A curated selection of videos, including book trailers, brief interviews, and other literary curiosities updated daily.

Sarah Kay

“Let the statues crumble. You have always been the place.” Poet Sarah Kay, founder and codirector of Project VOICE, performs her poem “The Type.”

Thu, 09/12/2013 - 10:30

Stephen Colbert and Tobias Wolff

Stephen Colbert interviews author Tobias Wolff about J.D. Salinger’s revered novel The Catcher in the Rye, which the comedian describes as “perhaps the most important American novel that I don’t get.”

Wed, 09/11/2013 - 16:30

The Watcher of Vowels

“We are drunkards who never take a drop.” Todd Boss reads in this motionpoem of “The Watcher of Vowels,” written by poet Robert Bly. Matt Van Ekeren, Catalina Kulczar-Marin, and Carly Zuckweiler created the video.

Tue, 09/10/2013 - 17:30

Rigged Game

“Since when does being a teacher mean having to swear not to help??” Dylan Garity performs “Rigged Game,” his poem about a flawed educational system, at the 2013 National Poetry Slam in Minneapolis, MN.   

Mon, 09/09/2013 - 16:30

Bleeding Edge

This book trailer is for Thomas Pynchon’s latest novel, Bleeding Edge, which is being released on September 17. Otherwise, the rest of the information conveyed in the clip is up to your own imagination.  

C.O.G.

This movie trailer for “C.O.G.,” based on the autobiographical essay that shares the same name, relates the life and experiences of a young David Sedaris as he searches for his identity and a place to belong.   

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 17:00

Emergency Exit Row

“I was told to speak up.” Poet Catalina Ferro describes a harrowing seating arrangement aboard an airplane in her poem, “Emergency Exit Row,” at the NYC Urbana Poetry Slam.

Wed, 09/04/2013 - 19:00

She Has a Name

This trailer for “She Has a Name,” by Kamilah Aisha Moon, poignantly represents the poetry collection as it relates the story of a young autistic woman told through the unique perspectives of loved ones who want to protect and understand her.  

Tue, 09/03/2013 - 16:50

Digging

Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who won the Noble Prize for Literature in 1995, died this week. This video features a compilation of excerpts from the many occasions the celebrated poet recited his popular poem, “Digging.”  

Fri, 08/30/2013 - 00:00

The Knowers

In this Electric Literature video, Adam Thompson animates a single, serpentine but elegant sentence describing a bleak vision of the future imagined by Helen Phillips in “The Knowers.” Music by Nathan Thompson.

Thu, 08/29/2013 - 00:00

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