BJC Brings You The Cream Of Beijing’s Literary Festivals

“Festival Fever,” declares the cover of relentlessly upbeat Time Out Beijing. Coming at the end of what might just be China’s worst week in recent history – starting with a massacre in Kunming and ending with 230 people, including 140 Chinese, seemingly disappearing into the Twilight Zone – it’s hard to share their enthusiasm.

Symptoms of festival fever must include disinterest, lassitude, and a creeping sense of impending doom. The festivals themselves are even more lackluster than usual. The Bookworm’s International Festival barely includes any big overseas names; plenty of interesting people talking, but most are expat types you could run into down at the pub. M is also running a drastically reduced schedule in Beijing and Shanghai.

Nevertheless, there are a few good talks, including some that you may not have picked up on. Here are our picks:

Will China Dominate the 21^st Century? – March 12, 1 pm, Bookworm

One should avoid absolutist rhetoric on China, but this question is really aimed to sell tickets. Fenby’s worth a listen, but if you miss this one, you can catch it on Sinica later.

From Her Neighbours’ Eyes: Japanese, Indian and Russian journalists on China – March 13, 1 pm, Bookworm

A chance for a different, but no less important, perspective regarding China.

Translation Slam – March 14, 8 pm, Bookworm

Two translators pitted against each other. Watch out for the hecklers. (Disclaimer: this might also end up being the height of China Hand wankiness. But Alec liked the sound of it.)

Boom or Bust: Projection’s for China’s Economy – March 15, 4 pm, Bookworm

As far as we can see, this is the only panel that’s likely to see some major disagreements, and the topic should really be of interest to everyone. It’s the economy, stupid.

Blogging China – March 18, 8 pm, iQiYi Bookworm [Ed's note, 11:22 pm: high demand has necessitated a venue change, confirmed just this evening]

Four well-known local bloggers and Tao Stein rap about “protests [and] expat rivalries.” If Chris Devonshire-Ellis shows up, that RMB65 ticket will pay for itself. Disclosure: Alec and Tao are on this panel about the Chinese “blogosphere.” Jeremy Goldkorn and Mia Li are the others.

300 Shots – Derek Sandhaus on Baijiu – March 19, 6 pm, iQiYi

Derek Sandhaus is always amusing, and especially so when he’s drunk. Bring a bottle of erguotou and try not to throw up.

Killing Fairfax: Pamela Williams – March 20, 1 pm, Bookworm

Masochistic media types will be glued to the details of Fairfax media’s self-inflicted death throes. Interesting fact: Fairfax’s previous correspondent in China, John Garnaut,was probably the best foreign correspondent in China. Read his book about Bo Xilai.

Orwell, Burma & Literary Pilgrimage – March 22, 2 pm, Capital M

Emma Larkin on Orwell’s Burmese days and literary beginnings.

Timothy Garton Ash – March 23, 5 pm, Capital M

The Guardian journo has an hour or so to riff on China (hopefully) with Kaiser Kuo. Disclosure: he’s Alec’s dad. But that’s not all that’s interesting about him, promise.

Finally: if you have RMB250 to spare and are a struggling freelance hack (an admittedly rare demographic), former Time Out editor Adrian Sandiford is dispensing pearls on How to Pitch at a workshop at the Opposite House on March 16 at 2 pm.

That’s enough about festivals.

RFH is BJC’s editor-at-large. Alec Ash runs the Anthill and drinks whisky.

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