By Amari Leiva-Urzua
The Sydney Writers’ Festival 2024 will run this week, from May 20-26, with 300 speakers and writers. It will feature 35 international guests including Nick Bryant, Michael Connelly, Samantha Shannon, and Katy Hessel, just to name a few.
Besides the big names, the festival will also bring to the stage many local authors and emerging writers celebrating our diversity of talent, culture, and perspectives.
Artistic director Ann Mossop encourages everyone to go and experience the “wide range” of events because “whether people are mad book club novel readers or interested in a conversation about ideas, there’s a lot going on”.
“The festival is a lively space for ideas; to share, discover or gain insight, and I hope visitors have some of those magical experiences,” said Mossop.
So, now you are suitably inspired, here are some of the highlights of this week’s Sydney Writers’ Festival program including links to purchase tickets.
SWF Great Debate: Artificial Intelligence is Better Than the Real Thing
Interested in current social commentary and banter?
Every year the festival holds a great debate examining a controversial topic. This year, artificial intelligence takes the main stage. In a world where AI is expanding every day for every aspect of life, Annabel Crabb and David Marr are joined by teammates Matilda Boseley, Rhys Nicholson, Tracey Spicer and Toby Walsh, along with adjudicator Yumi Stynes, to debate the question: “Will artificial intelligence make us superhumanly productive, liberating us from life’s most mundane tasks? Or have we opened Pandora’s box, unleashing sentient technology that will eventually destroy us?”
The event will be held on Thursday 23rd May 8-9:15pm. Book your tickets here.
Interested in another technological controversy? Come and visit Dark Technologies, featuring Walkley award-winning investigative journalist Antony Loewenstein; Toby Walsh, the chief scientist of UNSW.AI; and Michael Richardson, an associate professor at UNSW Sydney. Join these experts as they discuss the use of AI and technology in modern warfare and the controversies surrounding it. Book here.
Your Favourites’ Favourites
Throughout the week the festival will be running this unique event which features a discussion between an experienced author and a young writer commencing their career. Often, they will share a common theme whether it be the genre they’re writing, their subjects or their culture.
On May 23rd, two generations of Greek-Australian storytellers, Christos Tsiolkas and Peter Polites, team up. Book here.
On May 24th, Annabel Crabb and Robert Skinner discuss life, liberty and the hapless quest for meaning. Book here.
Also on May 24th, Stella Prize-winning novelist Charlotte Wood chats with Emily Perkins. Book here.
On May 26th, acclaimed Women & Children author Tony Birch shares stories with fellow First Nations novelist Graham Akhurst. Book here.
Politics
Interested in hearing controversial discussion about national and international politics? The festival is offering an extensive range of discussions from renowned academics and journalists. Here are some key events you cannot miss.
On May 23rd, Australia’s Place in the World will feature two foreign policy thinkers on Australia’s alliance with the US, the threat of China and Australia’s place in international relations. Book here.
Also on May 23rd, author Lech Blaine discusses Peter Dutton as the “Pied Piper of outer suburbia”, analysing his campaigns and policies. Want to attend this event? It is free and more information can be found here.
Feminism
Interested in women and gender politics in general? The festival offers a range of events you can attend to examine contemporary gender topics and debates.
On May 24th, attend Feminist Firebrands and witness a packed discussion of gender equality with feminist voices Hannah Ferguson, Sisonke Msimand, Jennifer Robinson, and Jo Dyer. Topics will range across freedom of speech, right-wing politics, racism, xenophobia, women and the law, and taboos around sex and pleasure. Book here.
Or on that same day, attend The Secrets Lives of Women where a literary discussion will lead you to a conversation about the private lives of minority women and the importance of cross-cultural feminism. Book here.
On May 26th, come and see the festival’s closing address as Kate Manne, philosopher of the #MeToo era, unpacks the future of misogyny. Book here.
Culture
The festival offers unique opportunities for you to immerse yourself in the world of culture, both the beauty but also the more complex and darker natures of society.
On May 23rd, come and hear Ma Thida and Sean Turnell as they recount their experience of spending two years in Myanmar’s terrifying Insein Prison and their hopes for Myanmar’s future. It is a completely free event, see here to find out more.
On that same day come and visit Black Crit, an event where First Nations authors will come together to discuss the overlap of culture, community, literature, and criticism. Book here.
On May 24th, Queerstories will bring to light a range of vulnerable and fierce stories that will celebrate the culture and creativity of the LGBTQI+ community. Queerstories is an institution that has travelled all over Australia and has an award-winning podcast featuring an archive of nearly 400 queer tales. Book here.
To find out more about events simply head to the Sydney Writers’ Festival website.
Featured image: This year the festival will be held at various locations throughout Sydney including Carriageworks. Photo: Patrick Tomasso/CC/Wikimedia Commons
