sleeping life at the Festival of Dreams, kicking off Friday with presentations and art demos at the Museum of Art & History. It continues Saturday with an all-day event culminating in the big Dream Ball, where everyone will be dressed as a meaningful dream figure … or nightmare figure.
➤ They are a couple of (usually) well-dressed guys named Mike. The duo Schoolcraft & Murray is all about entertaining through music and wit. Their cheeky acoustic songs — “My Sadomasochistic Baby,” “Consensual” — sparkle with humor and edge. See them Saturday night at the Ugly Mug in Soquel.
➤ On Sunday, a dazzling lineup of Santa Cruz musicians all come together at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center to entertain for the sake of domestic violence survivors. The show “Let the Caged Bird Sing” will feature an all-star lineup including pianist Kate Saphir Alm, bassist Etienne Franc, vocalists Ariel Thiermann and Gina René and several others, all to create a joyful space and bear witness to the experience of survivors. Things get started around 5 p.m.
➤ The one and only Festival of Monsters hits UC Santa Cruz next weekend, but the slate of academic and public events kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the MAH with a keynote address from scholar and philosopher David Livingstone Smith. The talk’s title: “False Monsters, True Horrors: The Uncanny Power of Dehumanization.” How’s that for a table-setter?
➤ Looking for an offbeat way to experience the Santa Cruz Film Festival? The Santa Cruz-based avant-garde group Indexical is hosting a few events, including “Dreams in Motion,” a program of short films showcasing the best in independently produced animation. It includes everything from karaoke to a celebration of death (!). The shorts play at Indexical at the Tannery on Thursday and Friday.
➤ The People’s Disco returns to Moe’s Alley on Saturday night, with DJ James Glass. This is a free event, which makes it, you know, the People’s Disco.
➤ Next week, a fascinating literary event is in store when writer and editor John Freeman chats with UC Santa Cruz novelist Karen Tei Yamashita about his new book “California Rewritten: A Journey Through the Golden State’s New Literature.” The book is a deep dive into the state of California’s rich literary scene. It all happens next Thursday, Oct. 16, at Bookshop Santa Cruz.
➤ One is a master of the Scottish fiddle, the other a virtuoso of the cello. And for years, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas have made a powerhouse duo for their beautiful collaborations, full of dreamy Celtic vibes and spirited dance-worthy energy. Hear what they sound like together Friday at Kuumbwa.
