SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Listening well and writing radically in Penn’s Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts
Penn Professor and award-winning author Kathryn "Kitsi" Watterson
Ask recent graduates of the Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts (MPhil) to name their favorite course, and they may struggle to pick just one. With their ability to explore a wide range of subjects and learn from schools across the University of Pennsylvania, MPhil students work closely with their advisors to tailor their curriculum, inspire their curiosity, and inform their culminating capstone project. On the other hand, if you ask recent MPhil students to name a course that surprised, challenged, and transformed them, and it’s likely that they’ll mention Writing and Remembering: A Memoir Workshop, taught by Penn creative writing teacher and award-winning author Kathryn "Kitsi" Watterson.
Professor Watterson's courses attract diverse students from across Penn: Master of Liberal Arts and MPhil students along with graduate students from the Wharton School, Penn Graduate School of Education, and the Law School, together with some undergraduates. “It’s very exciting to mix up the nontraditional students with the traditional students. They appreciate the age gaps and inter-generational stories,” says Watterson. “They’re all quite open to learning and being present. A lot of the MPhil students are very interested in creative writing. They're curious and imaginative and want to open up their skills as writers.”
What brings students to a memoir workshop if they’re not planning on writing a memoir? “Everyone is interested in learning more about themselves,” Watterson reflects. “We live in ourselves, but often we hide some of our thoughts from ourselves. What I try to do is to help everyone access their own minds, feelings, and stories without fear.” Through meditation, visualization, and daily freewriting, Watterson’s students are challenged to approach their own internal barriers and keep writing even when they feel resistant. “Students always say that freewriting helps them with everything, whatever writing they go on to do. It lifts the blocks and frees them up,” she concludes.
Some say writing is a solitary pursuit, but in Watterson’s workshop—where class begins with a brief but heartfelt check-in, and occasionally qi gong exercises—students learn to listen attentively to one another, both in writing and in person. “In some communities, listening is the highest form of respect,” she says. “If you just stay in your own head, you're not learning as much as you might. There's so much to discover that's outside of yourself as well, and we learn from each other in that way.”
In previous workshops she's taught at Penn and at Princeton University, Watterson has taken her classes out into the world: to author talks, to library visits, even to soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Her students this year will explore experiential learning while still practicing caution and social distancing: “One of the writing exercises is to walk around for a week and make eye contact with everybody you pass; when your eyes meet, say to yourself ‘No one is higher than me, and no one is lower than me,’” she explains. “It’s an illuminating exercise, and can be very transformative for them.” With her emphasis on social awareness and connection coupled with purposeful self-reflection, it’s no wonder that this memoir workshop becomes a vital part of MPhil students' development as critical thinkers, readers, and writers. “I know that every person can make a difference, even in a small way, if they are listening and attentive to other people’s feelings and experiences,” Watterson adds. “But you also need to have empathy for yourself.”
Penn’s Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts is ideal for lifelong learners who previously completed a master’s degree in the liberal arts. It offers the independence of self-directed study with the expertise of world-class faculty and advising. Available on a full- or part-time basis, you select the courses most relevant to your interests, around your schedule. With advanced interdisciplinary coursework that excites discussion and deep engagement, the MPhil program opens interdisciplinary study across the University for individuals with a passion for academic exploration.
Contact our program director, Dr. Christopher Pastore, to schedule an appointment to review your current research and explore your options for pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts at Penn.
(215) 898-7326
lps@sas.upenn.edu
www.upenn.edu/mla-mphil
