Melville Classic Selected for WT’s Great Books Series in June

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — One of the great American short stories is in the spotlight as West Texas A&M University’s Great Books Series returns in June.

Dr. Pat Tyrer, WT’s Jenny Lind Porter Professor of English in WT’s Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages, will lead the discussion of Herman Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener.”

The Great Books discussion will take place at 7 p.m. June 10 at Burrowing Owl Books’s Amarillo location, 2461 W. Interstate 40 in Wolflin Square.

“Bartleby’s actions reflect anxieties about corporate life, mental health, and the search for meaning. The character’s quiet refusal to conform or to participate in modern capitalism is humorous yet tragic,” Tyrer said. “The themes provide a great jumping off point for a discussion of how our anxieties and emotional reactions to current economic policies affects each of us. In this time of emotional upheaval for many of us, it offers an interesting perspective on human nature.”

The discussion series—sponsored by the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities—is open to those who either have or haven’t read the story, said organizer Dr. Daniel Bloom.

WT professors and guest lecturers lead the monthly Great Books discussions.

For information, 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 $165 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. 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 more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and 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.

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