Faculty Celebrate Authors in the Arts and Humanities

Olivia DrakeFebruary 14, 20117min
Wesleyan President Michael Roth, standing, makes a toast during the Celebration of Faculty Authors in the Arts and Humanities Feb. 4 in Olin Library’s Smith Reading Room. The event allowed faculty to honor their fellow authors. More than 35 Arts and Humanities faculty have published books since 2008.
Joe Siry, professor of art history, holds the manuscript to his book, “Beth Sholom Synagogue: Frank Lloyd Wright and Modern Religious Architecture,” which is forthcoming by the University of Chicago Press in 2012. “The book is a history of Wright's work as an architect of buildings for religion, including his churches and his only synagogue, for Beth Sholom Congregation, in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, designed and built from 1953 to 1959, when Wright died,” Siry explains.

Kit Reed, resident writer and visiting faculty member in the English Department, speaks to Rob Rosenthal , the John E. Andrus Professor of Sociology, provost and vice president for academic affairs. Reed is the author of “The Night Children” and “Enclave.”
Ulrich Plass, assistant professor of German studies, talks with Krishna Winston, the Marcus L. Taft Professor of German Language and Literature, professor of environmental studies, dean of the arts and humanities. Plass is the author of “Language and History in Theodor Adorno's Notes to Literature” and “Franz Kafka.” Winston is the author/translator of “Crossing the Sierra de Gredos: A Novel” by Peter Handke; “Don Juan: His Own Version,” by Peter Handke; “Memoirs: Hans Jonas;” “Conquest of the Useless” by Werner Herzog; and “The Box: Tales from the Darkroom” by Günter Grass.
Mark Slobin, professor of music, speaks with Iris Bork-Goldfield, adjunct associate professor of German studies; and Leo Lensing, chair and professor of German studies, professor of film studies. Slobin is the author of “Yiddish Folksongs from the Ruth Rubin Archives;” “Global Soundtracks: Worlds of Film Music;” “Folk Music: A Very Short Introduction;” and “Music at Wesleyan: From Glee Club to Gamelan.” He is co-editor of a forthcoming book, “Emily’s Songbook: Music in 1850s Albany.” Lensing is the author of “Peter Altenberg: A Writer Invents Himself. Letters and Documents 1892-1896."

(Photos by Bill Burkhart)