The Future of Books

This is a post by JBFC Marketing Intern Stacy Zakalik

On Tuesday, May 26, the Jacob Burns Film Center examines the future of books in the 21^st century with a screening of Fahrenheit 451 and discussion with special guests Paul Holdengräber, director of the acclaimed Live at the New York Public Library, and Jonathan Demme, Oscar-winning director of over 30 films.

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel by author Ray Bradbury, published in 1953. In this dystopian future, books are outlawed and burned by “firemen.” Different from the firemen we know today, these “firemen” are paid solely to burn books. Big television screens are installed in all houses and as people watch them mindlessly, the society grows dull and insipid.

Fahrenheit 451 is not too far from the future. Although books are not banned, like they are in the story, they are falling behind rapidly growing technology. A bookless future may not be that far off in the grand scheme of things. With the advent of iPhones, big screen televisions, Facebook, and laptops, books are far down on people’s “to-do” lists. It seems as though the future Ray Bradbury predicted in his novel is now coming to the forefront.

Are we, as a society, headed to a bookless future?

Paul Holdengräber, host of Live at the New York Public Library, and Jonathan Demme, Oscar-winning filmmaker, will no doubt have a lot to say on this topic. Come to the Burns on Tuesday, May 26 at 7:00 pm and hear these two heavy-hitters discuss the importance of books to our society and our seemingly inevitable descent into a bookless future. Tickets are on sale now.

How important are books to you?

[youtube width=”600″ height=”365″ video_id=”7cQ-yGCyjyM”]