Read any good books lately? By working in conjunction with a program called The Big Read, Washington University hopes to make the answer “yes.”
Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), The Big Read is a series of two-month events aiming to stimulate citywide reading of a classic piece of literature. During the program’s stop in St. Louis, the featured novel will be “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. The program will kick off at Washington University on Jan. 24 with an Assembly Series lecture based on the book.
The event includes participation from local organizations including the Contemporary Art Museum, the St. Louis Public Library and area public schools. It will feature art exhibitions, book recitations, film festivals and theatrical performances.
The Big Read is the brainchild of the NEA, which released a study in 2004 entitled “Reading at Risk.” Paulette Beete, an NEA spokesperson, explained that the study showed that less than half of American adults read literature-defined as novels, poetry, and dramas-for pleasure. Initially, the NEA simply wanted to shed light on the problem, but instead decided to use their ability to sponsor grants to make a difference.
“Our goal is to promote pleasure and community relationships. People can come together to discuss the book and get to know their neighbors,” said Beete.
The NEA piloted the program in the beginning of 2006 in ten communities around the country, including Little Rock, Ark.; Huntsville, Ala.; and Topeka, Kan. Each community voted to read books such as “The Great Gatsby” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Books are chosen based on the consensus of the community, and each community has eight choices to choose from, with four more being added in the latter half of 2007. The selected books come complete with audio, readers and teacher’s guides.
While this is the first year that the event has become a nation-wide phenomenon, with the participation of over 100 communities from around the country, the NEA already has plans to continue expanding the program in the future.
Victoria Thomas, the English department coordinator for the event, sees the program as a chance for the University to reach out to the surrounding community.
“It is an attempt to . show that reading can be a part of their lives, too. [The University] is not a rarified world,” said Thomas.
The University sent an application to NEA last summer expressing their interest in The Big Read and ended up being the only university in Missouri to receive a grant.
Thomas expressed enthusiasm about the University’s involvement and added that the book’s controversial subject of fire and censorship relates to the convergence of different viewpoints.
“It is a timeless classic because fire is something destructive but purifying. It depends on how you look at it.”
Senior Angela Markle, the president of the local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Society, thinks that the events can hold great importance not only for the community but also for University students.
“The Big Read is nation-wide, and it is great for Wash. U. to be involved. For people not studying the humanities, it is easy to get caught up in school and not read for pleasure,” said Markle.
“As an institute of learning, it is important that [the University] get involved,” added junior Kellen Hoxworth, the vice president of Sigma Tau Delta. “Also, it is a chance for Wash. U. students to step out of the bubble and join the greater community.”
Ben Uchitelle, the mayor of Clayton, Mo., one of the sponsor cities, said that the event would bring notoriety and good publicity to the University and to the city of St. Louis.
“I am pleased as pie that Wash. U. is undertaking it,” said Uchitelle. “I am looking forward to participating.”
For a full calendar of events between Jan. 15 and March 15, visit bigread.wustl.edu.