English

A product of the 1980s: Q&A with English professor Dagmawi Woubshet

English professor Dagmawi Woubshet describes himself an “African-Americanist” in his literary pursuits. An immigrant from Ethiopia, he focuses on the 1980s in his research and his courses.

Penn Professor David Wallace teaches a travel writing freshmen seminar, including Yoni Gutenmacher.

Pen to paper: journey to discovery

In a freshman seminar on travel writing, students wrote articles about their experiences during Spring Break. Yonathan Gutenmacher described his family’s journey to Brazil to explore his mother’s childhood.

At What Point Does Crying ‘Lynching’ Trivialize the Word?

Herman Beavers of the School of Arts and Sciences analyzed the problematic use of the word “lynching” to describe celebrities and politicians convicted in the court of public opinion. Beavers said that casual use of the term diminishes the long and brutal history of anti-black violence in the U.S.

Penn English Professor Peter Stallybrass 2018

A life of books

Books define the life of Peter Stallybrass, an English professor who has retired after 30 years at Penn, known for his History of Material Texts workshop. He explains the five seminal books of his storied academic career.

The many voices and raging wit of the amazing Jonathan Swift

In the 350th year since his birth, the popular satirist, clergyman, and author Jonathan Swift will be celebrated this month at the Penn Libraries with an exhibition and conference.

Author Carmen Machado sitting on a sofa by a window and the cover of her memoir In the Dream House with an illustration of a house with a person looking out

Tales of abuse from a ‘Dream House’

Carmen María Machado, who teaches speculative fiction as a writer in residence in the Creative Writing Program, has received extraordinary attention for her new memoir, “In the Dream House,” using multiple genres to describe an abusive relationship with her former girlfriend.