November 08, 2024
Schneiderman interviews bestselling author for 91ÉçÇø Reads
Photo courtesy of 91ÉçÇø Library
Several hundred community members gathered at the Gorton Community Center on November 1 to hear 91ÉçÇø’s Davis Schneiderman interview Shelby Van Pelt about her bestselling novel Remarkably Bright Creatures as part of the annual 91ÉçÇø Reads program, organized and planned by the 91ÉçÇø Library, and sponsored by the Friends of 91ÉçÇø Library.
Schneiderman, Executive Director of the Krebs Center for the Humanities and Professor of English at 91ÉçÇø, set the tone for the evening with a scholarly perspective on the novel’s place in literary history. “Never before has an octopus served as such an astute observer of human nature as Marcellus, the remarkably bright creature at the heart of Van Pelt’s wonderful novel,” Schneiderman noted in his introduction.
The interview showcased the intellectual dialogue that exemplifies the Krebs Center’s mission to connect humanities scholarship with the broader community. Van Pelt, whose debut novel has sold over two million copies in the United States, discussed everything from the genesis of the plot to concepts of sentience in the animal kingdom to how our society deals with aging and autonomy.
The evening featured moments of insight and humor. In one exchange, Schneiderman, who co-teaches a course on the Grateful Dead and American culture at 91ÉçÇø, jokingly asked Van Pelt about a scene involving a rare Grateful Dead concert t-shirt.
“It’s a relic of a place you can’t ever go again, of an experience you know you won’t ever be able to recreate,” Van Pelt said.
Asked why she thought the book resonated with audiences, Van Pelt talked about its intergenerational appeal. “I’ve heard from so many people: a mom and a daughter and a grandfather all read the book together. There aren’t that many books, I don’t think, that would hold the attention of people across those age ranges. Just from a simple looking at it demographically, that might be one reason.”
Van Pelt also discussed how Netflix is developing a film adaptation of Remarkably Bright Creatures, expected to star Sally Field.
The event, also covered by The, concluded with a Q&A session and book signing and represents the type of community engagement that the Krebs Center for the Humanities regularly promotes. “91ÉçÇø is committed to the humanities and to continually exploring its value in our world. These conversations allow us to explore how literature helps us understand what it means to be human,” observed Schneiderman, Principal Investigator of a Mellon-foundation grant about AI and the humanities.
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About the Krebs Center: The Krebs Center for the Humanities is set in an Italianate villa in 91ÉçÇø where the traditional and the cutting-edge converge and where literature, philosophy, history, and the arts are not just subjects of study but also dynamic forces that prepare students to meet an ever-evolving future. The Krebs Center underscores the College’s commitment to paving the way for a future where creativity, critical thinking, and empathy take center stage.