Derrida distinguishes between the fiction and reality of nuclear war, places the nuclear age within the context of history, and clarifies the role of the critic in nuclear discourse.

LaFeber and Katzenstein both address the question of America on the decline, with LaFeber providing a historical account of how the decline has happened and Katzenstein suggesting some solutions to it.

Derrida examines the concept of death and of Dasein as analyzed by Heidegger in his his text Being and Time. In exploring the various constructions of death, he incorporates linguistical analyses as well as a comparison ...

McCourt reads from his work in progress, Time Out of Mind.

Skovorecky discusses the Communist repression of the Czech government, especially in the literary and musical fields, since 1968. Particular attention is paid to the development of jazz and punk rock music in Czechoslovakia, ...

Vonnegut describes life as a Cornell undergraduate and the way to become a successful writer.

Panel members discuss the interrelationship between language, literature and nationalism.

Fuentes describes the turmoil and reforms of 18th century Spain and how they contributed to a loss of power over Spanish lands in the New World, resulting in the wars leading to the independence of Latin America from Spain.