Friday, March 30, 2018
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Paris Review Interviews with English Professor Kamran Javadizadeh
Prof. Kamran Javadizadeh writes:
I remember, in my own undergraduate days, trolling around the stacks of our subterranean library, avoiding (probably) writing a paper, and finding, instead, bound volumes of interviews, first published in the pages of The Paris Review, of some of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. It felt like those interviews were giving me a secret education; to read my favorite poets talking at length about their craft, their life in and out of poetry, was to get a glimpse, from the inside out, of the work whose surfaces I was just learning to tease apart in the classroom.
And so I leapt at the chance, when I was approached by a couple contemporary poets I love, Kaveh Akbar and Danez Smith, to join them in hosting regular discussions on Twitter of those Paris Review interviews. Each month, we choose an interview (so far we’ve talked about Claudia Rankine and Anne Carson) and a time and invite poetry-Twitter to join us for an hour-long discussion. The discussions have been lively and chaotic and totally fascinating.
Our next discussion is happening this coming Tuesday (March 27) at 4 PM, and we’re talking about my all-time favorite poet, Elizabeth Bishop. Her interview (conducted near the end of her life and published after she’d died) can be found here. The very nice people at The Paris Review take down the paywall on the interview we’ve chosen each time we do this, so no subscription is needed to read it in the week before our chat.
Which you should do! And then please join us! All are welcome! We use a hashtag to make the conversation easier to find: #ArtofPoetry. My tweet announcing the Bishop conversation is here.
I remember, in my own undergraduate days, trolling around the stacks of our subterranean library, avoiding (probably) writing a paper, and finding, instead, bound volumes of interviews, first published in the pages of The Paris Review, of some of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. It felt like those interviews were giving me a secret education; to read my favorite poets talking at length about their craft, their life in and out of poetry, was to get a glimpse, from the inside out, of the work whose surfaces I was just learning to tease apart in the classroom.
And so I leapt at the chance, when I was approached by a couple contemporary poets I love, Kaveh Akbar and Danez Smith, to join them in hosting regular discussions on Twitter of those Paris Review interviews. Each month, we choose an interview (so far we’ve talked about Claudia Rankine and Anne Carson) and a time and invite poetry-Twitter to join us for an hour-long discussion. The discussions have been lively and chaotic and totally fascinating.
Our next discussion is happening this coming Tuesday (March 27) at 4 PM, and we’re talking about my all-time favorite poet, Elizabeth Bishop. Her interview (conducted near the end of her life and published after she’d died) can be found here. The very nice people at The Paris Review take down the paywall on the interview we’ve chosen each time we do this, so no subscription is needed to read it in the week before our chat.
Which you should do! And then please join us! All are welcome! We use a hashtag to make the conversation easier to find: #ArtofPoetry. My tweet announcing the Bishop conversation is here.
Conduit: Society for Technical Communication Philadelphia Metro Chapter's (STC-PMC) Conference
This conference is a great opportunity for technical writing students to network and get started in or advance their careers. Click here for more information about the conference.
Monday, March 19, 2018
Jobs for Graduating English Majors: Penn Ophthalmology
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Ophthalmology Department, University of Pennsylvania
--Manage the Facebook profile of the Ophthalmology Department, including keeping track of faculty/staff in mainstream news as well as vision-related general interest articles and posting regularly, producing organic content, taking and posting photos at departmental events, staying up-to-date with best practices in social media, and developing methods to expand online presence.
--Explore expansion of Departmental social media to other platforms.
--Maintain and expand the Ophthalmology Department website, including updating news information, designing new pages as needed, and making platform more user-friendly.
--Write original articles for Scheie Vision magazine, including brainstorming, interviewing, editing, and contributing to design, with a special focus on the photography, design elements, and publication of the magazine.
--Lead marketing efforts for Ophthalmology Department, including design of ads and promotion of elective services.
--Collaborate with the Communications Department and Marketing Department at UPenn to ensure Departmental news receives maximal coverage.
--Contribute to writing manuscripts for research studies as needed.
--Generate communication and marketing materials for the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics Study.
Qualifications
--The applicant must have a Bachelor's degree; demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills; be highly organized; and possess strong ambition, interpersonal skills, and the ability to multitask.
--If you are interested in applying, please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Rebecca Salowe at Rebecca.salowe@uphs.upenn.edu.
Medical Writer
Ophthalmology Department, University of Pennsylvania
--Prepare presentations for Chairman of Ophthalmology Department at University of Pennsylvania on a variety of topics, such as ocular cancers or increasing representation of women in medicine.
--Write and edit letters of recommendation, speeches, and other official documents for Ophthalmology Department.
--Write original articles for bi-annual Scheie Vision magazine, including brainstorming, interviewing, editing, and contributing to design, with a special focus on covering internal events and updates.
--Create online newsletter to communicate news and relevant information to alumni and donors.
--Undertake responsibility for all internal Departmental communication, including sending monthly news emails to faculty and staff, editing all Departmental emails/communication materials, and designing internal Intranet.
--Assist with drafting and submission of grant applications for Ophthalmology Department.
