On Friday, March 27, Charles Altieri, an English professor from University of California, Berkeley, visited the Tinkham Veale University Center to give a presentation on his upcoming book, “Reckoning with Imagination: Wittgenstein and the Aesthetics of Literary Experience.”

The book is coming out later this year and Altieri wanted to summarize and discuss the ideas he wrote about, which involved philosophy, expression and aesthetics in art.

In the Senior Classroom, rows of chairs were set in front of the podium and most of the seats were taken. Light chatter filled the room until Altieri was introduced.

Altieri stepped up to the podium and made some humorous remarks as he introduced his work. Prepared with a speech in hand, Altieri read out his summary to the audience. He took pauses to explain things further and to give examples in a loud clear voice, showing his enthusiasm for the topic.

He spoke of the relationship between philosophy and literature. Altieri also went into detail of the “valuing” that happens in text with morality and the self-reflection of a reader’s actions.

Afterwards discussion ensued as several hands went up to ask questions to get a further understanding of his theories. With his good humor, Altieri answered the questions and even demonstrated a point with the Robert Creeley poem, “Something.”

The thoughtful discussion ended once the clock hit 4:30 p.m., an hour and a half after beginning. However, Altieri remained to speak and answer more questions with some as they went up to him while the rest of the audience trickled out.