Charles Dickens’ 200th Birthday

February 07, 2012

In conjunction with The University of Iowa's Obermann Center, Prairie Lights Bookstore invites readers to a celebration of Charles' Dickens birthday at the Iowa City Public Library tonight.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the famous novelist's birth. The Obermann Center has organized a number of events around this anniversary. Prairie Lights, The Iowa City Public Library, The UNESCO City of Literature, The Project on the Rhetoric of Inquiry and The UI Library Special Collections will collaborate in the sponsorship of these events.

On February 7th, a mutli-disciplinary panel at the library will introduce the novel Oliver Twist. All are then invited to participate in a community reading of Oliver Twist, which will culminate in a public discussion — again at the library — on March 5th.

The panel on the 7th will include: Jeff Cox from the UI History Department discussing The Poor Law and the "welfare" system in 19th Century Britain; Miriam Gilbert from the English Department discussing stereotypes of "the Jew" that shaped the character Fagin; Becci Reedus, Executive Director of the Crisis Center of Johnson County discussing poverty and hunger in our own community; and Teresa Mangum from the Obermann Center introducing themes from the novel in preparation for the March discussion. They will be followed by Tim Budd of Prairie Lights reading "the death of Nancy" from Oliver Twist. The evening will end with birthday cake and punch.

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The Examined Life: Writing and the Art of Medicine Conference

February 01, 2012

The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine will host "The Examined Life: Writing and the Art of Medicine," a three-day conference, April 19th - 21st, focusing on the links between the science of medicine and the art of writing. The conference hopes to foster a collaboration and discussion involving the role of writing in medical education.

Sessions will focus on the benefits of writing throughout a lifelong career as a physician, as well as the role of creative writing in patient care. Participants will be able to take advantage of skill-building sessions on writing, editing and publishing creative work.

Many of the events are open to the public, although registration includes conference materials, access to all sessions, and meals & receptions.

Visit the website for more information on The Examined Life: Writing and the Art of Medicine.

Fiction | Poetry | Nonfiction | Science/Medical Writing
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Crossing: A Braided Memoir

January 27, 2012

POROI (Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry) is pleased to announce Crossing: A Braided Memoir, a Rhetoric Seminar by Russell Scott Valentino. The seminar will take place on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 11:30am-1pm and the Bowman House on the University of Iowa campus.

Crossing: A Braided Memoir employs the compositional technique of the braid to explore the composite themes of mixture, translation (crossing with something on your back), and transgression (crossing the line). Crossing is both physical, as in movement from one place to another, one shore to another, and metaphysical, as in what happens when you die. It also holds a wealth of figurative associations from the mixing of cultures and languages to religions and races. It is movement across thresholds of various kinds, barriers, borders. It is bastardization when opposed to purity.

Visit the POROI website to download a PDF of the paper.

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UI expands writing options for undergrads

January 24, 2012

The University of Iowa's new Frank N. Magid Undergraduate Writing Center now offers an undergraduate writing certificate to all students, regardless of their major.

The center, housed within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, officially began its work last semester following a $1 million commitment from UI graduate Marilyn Magid in honor of her late husband, Frank, a fellow UI alumnus.

But the plans for providing more options for undergraduate students, have been in the works for some time, said Helena Dettmer, an associate dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum and a professor of Classics at UI.

“It occurred to me that one of the reasons students might want to come here is because of the school’s great emphasis on writing,” Dettmer said. “We decided we needed a credential that students could earn as undergraduates.”

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English Department | Teaching & Learning
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