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WT Great Books Series to Take a Storytelling Journey with Homer’s ‘Odyssey’
Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu
CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s Great Books Series will explore one of the foundational tales of Western literature at its December meeting.
Dr. Bonnie Roos, head of WT’s Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages, will lead the discussion of Emily Wilson’s recent translation of Homer’s “The Odyssey” at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 via Zoom.
The discussion series—sponsored by the EPML department in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities—is open to those who either have or haven’t read the stories, said Dr. Daniel Bloom, Great Books organizer and associate professor of philosophy.
Roos said the book, which “has attracted writers and readers for centuries,” “speaks beautifully to contemporary issues we face today. I’m always going back to it and finding something new.”
“I hope to highlight the story’s intertextuality—its ‘meta’ levels, where it tells a story that’s about storytelling,” Roos said. “I’ll ask our group what they think Homer has to tell us about storytelling.”
WT professors and guest lecturers lead the monthly Great Books discussions.
The series began in 2011 and is traditionally held on the second Tuesday of the month.
To register for the December discussion, email Bloom at dbloom@wtamu.edu.
The series is one way in which WT serves the region by offering engagement with a variety of literary and philosophical texts. Being a learner-centered university is a key principle of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $150 million.
About West Texas A&M University
WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.
—WT—