Penn-in-London, England

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The application for Penn-in-London 2013 is now closed.

Delve into the world of British theatre, literature, and film in this ancient yet very modern metropolis.

All courses in the intensive 5-week summer program offer University of Pennsylvania credits. In addition to the many theatre shows, the program includes group excursions to cultural sites. Program-arranged housing and classes are located in the Notting Hill neighborhood of central London.

Program Calendar 2013

Course Information

All students register for a total of two course units (CUs). Course registration is completed by the Penn Summer Abroad office for students who confirm their intent to enroll and submit required pre-departure documents.

Note for Visiting Students: One CU is generally considered to be equivalent to three semester hours when Penn coursework is transferred to another institution.

Courses 

King Arthur: Inventing the Past
ENGLISH 021 (1 CU)
Fulfills Sector III of the English major, and can also be used as an elective credit for the English major or minor
Taught by Emily Steiner, University of Pennsylvania

From the Middle Ages to the present, stories about King Arthur, the brave deeds of the knights of the Round Table, and Merlin's mysterious prophecies have mesmerized readers and audiences. In this course we will study nearly 1000 years of literature about King Arthur, beginning with Geoffrey of Monmouth's twelfth-century History of the Kings of Britain, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and ending with Mark Twain, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and the fantasy fiction classic, The Once and Future King. Throughout the course, we will think about what legends about Arthur mean to the way we write history and the ways in which we view our collective pasts (and futures). Assignments will include response papers, an oral presentation, and a final exam.

Victorians in Literature and Film
ENGLISH 051 / CINEMA STUDIES 051 (1 CU)
This course fulfills sector V of the English major, and can also be used as elective credit for the English major or minor
Taught by David Espey, University of Pennsylvania

During the Victorian Era (1837-1901) modern London took shape, the country prospered as never before, and the British Empire became the largest in the world.  This course will examine selected literature and film from the period, with an emphasis on London. Readings will include selections by Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker (Dracula), A. Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes), Matthew Arnold, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Rudyard Kipling, among others.  Films will include Young Victoria, Topsy-Turvy (about Gilbert and Sullivan), as well as movie versions of novels and stories.  We’ll also pay some attention to Victorian art, with an emphasis on the pre-Raphaelites, and to Victorian architecture.  Museum and site visits will supplement the readings.

London Theatre Experience
ENGLISH 068 (1 CU)
This course fulfills sector 6 of the English major.
Taught by Peter Decherney, University of Pennsylvania

London is one of the most exciting theatre centers in the world, and the focus of this course will be on live performance. The “London Theatre Experience” will provide an incomparable opportunity to learn about a wide range of dramatic forms, acting styles, theatrical conventions, and performance spaces. We will attend three performances each week, produced by companies such as the Royal National, the Royal Court, and Shakespeare’s Globe; we will also see a diverse selection of pieces staged in the historic theatres of the West End (London’s equivalent of Broadway) and in Fringe Theatres, smaller and sometimes “converted” spaces in pubs, warehouses, and even out-of-doors (London’s version of “off”—and “off-off” Broadway). Class meetings will consist primarily of discussions about the productions we have seen; once each week, Michael Billington, distinguished theatre critic for the Guardian newspaper, will lead the conversation. Readings for the class will include select plays and contextual material to prepare us for theatre viewing; written work will consist of responses to performances. Class field trips are likely to include a backstage tour of the Royal National Theatre and a visit to the theatre collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. (Note: Tickets and tours will be arranged in advance; costs are covered by program fee.)

Copyright and Culture
ENGLISH 105/ CINEMA STUDIES 110 (1 CU)
This course satisfies the Humanities and Social Sciences sector of the College's General Requirement and Sectors I and VI of the English major.
Taught by Peter Decherney, University of Pennsylvania

In this course, we will look at the history of copyright law in Britain and the US, and we will explore the ways that copyright has both responded to new media and driven art and entertainment. How, for example, is a new medium (printed books, photography, recorded music, film, and the internet) defined in relation to existing media? How does the law accommodate shifting ideas and circumstances of authorship? What are the limits of fair use (US) and fair dealing (UK)? And how have writers, artists, engineers, and creative industries responded to various changes in copyright law? A major focus of the course will be the lessons of history for the current copyright debates over such issues as file sharing, the public domain, and new technologies. Making use of our surroundings, we will visit the sites where copyright began and was first practiced in eighteenth century London. And we will hear from experts in the field.

Housing

Students are housed at a private student hostel located in the attractive neighborhood of Notting Hill on the northwest corner of Kensington Gardens.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition and fees are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and may change without notice.

• Tuition for Summer 2013: $6,956
• Program Fee for London 2013: $2,825
  Includes accommodation with weekday breakfast, theatre tickets, cultural activities organized by the program and administrative costs.
• Download estimated cost sheet for Penn-in-London 2013.

Information Session

• Tuesday, January 15, 2012 at 5:00pm - 112 Fisher-Bennett Hall

Apply

The application for Penn-in-London 2013 is now open!

• Rolling admissions deadline until the program is full.

Contact Information

Program Director
for details about the program, courses, or location including academic advising, travel dates, housing and orientation

David Espey (profile)
Department of English
University of Pennsylvania
E-mail: despey@gmail.com
Tel: 215-898-7346

Penn Summer Abroad Office
for assistance with application, financial questions, pre-departure, or other general information

Penn Summer Abroad
College of Liberal & Professional Studies (LPS)
University of Pennsylvania
3440 Market Street, Suite 100
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3335
Tel: 215-573-7537
Fax: 215-573-2053
E-mail: summerabroad@sas.upenn.edu