Check It Out

“Botany of Desire” to Premiere at Central Library

September 9th, 2009 Alicia

In October, join Wisconsin Public Televison and the Madison Public Library for a series of free, premiere screenings and discussions of the film “The Botany of Desire.” This event is being held in conjunction with UW-Madison’s community-wide common book program, Go Big Read.

The apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato are the stars of the film adaptation of journalist Michael Pollan’s best-selling book, The Botany of Desire. The documentary begins in the author’s own home garden before the film journeys to the apple orchards of Kazakhstan, the tulip markets of Amsterdam, a medicinal marijuana hothouse, and the potato fields of South America. These four famous plants share histories with corresponding human desires for sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control over food production. The developmental relationship between human beings and plants is what Pollan calls “the botany of desire.”

The entire film will be shown over the course of four weeks, in 30 minute segments, with discussions led by guest speakers (to be announced) after the screenings, at the Central Library. The schedule of screenings follows the structure of Pollan’s book:

• Tuesday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m.: Apple - Sweetness
• Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.: Tulip - Beauty
• Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m.: Marijuana - Intoxication
• Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m.: Potato - Control

The full two-hour film will be airing on Wisconsin Public Television on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. More information about all Go Big Read events at Madison Public Library. Check out a preview from WPT.

Entry Filed under: Authors and Books, Central Library, Events