The higher education cable station HEC-TV is sponsoring a series of interactive, participatory television programs related to The Big Read, a University-sponsored initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The station is looking to include literary experts and political and social scientists from the University faculty on the programs’ discussion panels.
Through the series — and other events — participants in the community reading project will discuss the provocative themes of Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel “Fahrenheit 451.”
Beginning Feb. 20, the television series offers day and evening programming for school students, teachers, parents and the community.
• Politics, Government and “Fahrenheit 451.” Student program, 9-10 a.m. Feb. 20; evening program, 7-7:30 p.m. Feb. 21. This program explores the political and governmental themes of “Fahrenheit 451,” including censorship, free speech and governmental power, and how they resonate in modern society.
• Technology, Privacy and “Fahrenheit 451.” Student program, 9-10 a.m. Feb. 27; evening program, 7-7:30 p.m. Feb. 28. In discussing the role of technology in the book and in today’s society, this program looks at the toll technology can take on privacy. David A. Lawton, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of English in Arts & Sciences, will join other panelists during the evening program, which is available via a live video conference at the St. Louis County Library headquarters at 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
Day programs will air live in the St. Louis region on HEC-TV and via video conferences and on the Web at hectv.org. During the programs, viewers can e-mail questions to live@hectv.org.
Evening programs will air live on HEC-TV. Community members also can watch at interactive video conference locations for face-to-face interaction with program participants. E-mail and phone questions will be accepted during evening programs.
For more information on video conference locations or to be part of a live audience, call 531-4455. For more information on The Big Read, visit bigread.wustl.edu.