Lecture and Film Screening: Professor Michael Hoberman and the film “Call Us Ishmael,” directed by Dr. David Shaerf

Sunday, September 5, 3 to 6 pm

Michael Hoberman, an American literature professor at Fitchburg State University, will make his case that Melville is an ideal writer for people who describe themselves as skeptical romantics. His talk highlights his own path to Melville’s writing, and it will also offer a brief discussion of how he teaches two lesser-known texts (“Benito Cereno” and “The Encantadas”). Call Us Ishmael chronicles filmmaker David Shaerf’s journey into the world of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. Throughout his quest he encounters artists, musicians, professors, and performers, all of whom are singularly seeking the white whale. Call Us Ishmael gives viewers an insight into a community devoted to this timeless text.

$15 BCHS members, $20 not-yet-members