Upcoming Events

The 1920s Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Movement, was driven by the belief that Black people must be the ones to represent Black people in literature, art, and politics. There was, however, no consensus about what these representations should look like or whether they should please White or Black audiences—and there was certainly no consensus about what it meant to be Black or to have Black style. Using fashion (an aesthetic, commodity, and practice) as a lens, this talk will present the lively debates about the relationship between race and representation in print and on film, with special attention to Philadelphia connections. 

This talk coincides with commemorations of the 100-year anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, including the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2025 Spring Gala and “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition, opening May 10th.

Register for the event here: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2...

You're invited! Faculty, majors, and minors will gather in Fisher-Bennett Hall on May 1, 2025 for an end-of-year celebration. Winners of the annual Department of English essay prizes will be announced as we celebrate a fabulous year at Penn!

The Latinx Studies Working Group will celebrate the end of the year with a Celebration Circle facilitated by Imani Hester, Associate Director of Training and Community Building at Restorative Practices at Penn. Celebration Circles enable groups to give themselves (and each other) some extra sunshine. We will reflect on the academic year, individual and collective achievements, and anything else we'd like to celebrate. If you have never attended a Latinx WG meeting before but have wanted to, this is a perfect opportunity to join; it will be a casual social event meant to build community and congratulate each other on our achievements no matter where we are on our academic journeys. Ice cream provided!

Finals season doesn't have to mean nonstop stress. Take a breather and recharge with us in the Fisher Fine Arts Library lobby! Fuel up with free snacks and unwind with simple crafts to help clear your mind and spark some joy.

Sponsored by the Arthur Ross Gallery in collaboration with the Departments of English, History of Art, Cinema & Media Studies, and Visual Studies

Finals season doesn't have to mean nonstop stress. Take a breather and recharge with us in the Fisher Fine Arts Library lobby! Fuel up with free snacks and unwind with simple crafts to help clear your mind and spark some joy.

Sponsored by the Arthur Ross Gallery in collaboration with the Departments of English, History of Art, Cinema & Media Studies, and Visual Studies

Explore the enigmatic treasures of the Penn Libraries’ world-class Shakespeare collection in this fascinating webinar. Conservators at the Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory, in collaboration with faculty, curators, and researchers, have uncovered new insights into objects steeped in history, intrigue, and mystery. Among the highlights are the ashes of a burned Shakespeare folio, once owned by famed Philadelphia actor Edwin Forrest, whose collection met a fiery fate in the 19th century. For years, these ashes were believed to be the remnants of a priceless First Folio, but the truth behind them tells a more complex story. We’ll also delve into the lore surrounding a pair of embroidered leather gloves. Displayed on a tufted red satin bed, these gauntlets carry rumors of curses and claims of belonging to Shakespeare himself. Join English professors Whitney Trettien and Zachary Lesser, and Head of Conservation Sarah Reidell, as they lead us through these stories and the technology, old and new, that helped to unravel these mysteries, which holds lessons for thinking about the present and future of libraries and conservation. We will also tour the Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory via live stream, followed by discussion. 

Register for the event here: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2...

The Department of English and the Department of Cinema & Media Studies invite you to toast the graduating English and CIMS Majors and Minors of the University of Pennsylvania Class of 2025!

Champagne and light refreshments will be served!