In my work I seek to establish science fiction as a cornerstone for literary study and critical theory, as well as speak to larger questions about the role of the imagination in political and cultural life.

My research and publication has primarily focused on one of the most culturally important and globally influential genres of the postwar United States: science fiction. I feel the most important work we can do as educators in the humanities is to position our students to enter such conversations across the academy and across society at large: to provide students with access to what has already been said, to help them express themselves knowledgeably with eloquence and poise, and to instill within them the confidence that what they have to say genuinely matters. I have always been struck by Kenneth Burke’s characterization of academic discourse in “The Philosophy of Literary Form” as a discussion at a party to which we arrive late and from which we must also depart early. I find that this approach to learning encourages my students to seek interdisciplinary connections between the subjects of my courses and their own work in other classes and majors, fostering their development as independent thinkers and scholars.

My courses are centered around vigorous class discussion and frequent short written responses, culminating in a final research project on a subject of each student’s choosing.

I primarily teach courses in contemporary American literature and popular culture, exploring the ways that authors, filmmakers, and other artists have explored and critiqued the conditions of contemporary life through their creative work. Marquette Hall, 115A/244 Milwaukee WI 53201 United States of America (414) 288-6860 Curriculum Vitae Associate Professor and Chair English

Octavia E. Butler by Gerry Canavan