Compared to last year’s all-star lineup (Ian Buruma vs. Martin Amis! A master class with Robert Hass!) this year’s New Yorker Festival is oddly underwhelming. In any event, there are some things that should prove interesting and worthwhile. Here’s what we think they are, not including things that are sold out:

Friday, October 3:

Race and Class in America

With Barbara Ehrenreich, Thomas Frank, John McWhorter, Leslie Sanchez, and Cornel West. Moderated by David Remnick. 7 p.m. Town Hall ($20)

One of the wonkier of the Festival’s events, the New Yorker editor himself will moderate the panel of Nickel and Dimed author Ehrenreich, Baffler-founder and author of What’s the Matter with Kansas? Frank, market researcher Sanchez, linguist and Sun columnist McWhorter, and Princeton professor (and Matrix star, kind of!) West.

Saturday, October 4:

Richard Brody on the films of Jean-Luc Godard

4 p.m. IFC Center ($25)

See apparent winner of Allen Ginsberg look-a-like contest Richard Brody, who’s a staff writer at the magazine, discuss the films of Godard. Bonus Breathless showing.

Chuck Hagel interviewed by Ryan Lizza

4 p.m. Acura Stage at Cedar Lake Theatre ($25)

The New Yorker‘s latest New Republic-import Lizza speaks to the Republican Senator from Nebraska. Expect a discussion of the election, but Hagel (who’s served in the Senate with McCain for 20 years and traveled with Obama to Iraq) has refused to endorse either candidate.

Art Spiegelman: “Breakdowns: Comix 101”

4:30 p.m. Ailey Citigroup Theater

Joan Weill Center for Dance ($25)

Upperclassmen might recall applying to the Maus-author’s spring 07 American Studies seminar. They might also recall being rejected (over 70 students had applied.) It’s your second chance to see Spiegelman in person, and in this case, there are no end-of-semester essays.

Sunday, October 5:

Literary Criticism With James Wood.

4 p.m. Festival HQ Metropolitan Pavilion ($35)

Premier literary critic and author of How Fiction Works will now tell you how criticizing fiction works.