Chestertown, MD — The Rose O'Neill Literary House's "Literature of the Fact"—a special series of lectures on the diverse varieties of the art of nonfiction—concludes with a presentation by Dan Kennedy, acclaimed author of comedic musings on the music industry, at the Norman James Theatre on Thursday, November 20, at 8 p.m.
"Rock Lit With Dan Kennedy" is being presented by the Rose O'Neill Literary House in conjuction with the Washington College Student Events Board.
With his pieces in McSweeney's and his memoir Loser Goes First, Kennedy established himself as one of the funniest writers in America. With his follow up, Rock On: An Office Power Ballad, he has cemented that reputation and also shown his chops as a first-rate writer on music and the music scene.
A national bestseller, Rock On: An Office Power Ballad is based on Kennedy's experiences in the rock-music biz. When he was hired by a major record label in 2002, he believed he had chanced upon his dream job in the world of full-blown gonzo rock'n'roll excess, the fulfillment of fantasies held since his Southern California teenage years.
The sobering reality? A 9-to-5 world that was equal parts "Spinal Tap" and "The Office"—and Kennedy had arrived on the scene just in time for mass layoffs, artists being cut from contracts, and sales hitting an all-time low. In his bemused chronicle of the dying days of the record business, Kennedy's twisted wit offers up the absurd, funny and oddly heartbreaking story of a stranger in a strange land.
The New York Times called Rock On "a succession of gently mordant vignettes, with hilariously spot-on asides about media image-making, music-biz hierarchies and sensitive singer-songwriters... Neither Kennedy nor the music business will ever be the same."
The Rose O'Neill Literary House, which underwent an extensive restoration and renovation last spring, is known far and wide as the hub of Washington College's writing community. For nearly 25 years it has served as the venue for co-curricular activities that bring together students and faculty with visiting writers, scholars, editors and other literary artists; theWashington Post dubbed it "the Carnegie Hall of literary readings."
Admission to "Rock Lit with Dan Kennedy" is free and open to the public. For more information, call 410/778-7899 or visit lithouse.washcoll.edu.
November 11, 2008
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