Milkweed Books & Writers Go to the Movies Present: Sarah Jones

Milkweed Books & Writers Go to the Movies present Sarah Jones, author of Disposable: America’s Contempt for the Underclass, and Chris Stedman, author of IRL: Finding Our Real Selves in a Digital World. Tickets are not necessary but encouraged for planning purposes.

The author has selected the film Pride, which speaks to her work. We will all view it together. Writers Go to the Movies will provide popcorn, candy, and beverages to enhance the viewing experience. After, Sarah will read from her new book, and join Chris in a conversation around the film, their craft, and how media influenced her book. Book sales and signing provided by Milkweed Books.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Sarah Jones is a senior writer for New York magazine, where she covers politics and religion. She was previously a staff writer for The New Republic and her work has been published by The Nation, the Columbia Journalism Review, and Dissent magazine. Jones won the 2019 Mirror Award for commentary and has been a fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She is active on social media (@OneSarahJones). Originally from rural Washington County, Virginia, she now lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

Chris Stedman is a writer, podcaster, and professor who teaches in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN. He is the author of the books IRL, Faitheist, and the forthcoming Nothing in Particular, as well as the writer and host of Unread, named one of the best podcasts of 2021 by the Guardian, Vulture, HuffPost, Mashable, the CBC, and others, and honored by the 2022 Webby Awards under Podcasts – Best Writing.

ABOUT THE FILM

Pride is a 2014 historical comedy-drama film written by Stephen Beresford and directed by Matthew Warchus. Based on a true story, it depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners’ strike in 1984, at the outset of what would become the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign. It was screened as part of the Directors’ Fortnight section of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Queer Palm award.

The film was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and for the BAFTA for Best British Film, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Imelda Staunton and for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In a compelling blend of personal narrative and in-depth reporting, New York magazine senior writer Sarah Jones exposes the harsh reality of America’s racial and income inequality and the devastating impact of the pandemic on our nation’s most vulnerable people.

In the tradition of Matthew Desmond’s Evicted and Andrea Elliot’s Invisible Child, Disposable is a poignant exploration of America’s underclass, left vulnerable by systemic racism and capitalism. Here, Jones delves into the lives of the essential workers, seniors, and people with disabilities who were disproportionately affected by COVID-19—not due to their age or profession, but because of the systemic inequality and poverty that left them exposed.

Jones brings these stories to the forefront, transforming the abstract concept of the pandemic into a deeply personal and political phenomenon. She argues that America has abandoned a sacrificial underclass of millions but insists that another future is possible. By addressing the pervasive issues of racial justice and public policy, Jones calls for a future where no one is seen as disposable again.

ABOUT THE SERIES

A writer is invited to choose a movie–something that has informed, inspired, irritated, oppressed, shaken, or moved their writing practice. The writer chooses an outsider artist to be their conversation partner. We meet for drinks and snacks at the theatre before the show. The writer introduces the movie to us and tells us why they’ve chosen it; we watch it. The writer and “outsider artist” have a conversation about art making and life, cross disciplinary ideas and any of the other smart, funny, wise and weird things they’re currently thinking about. The audience asks questions, they make comments, also say smart, wise and funny things and we all go home and dream of a world made better through expanding community.