Oprally Presents Writers and Writers: Narrative on the Page and in the Street

OPRALLY PRESENTS
WRITERS AND WRITERS: NARRATIVE ON THE PAGE AND IN THE STREET
Tuesday, January 8
8:00–10:30 P.M.
MoMA

Join PopRally for a panel discussion on parallel notions of literature and graffiti as narrative constructions. Participants include GZA, legendary lyricist and founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan; New York graffiti artist and historian Alan Ket; Adam Mansbach, New York Times bestselling author of the forthcoming graffiti novel Rage Is Back; and artist José Parlá, whose works grace both city streets and gallery walls. The conversation is moderated by radio host and cultural critic Jay Smooth. Renowned DJ J. Period will play a special set during the cocktail reception to follow.

The evening’s wide-ranging conversation will explore narrative and identity in both literary and graffiti cultures; the relationships of both literature and graffiti to authority; and the persistence of “beef” across the genres. Participants will also confront the notion of a hip-hop aesthetic, discuss the importance of codes and code-switching, and discuss the parallel evolution of graffiti, hip-hop, and new literary cultures in New York City.

Discussion begins promptly at 8:00 p.m., with a cocktail reception following.

Above: José Parlá. The Struggle Continues (detail). Collage, ink, acrylic, oil, and crushed plaster on wood, 4 x 6′. © 2012 José Parlá, Artist Rights Society, New York