--Contribute to writing manuscripts for research studies as needed.
--Collaborate with the Executive Assistant on general office management of the Chairman's suite, greeting visitors, and answering telephones.
Qualifications
--The applicant must have a Bachelor's degree; demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills; be highly organized; and possess strong ambition, interpersonal skills, and the ability to multitask.
--If you are interested in applying, please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Rebecca Salowe at Rebecca.salowe@uphs.upenn.edu.
Ophthalmology Department, University of Pennsylvania
--Manage the Facebook profile of the Ophthalmology Department, including keeping track of faculty/staff in mainstream news as well as vision-related general interest articles and posting regularly, producing organic content, taking and posting photos at departmental events, staying up-to-date with best practices in social media, and developing methods to expand online presence.
--Explore expansion of Departmental social media to other platforms.
--Maintain and expand the Ophthalmology Department website, including updating news information, designing new pages as needed, and making platform more user-friendly.
--Write original articles for Scheie Vision magazine, including brainstorming, interviewing, editing, and contributing to design, with a special focus on the photography, design elements, and publication of the magazine.
--Lead marketing efforts for Ophthalmology Department, including design of ads and promotion of elective services.
--Collaborate with the Communications Department and Marketing Department at UPenn to ensure Departmental news receives maximal coverage.
--Contribute to writing manuscripts for research studies as needed.
--Generate communication and marketing materials for the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics Study.
Qualifications
--The applicant must have a Bachelor's degree; demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills; be highly organized; and possess strong ambition, interpersonal skills, and the ability to multitask.
--If you are interested in applying, please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Rebecca Salowe at Rebecca.salowe@uphs.upenn.edu.
Medical Writer
Ophthalmology Department, University of Pennsylvania
--Prepare presentations for Chairman of Ophthalmology Department at University of Pennsylvania on a variety of topics, such as ocular cancers or increasing representation of women in medicine.
--Write and edit letters of recommendation, speeches, and other official documents for Ophthalmology Department.
--Write original articles for bi-annual Scheie Vision magazine, including brainstorming, interviewing, editing, and contributing to design, with a special focus on covering internal events and updates.
--Create online newsletter to communicate news and relevant information to alumni and donors.
--Undertake responsibility for all internal Departmental communication, including sending monthly news emails to faculty and staff, editing all Departmental emails/communication materials, and designing internal Intranet.
--Assist with drafting and submission of grant applications for Ophthalmology Department.
--Contribute to writing manuscripts for research studies as needed.
--Collaborate with the Executive Assistant on general office management of the Chairman's suite, greeting visitors, and answering telephones.
Qualifications
--The applicant must have a Bachelor's degree; demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills; be highly organized; and possess strong ambition, interpersonal skills, and the ability to multitask.
--If you are interested in applying, please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Rebecca Salowe at Rebecca.salowe@uphs.upenn.edu.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
The London Experience: "The Invisible Man" by Caleigh Manyak
English major Caleigh Manyak is part of this semester's London Experience with Villanova English professor Lisa Sewell. The following is a blog post that Caleigh wrote for Dr. Sewell's course.
"The Invisible Man" by Caleigh Manyak
I checked my weather app that morning, happy to see a "warm" 51 degrees in London's coldest month of the year, but disappointed to hear the wind rapping viciously on my window. I didn't think twice before I pulled my fluffy high socks up my calves, grabbed my warm beanie, and slid on my waterproof boots, just in case it rained like it often does here.
On my way to spend 4 pounds on a low-quality morning caffeine fix, my eyes glued to my phone, headphones stuck firmly in my ears in an attempt to block out the world, I tripped right over a man on the ground.
"Shit-oh, oh my god-I'm so sorry, I'm such a klutz! Oh my god!" Absolutely mortified, I spent the next ten minutes profusely apologizing to the man, who just smiled back, seeming to enjoy the scene unfolding before him: a red-faced girl with a harsh Jersey accent trying to soothe her own embarrassment.
His name was Aziz. He's a 38-year-old man from Afghanistan. In an attempt to make myself seem slightly less like a clumsy, ditzy American girl, I bought him a coffee from the store across the street and sat down to talk to him.
His story was a sad one; forced to move from Afghanistan, the only home he had ever known, to London in hopes of a steady job. Unfortunately, his bright hope dimmed when nothing was available. This was 5 years ago. He has been living on the streets for the last 3 years.
"But it not all bad," he declared as he proudly showed me his most-prized possession. The crisp white paper against his dirty nailbeds made it all the more striking. He held onto his housing agreement like his life depended on it, and quite frankly, it probably did. "I get to move into supplemental housing next week! Can you believe it? God blessed me."
God blessed me. His voice stills rings in my ears. God blessed you? Homeless for years, forced to beg for change on the street to simply survive, and still, this man had more faith in God than I have managed to conjure up in years. Losing my sister to a heroin overdose a few years back made me question every lesson I was ever taught on a Sunday morning. I wanted to ask him how: how do you believe in a God that put you through so much pain? How do you open yourself up like that to Him? How do you continue to pray when the one prayer that mattered was never answered?
