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Reading Group/Author Talk with Mark Nowak and Social Poetics Recap

Reading Group: Social Poetics by Mark Nowak

In preparation for the Houston DSA Arts Collective and Political Education Committee’s author talk with Mark Nowak, the Reading Group met to read the introduction and first two chapters of Nowak’s new book, Social Poetics. The book uses Nowak’s decades of experience as a socialist cultural organizer—founding first the Union of Radical Workers and Writers, then the Worker Writers School—to explore the possibilities of building socialist culture today.

The Reading Group focused on the book’s historical sections, which offer a “people’s history” of left participatory culture in the U.S. and abroad. It focuses in particular on poetry workshops held with peasants in post-revolutionary Nicaragua, labor unions in South Africa, and prisons and working-class schools in the U.S. Discussion ranged from the student poems that came out of poet June Jordan’s poetry workshops in Harlem to the importance of art and culture in building community.

Author Talk with Mark Nowak

Then, Mark Nowak himself joined Houston DSA’s Arts Collective and Political Education Committee on Sept. 17 for a discussion of Social Poetics. Mark shared stories from his decades of socialist cultural organizing. These ranged from experiences holding poetry workshops for labor unions in South Africa, to his work with unionizing big-box bookstore workers in Minneapolis. Finally, he shared his story of founding the Worker Writers School’s ongoing workshops. These workshops featured domestic workers, taxi drivers, and other radical and union workers in New York City learning about poetry together.

We discussed the history of participatory socialist culture and what exactly Mark means by social poetics (“short for socialist poetics,” as Mark said). The landscape of left politics in the U.S. is changing, and it’s vital that we build up independent socialist cultural institutions.

“It’s important that our [poetry and cultural] workshops produce more than empathy,” Mark said. This sole emphasis on empathy, he said, struck him as a profoundly liberal idea of culture’s social role. Instead, socialist cultural organizing is about opening up spaces for communities to deepen working-class bonds, experience collectively, and build power. These are spaces developed alongside unions and left organizations that have their sights set on socialist world-making.

“Think small,” he said. “Three workers from a worker center” joining together for a writing workshop could be the start of something much bigger.

Mark Nowak

The discussion brought in DSA members and others from around the country, with Twin Cities and Chicago DSA both represented. At the end, Mark encouraged the Houston DSA Arts Collective to launch its own worker-centered cultural workshops. “Think small,” he said. “Three workers from a worker center” joining together for a writing workshop could be the start of something much bigger.

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Reading Group

DSA Reading Group: Rethinking Capitalism Pt. 1

We’ve finally made it through out first book! At the last meeting, we finished up The ABC’s of Socialism from Jacobin. The discussion was great, filled with thought-provoking perspectives from members.

We’ve held a vote for our next book, and the result is Rethinking Capitalism. Looks like democracy can actually get things done!

For this meeting, we will be reading the first chapter (available here in .pdf). Our discussion will be over the reading as well as analyzing and defining the ideas of capitalism and neoliberalism.  For supplemental reading, check William Davies’ article, The New Neoliberalism, from New Left Review last year.

Be prepared to also discuss what we think about the book, Rethinking Capitalism, and what chapters we want to select to read. Steve and Bryan have already bought the book, but it’s best that you wait until after this upcoming meeting should you decide to order it.
We look forward to seeing everyone there, and new faces too! Feel free to bring friends: all are welcome! Get ready for an informative and entertaining discussion!

See the calendar for location and time.

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Reading Group

DSA Reading Group: Jacobin’s The ABC’s of Socialism Pt. 2

Hello Comrades!

We will be having our next reading group on Monday March 13th at 7:00 PM.  The event will be held at:

Daiquiri Explosion

9223 Main St

Houston, TX 77025

We will continue to discuss Jacobin’s ABC’s of Socialism, available for download or purchase.

Last week we got through roughly the first 3 sections (~30 pages).  We’ll continue our discussion where we left off with Chapters 4-6.

Hope to see everyone there!  And feel free to bring friends, even if they are not DSA members.  We want this to be an educational and welcoming experience for all.

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Reading Group

1st Reading Group: Jacobin’s The ABC’s of Socialism Pt. 1

Hello Comrades!

We will be having our 1st reading group session on Monday February 27th at 7:00 PM, location:

 

Chacho’s Mexican Restaurant

2700 S Loop W Fwy, Houston, TX 77054

????PLEASE NOTE THE ADDRESS CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL POST????

 

We will be reading roughly the first half of Jacobin’s ABC’s of Socialism, which you can download or purchase.

We will be covering the first 6 sections plus the introduction bringing us up to about page 60.  In the following session, we will cover the remainder.  We understand this is short notice, so read what you can.  No big deal if you don’t get through everything by Monday.

Hope to see everyone there!  And feel free to bring friends, even if they are not DSA members.  We want this to be an educational and welcoming experience for all.