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A free November 4 Lemuria Books event centers on Todd Kennedy’s film-studies account of Bourdain’s travel and food programs, with a 5 p.m. signing and a 5:30 p.m. reading listed.
All times are local to the venue · America/Chicago
Anthony Bourdain’s travel and food programs can be watched as journeys and meals, but Todd Kennedy’s book asks readers to consider how they work as nonfiction cinema. That shift—from what Bourdain encountered to how the screen shapes those encounters—gives the book at the center of this Lemuria Books appearance its critical focus.
Anthony Bourdain, Filmmaker treats Bourdain’s screen work as more than an extension of his public identity as a chef, author and traveler. Kennedy examines travelogues, documentaries and food films through film history, criticism and cultural studies, arguing that Bourdain’s work merits attention as filmmaking in its own right.
Episodes of Parts Unknown and No Reservations are among the material considered. Kennedy looks at how the programs move between genres and use varied storytelling approaches, a perspective that shifts attention from the destination or dish to the choices that shape its presentation.
Further reading: Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · Events at Lemuria Books ↗
The book takes up documentary authenticity, ethnographic filmmaking and the Western male gaze. Together, those subjects direct attention to how a nonfiction program establishes credibility, represents people and places, and positions its audience in relation to what appears on screen.
For viewers who know Bourdain’s programs, this offers a way to examine the framing of an encounter as well as its subject. Kennedy presents these as questions for film criticism and cultural studies, not as a simple verdict on the shows.
Further reading: Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · Events at Lemuria Books ↗
Kennedy is the Toups Endowed Professor of Cultural Studies at Nicholls State University. His teaching and writing have focused on filmmaker Sofia Coppola; he has also published articles on Bob Dylan’s music and films by Julio Medem, Robert Altman, Ang Lee and Benh Zeitlin.
He holds a PhD from the University of South Carolina and an MA from New York University. That academic work provides context for the book’s approach to Bourdain’s television as a subject for film criticism and cultural analysis.
Further reading: Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗
Lemuria lists Todd Kennedy and Nina Parikh with the event, but does not specify Parikh’s role or identify who will read. The announced program is a signing at 5 p.m. and a reading at 5:30 p.m.
Visit Jackson lists the event from 5 to 6 p.m. Lemuria schedules a signing at 5 p.m. and a reading at 5:30 p.m.; its listing does not give the reading’s end time.
Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · Events at Lemuria Books ↗
Admission is listed as free. A book purchase is not stated as an entry requirement, but Lemuria will sign only books purchased at the bookstore.
Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · Events at Lemuria Books ↗
Lemuria says it will sign only books bought there. The listings do not give the book’s price or current availability; call the main store at (601) 366-7619 to check.
The main bookstore is at 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39206. Lemuria distinguishes this location from its website store at 4465 Office Park.
Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · FAQ at Lemuria Books ↗
The event is at Lemuria’s main bookstore, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39206—not its separate website store at 4465 Office Park.
Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · FAQ at Lemuria Books ↗
The event listing’s map link can calculate directions from your starting point. The captured details do not specify transit, parking or a particular entrance.
Lemuria lists the signing at 5 p.m. and the reading at 5:30 p.m. Visit Jackson gives the event window as 5–6 p.m.; Lemuria does not state when the reading ends.
Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · Events at Lemuria Books ↗
Yes. Visit Jackson lists free admission. Lemuria says only books purchased at the bookstore will be signed.
Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · Events at Lemuria Books ↗
Lemuria says it will sign only books purchased there. The listings do not state the book’s price or current availability; call (601) 366-7619 to check.
Lemuria lists the event with Todd Kennedy and Nina Parikh, but does not identify the reader or specify Parikh’s role.
At Lemuria’s main bookstore in 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39206. Its website store is at a separate address, 4465 Office Park.
Todd Kennedy signing ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FILMMAKER | Visit JacksonCWS_Logo_Horizontal_FullColorlogo-circularlogo-circularCWS_Logo_Stacked_FullColor ↗ · FAQ at Lemuria Books ↗
4465 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39206
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.
Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-10-31 against the linked sources.