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Louisa Shepard
Senior News Officer
lshepard@upenn.edu
Literature
Professors on the importance of integrating the arts into life and work
Professors on the importance of integrating the arts into life and work
While there are some challenges, universities provide an environment for faculty to pursue both their artistic creativity and academic scholarship, said Penn professors in a Homecoming discussion led by Al Filreis of the Kelly Writers House.
New student-created journal offers window to Middle East, North Africa
New student-created journal offers window to Middle East, North Africa
Sophomore Laila Shadid and junior Zeynep Karadeniz, both in the College of Arts and Sciences, share a passion for understanding the Middle East—a passion that is now on display in “Fenjan.”
Empowerment through poetry: Ollie Kim Dupuy and the Humanizing Stories project
Empowerment through poetry: Ollie Kim Dupuy and the Humanizing Stories project
Sophomore Ollie Kim Dupuy brings a passion for performance poetry into a summer internship with the Graduate School of Education’s Ebony Elizabeth Thomas.
A new editor at Penn Press begins in unprecedented times
A new editor at Penn Press begins in unprecedented times
New leadership—plus the pandemic and protests—are fueling change at the venerable Penn Press.
Jacques Thompson explores ‘immoral humor’ through a historic lens
Jacques Thompson explores ‘immoral humor’ through a historic lens
Through a summer research project with Classical Studies Professor Ralph Rosen, sophomore Jacques Thompson focused on the evolutionary aspect of “immoral humor,” analyzing performances by comedians Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K.
Jay Kirk on writing, teaching, and his new nonfiction book, ‘Avoid the Day’
Jay Kirk on writing, teaching, and his new nonfiction book, ‘Avoid the Day’
Penn and Philadelphia are woven throughout a new book by Jay Kirk as he pursues the mystery of a missing music manuscript by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, traveling from Vermont to Europe to the Arctic Circle. Penn Today spoke the lecturer in nonfiction creative writing about “Avoid the Day: A New Nonfiction in Two Movements.”
Pandemic project: Odyssey-a-Day
Pandemic project: Odyssey-a-Day
Classics Professor Emily Wilson created a project where she filmed herself reading short passages from each of the 24 books of her celebrated translation of Homer’s “Odyssey,” complete with costumes, props, and voices.
Everything you know about startups is wrong, says Wharton professor
Everything you know about startups is wrong, says Wharton professor
The new book ‘The Unicorn’s Shadow: Combating the Dangerous Myths that Hold Back Startups, Founders, and Investors’ from Wharton School professor Ethan Mollick debunks myths about entrepreneurship.
Children’s literature as ‘seed work’
Children’s literature as ‘seed work’
Penn GSE’s Ebony Elizabeth Thomas discusses the importance of more diverse books for kids and the challenges that continue to stifle early anti-racist learning. She also shares a curated list of recommended books for youth catered to this particular moment.
Kelly Writers House forum amplifies ideas and voices on racial justice
Kelly Writers House forum amplifies ideas and voices on racial justice
Kelly Writers House held a forum on racial justice featuring faculty, students, staff, and alumni reading written works, their own and those by others, that speak to these times.
Media Contact
In the News
BBC
The Iliad: How modern readers get this epic wrong
In a Q&A, Emily Wilson of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses what the Iliad can tell us about modern society, from masculinity to environmentalism.
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The New York Times
Warriors who seek immortal fame and find it, in epic poetry
A book review of the School of Arts & Sciences’ Emily Wilson’s translation of the “Iliad” says she brings Homer’s great war story to rousing new life.
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Scientific American
What’s the world’s oldest language?
Deven Patel of the School of Arts & Sciences believes that Sanskrit is the oldest continuous language tradition, which means that it’s still producing literature and being spoken.
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Philadelphia Sunday Sun
‘Be Holding’ dives into Black genius and joy
“Be Holding,” a poetry performance that seeks to heal grieving Black families, was directed by Brooke O’Harra and composed by Tyshawn Sorey, both of the School of Arts & Sciences.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
The life and work of acclaimed Black children’s author and illustrator Ashley Bryan is honored in a new Penn exhibit
Lynne Farrington of the Kislack Center comments on a new Penn Libraries exhibit celebrating the late Black children’s author and illustrator Ashley Bryan.
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The New York Review of Books
Trees in themselves
“Elderflora: A Modern History of Ancient Trees,” a new book by Jared Farmer of the School of Arts & Sciences, is reviewed.
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