Bernstein to bring prestige to poetry studies at U.

The University will soon become one of the top places to study modern poetry, now that poet, editor, writer and composer Charles Bernstein is joining the faculty.

Describing Bernstein as a "kind of super-intellectual Groucho Marx," English Department Chairman David Wallace explained that the future Penn faculty member is "one of the best-known American poets and critics in the world."

Hired last February, Bernstein is scheduled to take over an English faculty position in the upcoming fall semester. Though endowed with experience in numerous literary fields, Bernstein's emphasis at Penn will be in the poetics.

Wallace also remarked that "there's no doubt that with the hiring of Charles, Penn will consolidate its position as the leading center for the study of modernist poetics in the world."

Echoing Wallace's sentiments, School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston explained that Bernstein's presence "will immensely strengthen [the University's] group in poetics."

"The letters written by scholars outside of Penn say that Bernstein's arrival unquestionably makes Penn number one in poetics, and possibly in contemporary literature as well," Preston wrote in an e-mail.

Currently, Bernstein is an English professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo and director of the Poetics Program -- a department Bernstein co-founded with two other colleagues during his 14 years at the institution.

In addition to his permanent position in Buffalo, the poet has had semester- to year-long visiting professorships at numerous institutions, including Columbia University, Princeton University and the University of California at San Diego.

"I started teaching relatively late in life," Bernstein wrote in an e-mail.

"For many years, I worked as a medical and healthcare writer and editor in New York, at the same time writing poetry and essays as well as editing poetry publications and coordinating poetry readings and a poetry talk series," he explained.

Since becoming a professor, Bernstein has been creating and expanding the "Electronic Poetry Center," an online archive that contains recordings of numerous contemporary poets reading their works aloud.

According to Bernstein, his move to Penn "comes at the perfect time."

After arriving, he plans to extend his work on the EPC by focusing on the methodology of reading poetry.

"I am especially interested in how the context in which poetry is read changes the work and requires new approaches to teaching," Bernstein noted.

Focusing on such aspects within contemporary literature, the future professor is already beginning to establish a base for his endeavors in the Kelly Writers House.

"Bernstein will be a close affiliate of the Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing and a member of the Kelly Writers House community," English Professor Al Filreis, faculty director of the Kelly Writers House, wrote in an e-mail.

Filreis explained that the poet "will be teaching his innovative courses -- including one he likes to call 'creative reading' -- in conjunction with projects and programs of the center and the Writers House."

"Everyone who cares about contemporary writing at Penn is excited by these connections."

Though Bernstein is frequently busy with his poetic and literary endeavors, Wallace explained that he is a professor who makes time for his students, both in and out of the classroom.

"Charles has a superb record as a teacher," Wallace noted, adding that "his office at Buffalo is famous in having become a favorite lounge and hangout for undergraduates."

Preston echoed this sentiment, explaining that Bernstein "is a wonderful teacher and mentor of both undergraduates and graduate students" and maintains a "reputation for being highly accessible to and engaged with students."

In the fall, Bernstein is scheduled to teach English 111 "Experimental Writing Seminar" and English 288 "Revolution of the Word in Context: Modernisms 1."

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