Call us Ishmael chronicles director David Shaerf’s journey into the world of Moby-Dick through his encounters with artists, musicians, professors and performers including Laurie Anderson and Frank Stella.

Following the film, Michael Hoberman, author and Professor of English Studies at Fitchburg State University, will make his case that Melville is an ideal writer for people who describe themselves as skeptical romantics. His talk highlights his own path to Melville’s writing and offers a brief discussion of how he teaches two lesser-known Melville texts:  Benito Cereno and The Encantadas.