The most esteemed voices in music journalism will converge Saturday at NYU to honor Ellen Willis, a true pioneer in rock criticism and feminist thought.
“Sex, Hope, & Rock 'n' Roll: The Writings of Ellen Willis” honors the journalist with a day-long symposium of readings, speeches, and panel discussions. It runs 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at New York University’s Tishman Auditorium (40 Washington Square South). Registration is free, required, and still open to the public.
Ellen Willis, best known as the first pop critic for The New Yorker, was a provocative, intellectual force of critical thought, from the bustling counterculture of the 1960s right up until her death in 2006. Her work appears in the soon-to-be-released "Out of the Vinyl Deeps" (University of Minnesota Press), which hits stores in May.
Saturday’s loving tribute features the most prominent names in journalism, from Robert Christgau (widely considered the “dean of music journalism”) to Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield and NPR’s Ann Powers. Le Tigre's Kathleen Hanna will lend musician/feminist perspective to one panel, as well.
