[THS] Michael Moore to Receive the John Steinbeck Award

[The Harder Stuff in news and commentary]

Michael Moore to Receive the John Steinbeck Award

The family of John Steinbeck, the Nobel Prize-winning author of "The Grapes of
Wrath" and other American classics, and the Center for Steinbeck Studies, have
announced that they are giving their prestigious John Steinbeck Award to Michael
Moore. They're making their official announcement today and I thought you'd like to
see the statement they've released to the press. Steinbeck's son, Thomas, will
present the award to Mike next month at a ceremony at San Jose State University
(the public is invited to attend). Thomas Steinbeck had this to say this morning:
"Michael Moore is a courageous man and a great selection for the John Steinbeck
Award. My father would have loved him; my father was the Michael Moore of his
time."

-- Webmaster, MichaelMoore.com

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/must-read/filmmaker-michael-moore-receive-john-steinbeck-award-steinbecks-family-and-center-steinbeck-studies

September 21st, 2010 7:04 PM
FILMMAKER MICHAEL MOORE TO RECEIVE THE JOHN STEINBECK AWARD FROM
STEINBECK'S FAMILY AND CENTER FOR STEINBECK STUDIES
Moore to Join Past Recipients Arthur Miller, Bruce Springsteen, Garrison Keillor, Joan
Baez, Sean Penn

Michael Moore | John Steinbeck

SAN JOSE, CA (Sept 21, 2010) — Academy Award-winning filmmaker and best-selling
author, Michael Moore, has been named the recipient of the Steinbeck Award by the
Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University. Moore will formally receive
the "In the Souls of the People" award on Thursday, October 14, at 7pm.

The Steinbeck award is given to writers and artists whose work captures the spirit of
Steinbeck's empathy, commitment to democratic values, and belief in the dignity of
people who by circumstance are pushed to the fringes.

“Courage is 75% of art,” states Thomas Steinbeck, noted author and the son of John
Steinbeck. “Michael Moore is a courageous man and a great selection for the John
Steinbeck Award. My father would have loved him; my father was the Michael Moore
of his time.”

Noted as the “who’s who of disturbers,” previous recipients include Bruce
Springsteen, Arthur Miller, John Sayles, Jackson Browne, Garrison Keillor, Joan Baez,
and Sean Penn.

"I am truly grateful to the Steinbeck family and the Steinbeck Center for their
generous acknowledgment of my work,” says Michael Moore. “The works of John
Steinbeck have been a singular and powerful inspiration to me all of my life.
Steinbeck believed that a story could change the world. He spent his life telling the
stories of the powerless and the exploited. Through him, they had a voice. Today we
are sadly, once again, witnesses to another Grapes of Wrath."

Moore's films include "Capitalism: A Love Story," "Roger & Me," "Sicko," "Fahrenheit
9/11," and "Bowling for Columbine," as well as best-selling books, "Stupid White
Men" and "Downsize This!"

“When you read the criteria for the John Steinbeck Award, it seems like a job
description of Michael Moore,” states Ted Cady, member of the board and producer
of events for the Center for Steinbeck Studies.

The October 14 event is a benefit for the Center for Steinbeck Studies. Tickets are
$25 general admission and $15 for students through Ticketmaster and the SJSU
Event Center box office. The talk will be hosted by the SJSU Student Union and
Thomas Steinbeck, with an interview moderated by Metro Silicon Valley Executive
Editor, Dan Pulcrano.

About Michael Moore
Michael Moore is the Oscar-winning filmmaker of "Bowling for Columbine," "Roger &
Me,"  "Fahrenheit 9/11" (winner of the Cannes Palm d'Or), the Oscar-nominated
"Sicko," and, most recently,  "Capitalism: A Love Story."  Four of the top eight top
grossing documentaries of all time are Michael Moore films. He won the Emmy Award
for his NBC show, "TV Nation." He also won the British Book of the Year award for his
political humor book, "Stupid White Men" (which spent over a year on the New York
Times best seller list), and he has written five other New York Times best selling
books.

Michael was born in Flint, Michigan, and became the youngest elected official in
Michigan at the age of 18. He now lives near Traverse City, MI, where he founded
and runs the non-profit Traverse City Film Festival and its art house, the State
Theatre. He sits on the Michigan Film Advisory Committee, appointed by Governor
Granholm in 2008, and in July 2010 he was elected to the Board of Governors of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

About the Center for Steinbeck Studies
San Jose State – Silicon Valley's largest institution of higher learning with 27,400
students and 3,190 employees – is part of the California State University system.
SJSU's 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation's 10th largest city. The John
Steinbeck Award (http://bit.ly/steinbeckaward) has been authorized by the Steinbeck
family and is presented by the Center for Steinbeck Studies.