Literarium Junior Can literature be entertaining?

Müpa Budapest is once again expanding this popular series, which so far includes Literarium, Literarium Extra and Poetry Recitals at Müpa Budapest. The monthly Literarium Junior, held in either the Festival Theatre or the Glass Hall, showcases contemporary and classical literature evenings, occasionally including material from the high-school curriculum. Geared towards teenagers, it is no secret that these informal lectures, discussions, readings and meetings are designed to be 'user-frien...dly' and help students understand Hungarian literature in a new light, learn to appreciate its value and in the process inspire them to become regular readers.

The writer, poet, publicist and performer Orsolya Karafiáth puts great emphasis on presenting her work through a range of artistic forms, working together with photographers, dancers, singers and actors to create short films and performances. The playfulness, shapeshifting and range of voices in her work all help to illustrate how there is more than one way to approach so-called serious literature. Mass culture (such as Katalin Karády, Agatha Christie, Kispál és a Borz, Gone With the Wind and Friends) has had just as strong an impact on Karafiáth as Tolstoy, Emily Dickinson, Truman Capote or Salinger.
Orsolya will play with these influences in the show, paying special attention to Elvis Presley. Tibor Legát, the underground musician (Kézi Chopin, Lidérc) and journalist will perform a live reading of an excerpt from his upcoming novel Elvis evangéliuma (The Gospel According To Elvis), before a shared reading discussing the King's secret life in Budapest. Legát will sing and play guitar to bring Orsolya's words to life, mostly Lou Reed's lyrics translated into the language of Budapest. Poems will also feature, and Orsolya Karafiáth will recount her high school memories in relation to her latest autobiographical and nostalgic project. The idea is to use music and words to show us how history is multi-layered and tells our own story: its about us, about Orsolya and Tibor, it's about everyone. And, during the performance, we can laugh, we can get excited, or we can simply relax. Because entertainment, just like literature, has a thousand faces.