The Wisdom Bar-"Herman Melville & the Howling Infinite:Crisis Inspires Art"

Expert-led lectures in bars and creative spaces across the New York Area.
About this Event

💡A smarter night out in New York City—fascinating speakers and real conversation. 💡

https://youtube.com/shorts/eK6wN_xbCf0?si=mWORZjQ5P5EAcq_i

Here's what to look forward to during this groundbreaking lecture:

Herman Melville lived in a time of profound crisis. A nation with a collapsing political system, a climate changing through human choice, technology displacing workers, and a profound sense of hurtling toward the dustbin of history plagued the mind of Melville. Sounds pretty familiar doesn't it? In this talk, dedicated Melville hype-man Horst Rosenberg will explore the ways that one great mind endured when everything around and within him seemed to be falling apart. Along the way we'll unpack some of the great works of American literature and find timeless wisdom for surviving in the dark.

Horst Rosenberg is a dedicated explorer of the world of Herman Melville. He holds degrees in history and literature from Gettysburg College and NYU and did not anticipate the radical ways that old whaling stories would change his life. He is the head of Humanities at the Stone Independent School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he teaches an advanced seminar on Moby-Dick, which lets him see in real time the ways that Melville creeps into the human heart.

We'll explore:

• How Melville is often looked at as a boring anatomizer of whales, and while that forms part of his thinking, there is so much more!
• How Melville's writing is surprising, queer, hilariously funny, and deeply moving. Most of these books failed miserably at the time of publication but are now considered unmissable classics. How did that happen?
• How Melville lived a life of tragedy and struggle yet found an amazing capacity for endurance and humor.

This might be for you if you...

• Are curious about the historical context that gave birth to one of the most iconic novels of all time (and how that relates to today)
• Are intrigued by the deeper meanings behind "Moby Dick" and insights into Herman Melville's life
• Enjoy lecture-based and conversation-focused events of any kind — think Ted Talks in bars, Lectures on Tap, or micro learning meets dinner party
• Want to switch up your usual weeknight. Why not make it interesting? 🤓

*Note: This venue has a two drink minimum. *

Agenda

🕑: 06:30 PM
Doors Open
🕑: 06:30 PM - 07:00 PM
Grab a Drink!
🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:45 PM
Lecture Begins
🕑: 07:45 PM - 08:00 PM
Q&A
🕑: 08:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Meet the Speaker & Mingle