Please join us for Simon Critchley’s lecture, a program offered as part of the School of Death, organized by Cabinet and Simon Critchley. The school, which will be present at Family Business from 7 May to 18 May 2013, is an educational institution dedicated to exploring the relationship between death and the examined life. As the institution's motto declares, "If the examined life is not worth living, then is death not worth examining”? During the exhibition at Family Business, a new lesson—taking the form of a drawing, a chart, a story, a parable, an anecdote—will be written each day on a chalkboard installed at Family Business. In addition, there will be a number of classes and workshops at the exhibition space. FULL LIST OF PROGRAMS 7 May 2013, 6–9 pm: Opening, performance, and talk The opening of the School of Death will present a performance of Giacomo Leopardi’s 1824 “Dialogue between Fashion and Death” by Nikki Columbus and a surprise guest, and a short talk by D. Graham Burnett on “The Metachrotic Swan Song.” 16 May 2013, 6:30–9 pm: Lecture Simon Critchley will give a lecture entitled “Learn How to Die.” 18 May 2013, 2–5 pm: Suicide Note and Epitaph Workshop A hands-on workshop on suicide notes (2–3:30 pm) run by Simon Critchley, will be followed immediately by a workshop on epitaphs (3:30–5) run by Jeff Dolven. Please bring your works-in-progress for classroom discussion. ABOUT SIMON CRITCHLEY Simon Critchley, who is not dead yet, teaches philosophy for a living at the New School for Social Research. He writes for the New York Times and his new book “Stay, Illusion!: The Hamlet Doctrine,” co-written with Jamieson Webster, will be published by Pantheon in June. ABOUT FAMILY BUSINESS Family Business is an exhibition space initiated by Maurizio Cattelan and Massimiliano Gioni. It is a free time-share: a space made available to people who have something interesting to say; a way to get to know new families and friends. Family Business is powered by the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College. A guest + a host = a ghost. Nadja Argyropoulou is the Family Business guest (or ghost) curator for 2013. See for more information.

External Link »