Summer of Anarchist Adventures - Films and Reading Groups
Michael Reagan
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As part of our "Summer of Anarchist Adventures" the Study Group has two upcoming free public events: a film series and a discussion group for the controversial "Black Flame." We hope to see you at these, details below.
Film Screening: Land and Freedom
Tuesday, July 19th 7PM
Labor Temple Hall 8 – 2800 1st ave.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Spanish Revolution, the most successful anarchist revolution yet, and the closest we’ve come to creating a free and equal society without bosses and landlords.
To celebrate we’re hosting a free screening of the Ken Loach film “Land and Freedom.” The film is loosely based on George Orwell’s autobiographical account of the revolution “Homage to Catalonia” It follows a revolutionary fighter who leaves London to support the revolutionary efforts in Spain. When he arrives, the anarchist and left communist militias are fighting on the front, small villages and towns are raising the red and black flag, and collectively deciding their new futures. By the time he returns to Barcelona the revolution is being betrayed, and the hopes of a brighter future are diminished.
Sponsored by SASG and SETI
Summer Reading Group: Black Flame! the Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism
Announcing SASG and SETI’s Summer Reading Group!
Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism
Sunday, Aug. 14th, 10am at Cafe Bauhaus – 301 E. Pike St. in Seattle.
Black Flame Chp. 1: introduction
Black Flame Chp. 2: Socialism from Below: Defining Anarchism
As part of our summer of Anarchist Adventures the Study Group is teaming up with the SETI group from SeaSol to read and discuss Michael Schmidt and Lucien van der Walt’s “Black Flame: the Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism.” This is an excellent introduction to class struggle anarchism, and provides a compelling and controversial polemic about what anarchism is and isn’t. If you want to know a little more about the book check out Wayne Price’s excellent review on Anarkismo – additionally there’s a really engaging debate between Price and van der Walt on the relationship of Marxism and anarchism in the comments section below the review.
If you decide you want to come read and discuss with us please let us
know. We’ll be discussing the second section of the book, chapters 4 through 8 at our August meeting. The remaining section will be covered in our meeting in September – dates to be announced.
We’ve provided the first two out of three chapters of the first section in the links above. We hope this will help you get started as you find your own copy of the book, either through Left Bank, online sellers, or the SPL. If you want to participate and have any trouble finding the book, or can’t afford a copy, let us know right away and we can work out getting a copy to you.
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