I wanted to ask him all of these questions and more, but something stopped me. Instead, I just listened. He didn't ask me for money, but I gave him the change in my wallet anyway. My coffee habit could suffer for the next few days if it meant he could buy himself a nice warm pair of socks.
London typically has around 217 days of rain and snow in a year. The weather rarely climbs above 60 degrees, and quite often dips well below 40 degrees. Aziz has spent roughly 651 days stuck in the frigid rain, shifting from street corner to corner, looking for a dry slate of concrete to rest his head. And here I am, bundled up from head to toe, with the audacity to spend frivolous amounts of money on crap like coffee or alcohol, as I avoid eye contact with the homeless out of guilt. And it's not just me, "People try not to look. I make sadness in them." This was the first and only time his spirit seemed to dwindle.
The number of people like Aziz, who London widely refer to as "rough sleepers" continues to rise, and most of them (a whopping 53%) are foreign to the UK, coming here like Aziz, under the pretense of job security and a fulfilling life. It makes me wonder what I can do while I am here to make a difference. Giving out spare change isn't enough, it's a cheap band-aid of a fix. More people need to put in work towards bettering the living conditions for everyone, because no one should be living in the excess of Piccadilly square, next to a man that can't afford to stay warm and dry.
UPDATE: A few days later, I am walking in a completely different part of London and a man comes up to me and excitedly says "Caleigh! My dear, Caleigh! You have blessed me! Your kindness… I moved into my home early! It is crowded but it is warm. Thank you, my dear! You look great, my dear! God bless you!" He remembered me? Me?
"The Invisible Man" by Caleigh Manyak
I checked my weather app that morning, happy to see a "warm" 51 degrees in London's coldest month of the year, but disappointed to hear the wind rapping viciously on my window. I didn't think twice before I pulled my fluffy high socks up my calves, grabbed my warm beanie, and slid on my waterproof boots, just in case it rained like it often does here.
On my way to spend 4 pounds on a low-quality morning caffeine fix, my eyes glued to my phone, headphones stuck firmly in my ears in an attempt to block out the world, I tripped right over a man on the ground.
"Shit-oh, oh my god-I'm so sorry, I'm such a klutz! Oh my god!" Absolutely mortified, I spent the next ten minutes profusely apologizing to the man, who just smiled back, seeming to enjoy the scene unfolding before him: a red-faced girl with a harsh Jersey accent trying to soothe her own embarrassment.
His name was Aziz. He's a 38-year-old man from Afghanistan. In an attempt to make myself seem slightly less like a clumsy, ditzy American girl, I bought him a coffee from the store across the street and sat down to talk to him.
His story was a sad one; forced to move from Afghanistan, the only home he had ever known, to London in hopes of a steady job. Unfortunately, his bright hope dimmed when nothing was available. This was 5 years ago. He has been living on the streets for the last 3 years.
"But it not all bad," he declared as he proudly showed me his most-prized possession. The crisp white paper against his dirty nailbeds made it all the more striking. He held onto his housing agreement like his life depended on it, and quite frankly, it probably did. "I get to move into supplemental housing next week! Can you believe it? God blessed me."
God blessed me. His voice stills rings in my ears. God blessed you? Homeless for years, forced to beg for change on the street to simply survive, and still, this man had more faith in God than I have managed to conjure up in years. Losing my sister to a heroin overdose a few years back made me question every lesson I was ever taught on a Sunday morning. I wanted to ask him how: how do you believe in a God that put you through so much pain? How do you open yourself up like that to Him? How do you continue to pray when the one prayer that mattered was never answered?
I wanted to ask him all of these questions and more, but something stopped me. Instead, I just listened. He didn't ask me for money, but I gave him the change in my wallet anyway. My coffee habit could suffer for the next few days if it meant he could buy himself a nice warm pair of socks.
London typically has around 217 days of rain and snow in a year. The weather rarely climbs above 60 degrees, and quite often dips well below 40 degrees. Aziz has spent roughly 651 days stuck in the frigid rain, shifting from street corner to corner, looking for a dry slate of concrete to rest his head. And here I am, bundled up from head to toe, with the audacity to spend frivolous amounts of money on crap like coffee or alcohol, as I avoid eye contact with the homeless out of guilt. And it's not just me, "People try not to look. I make sadness in them." This was the first and only time his spirit seemed to dwindle.
The number of people like Aziz, who London widely refer to as "rough sleepers" continues to rise, and most of them (a whopping 53%) are foreign to the UK, coming here like Aziz, under the pretense of job security and a fulfilling life. It makes me wonder what I can do while I am here to make a difference. Giving out spare change isn't enough, it's a cheap band-aid of a fix. More people need to put in work towards bettering the living conditions for everyone, because no one should be living in the excess of Piccadilly square, next to a man that can't afford to stay warm and dry.
UPDATE: A few days later, I am walking in a completely different part of London and a man comes up to me and excitedly says "Caleigh! My dear, Caleigh! You have blessed me! Your kindness… I moved into my home early! It is crowded but it is warm. Thank you, my dear! You look great, my dear! God bless you!" He remembered me? Me?
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| Caleigh Manyak in Venice |
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