introduction to Al Filreis's "60-second lecture"
by Aaron Levy
There is an ongoing debate at the Kelly Writers House, over email and
dinner, in the kitchen and the classroom, as to its very objectives, its
fundamental principles. It is a discussion which has remained vibrant,
vociferous, and, needless to say, unanswered for as long as I can
remember. For the members of the planning committee can agree, at the
risk of banality, only that all voices must be lighted, divergences
pursued, thought unthought from within and without. It is all perhaps an
institutional luxury, the institutional irony, that a true community -
one as cohesive, productive, and wondrously experimental as that which
comprises the house - be able to embrace such divergent, discordant, and
thus, oddly enough, harmonious opinions towards the past and future
potential of writing - of writing a house into and through its very own
existence. While it is an art to effect such dialogue at the classroom
level, one at which Al has already proven himself and others quite adept,
it is an equally astounding feat to do so at the institutional level.
And yet, as faculty director of the house, and, needless to say, its
invisible hand, always present, always opening the door, always founding
space and foundation, Al has privileged this diversity and had the
privilege of seeing it develop and mature and come to fruition. It has
been a pleasure to learn quietly from him this past year, as student and
friend, to watch him welcome students and adults alike into his world,
his work and his life with the utmost enthusiasm and organicism. As
such, it is an honor to introduce to you Dr. Alan Filreis, Class of 1942
Professor of English, Faculty Director of the Kelly Writers House, and
1998 Pennsylvania Professor of the Year.
FILREIS HOME | HOT | PENN
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Document URL:
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/60-sec-intro.html
Last
modified: Friday, 11-Jun-1999 06:14:06 EDT