Dont tell me who I am S.F. artists draw inspiration from Anas Nin

San Francisco will honor writer Anaïs Nin with two events in April, including the play "Shameless Hussy," which opens on April 26, and the Anaïs Nin Diary Film Festival, commencing on April 27. Lynne Kaufman, the playwright, highlights Nin's importance as a figure of women's liberation, stating, "Anaïs didn’t stay in the home, and she didn’t have children, so she was rebellious early on. " The play delves into Nin's journey from childhood, with Arwen Anderson portraying her at various life stages and Johnny Moreno as her lovers. In contrast, the film festival presents personal works that pay homage to Nin, featuring archival footage where she articulates women's experiences. This festival, organized by local filmmaker Marjorie Sturm, follows its inaugural event in 2004 and aims to showcase video diaries that resonate with Nin’s legacy.

Kaufman’s work and the film festival both reflect a contemporary demand for models of self-definition in the face of societal pressures. As Nin’s exploration of identity and liberation continues to inspire, these events reaffirm her relevance in today's cultural discourse.