New York City is packed with amazing culture and inspiring art, but sometimes it’s difficult to break the Morningside-bubble and experience it all first-hand. “Where Art Thou” is a weekly guide to interesting and notable lectures, events, and performances for the literary/musically/theatrically-inclined on campus.

  • In his Gettysburg Address, Lincoln wrote: “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.” This Tuesday at 5 PM, join Professor Thomas W. Laqueur and the IRCPL for The Aura of the Dead in a Disenchanted Worlda lecture which explores the power of the dead and their remains to consecrate. Head to the 7th floor of IAB to discover how “the aura of mortal remains function to create sacrality in the absence of God and other worlds beyond our own.”
  • Renowned classicist and translator Emily Wilson returns to Columbia this Thursday, September 26 to discuss the working process, goals and challenges of translating ultra-canonic texts like Seneca, Sophocles and Euripides – and most recently, Homer’s seminal Odyssey. Head to Miller Theatre at 6 PM for free admission.

Off Campus:

  • Nothing to do this afternoon? Explore the many museums in New York celebrating Museum Day! Check the Smithsonian Magazine website for a full list of participating museums, and get your free tickets to one of hundreds of museums in the city.
  • Today is another national holiday: Batman’s birthday. This is good news for comics fans, who will enjoy 20% off in-store purchases at Midtown Comics. Or, you know, combine your love of Batman and free museum tickets: celebrate National Batman Day with the Society of Illustrators at 128 E 63rd St. Featuring a Batman art exhibit, museum deals, and raffle prizes.

image via Wikipedia