Fiction & the Cultural Comedy of American Life | Nancy Lemann, Patricia Lockwood + Danzy Senna Moderated by: C.J. Farley

How does fiction capture the surreal, often hysterical nature of American culture? This conversation brings together three razor-sharp observers of contemporary life – Nancy Lemann, Patricia Lockwood and Danzy Senna – to explore the thin line between the tragic and the comic. With works that span from the Hollywood Hills to the eccentric corners of Southern life and the digital ether, these authors examine how the cultural comedy of our time highlights deeper truths about identity, authenticity, and survival in a world that often defies logic. The New Orleans Book Festival brings the world’s leading authors to Tulane University for a multi-day celebration of their works. The Festival features both fiction and non-fiction and convenes readings, panel discussions, symposia and keynote speeches. It provides an opportunity for outlets, authors and readers to interact with each other in one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in the world.