UCR Palm Desert Campus Introduces Saturday’s Free Lit Flicks Series

The Palm Desert campus of the University of California Riverside is set to launch its captivating and thought-provoking “Lit Flicks” series. This unique series will feature screenings of movies based on banned or challenged young adult books. It kick-starts on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a screening of the critically acclaimed “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”. Admission to this community series is free, but it is recommended that attendees RSVP at palmdesert.ucr.edu/events-programs to secure their spot.

In a statement, college officials expressed their concern about the increasing suppression and censorship of books nationwide, and their decision to spotlight banned or challenged young adult books. According to PEN America’s index of school book bans, there have been a staggering 1,477 instances of individual books banned, impacting 874 unique titles during the first half of the 2022-2023 school year.

This year’s summer series focuses on three captivating books that will be read and discussed. In addition to “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” the series will also feature screenings of “Of Mice and Men” on August 26 and “The Kite Runner” on September 16. These carefully selected books provide an enriching and thought-provoking experience for participants.

The “Lit Flicks” series was inaugurated in 2012 with the purpose of exploring exceptional writing, creating a platform for engaging discussions about books that have been adapted into movies, and offering educational programming during the summer months to the local community. In a statement, PDC officials expressed their excitement for the growth of the series in its new venue, the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This change allows for a larger audience and greater involvement from the Palm Springs community.