December 26, 2023 – (KEY WEST, FL). On Wednesday, January 10, join award-winning journalist and author Craig Pittman as he examines the enigma that is the State of Florida as part of the Florida Humanities “Florida Talks” program. During his discussion, based on his best-selling book, “Oh, Florida! How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country,” Pittman will explore facets of the state’s weird and wonderful history and culture. The talk takes place from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street, and tickets are required.
Florida is a popular destination for people around the world. It is also the place that brought terms such as “hanging chad,” “Stand Your Ground,” and “Don’t Tase me, bro!” to our collective consciousness. Over 90 million visitors a year come to Florida, some drawn by its impressive natural beauty, others bewitched by its man-made fantasies. Throughout its history, Florida has been a state full of contradictions, unusual stories, and eccentric individuals. On one hand, the state is touted as a carefree paradise, yet it is also known for its dangers – alligators, sinkholes, pythons, hurricanes, and sharks, to name a few. Pittman will investigate those contradictions and shows how they fit together to make Florida the most interesting state.
“I’m a big believer in using the ‘spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down’ method of shoveling a lot of Florida history and culture down people’s throats,” says Pittman. “I tell a lot of the weird, wacky stuff that happens in Florida, but I use it as sort of a setup for leading them into learning more about Florida history, some of which is admittedly pretty wild and weird also.”
Pittman is a native Floridian. Born in Pensacola, he graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, where his muckraking work for the student paper prompted an agitated dean to label him “the most destructive force on campus.” After 31 years at the “Tampa Bay Times,” he now writes a weekly column on environmental issues for the Florida Phoenix and co-hosts the podcast “Welcome to Florida”. He has written six non-fiction books about Florida and is a four-time winner of the Waldo Proffitt Award for Distinguished Environmental Journalism.
To reserve tickets for the lecture; visit kwahs.org/dss-pittman – $12 for KWAHS members, $15 for non-members. “Florida Talks” funding is provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Additional support is provided by The Helmerich Trust, Aloys & Carol Metty, and the John & Marilyn Rintamaki Family Charitable Fund. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.
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IMAGE 1: Florida’s weird and astonishing history will be the topic for the Key West Art & Historical Society’s upcoming Distinguished Speakers Series talk, “Oh, Florida! How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country” with journalist and author Craig Pittman on January 10. (Photo Credit: Contributed, Craig Pittman)
