Fabulous and Forbidden

David Hockney, A Rake's Progress, 1. The Arrival, 1961 - 3. Courtesy of the British Council © The Artist

Wayne Koestenbaum, photo by Heike Steinweg

You Tube Screen Shot, Blondie

Wayne Koestenbaum and Neil Bartlett in conversation

22 Jan 2010

Join Neil Bartlett and Wayne Koestenbaum for an informal conversation on the Fabulous and Forbidden. Drawing from youtube clips, as well as their own personal collections of images and texts, their conversation will cover a range of topics including early Hollywood film stars, Pop Art, punk aesthetics, and queer studies.

Wayne Koestenbaum is one of the world’s most renowned cultural theorists. His poetry and cultural criticism on hotels, opera, homosexuality, fandom, Warhol and Jackie O are cited as some of the most striking and insightful texts devoted to contemporary culture.

Neil Bartlett is a theatre director and novelist. His most recent novel, Skin Lane, was shortlisted for the Costa prize; his recent theatre work has included directing a cross-dressed Twelfth Night for the Royal Shakespeare Company, converting the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre into a working bingo hall for the Manchester International Festival ,and doing stand-up at South London's infamous Royal Vauxhall Tavern for World Aids Day.