Mark West

Writing about Place — As a fiction writer, Bryn Chancellor stresses the importance of place in many of her stories.  The title of her debut novel, Sycamore, underscores this point.  The title is the name of the small town in Arizona where the novel takes place.  For Bryn, settings involve the natural world, the built environment, and the history of a place.  For Bryn, settings can be deceptive.  The places she describes have their secrets, and in the case of Sycamore, one of the secrets involves a mysterious death.

In some ways, Sycamore reminds me of Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio.  Both are set in small towns where things are not always as they seem.  The residents of Sycamore and the residents of Winesburg have complex responses toward their towns, vacillating between feeling a sense of belonging and feeling a sense of isolation.

Bryn will talk about Sycamore and the secrets of this small Arizona town during her presentation for the Personally Speaking series on Tuesday, March 26, at UNC Charlotte Center City.  For more information and to RSVP, please click on the following link: https://clas.uncc.edu/community/personally-speaking/sycamore-novel

Bryn is not the only member of our English Department who is interested in the relationship between place and writing.  Nearly every summer, Greg Wickliff teaches a course titled “Writing about Place.”  I recently contacted Greg and asked him for more information about this course.  Here is his response:  “In my summer ‘Writing about Place’ course, students explore (at a distance) an experience of place through language and to a lesser extent, through photography. A sense of place, enduring or transient, can be deeply meaningful to us, whether we feel we inhabit it as a native, as a willing visitor, or even as a captive. Writing about place is the subject of diarists and travelers, of anthropologists and historians, of the young and the old. As writers of non-fiction, students in this course reflect upon their impressions of specific places  – researching their histories and imagining their futures – preserved, threatened, stagnant, or revitalized. Because this summer course is an online-only one, we also seek to understand how places that are or once were physical and real, become through our writing, virtual constructions of words and images.”

Bryn and Greg have different academic specialties.  Bryn teaches fiction writing while Greg teaches professional and technical writing.  However, for both Bryn and Greg, the act of writing about places is not just an exercise in description.  They are both interested in how writing about places can evoke memories, stir up emotions, and communicate the personal meanings that we often gain from interacting with physical places.  In a sense, Bryn and Greg are standing on common ground, and that common ground is called the English Department.

Kudos  — As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of the English Department.  Here is the latest news:

Bryn Chancellor last week served as a speaker and literary table host for Poets & Writers’s gala benefit “In Celebration of Writers” in New York City.

Juan Meneses recently presented a paper titled “The Limits of Citizenship:  A Foreign Counter” at the American Comparative Literature Association Conference, which took place at Georgetown University.

Lara Vetter recently published an article titled “The Violence of Translingual Identity in Kazim Ali’s Bright Felon: Autobiography and Cities and Julia Alvarez’s The Other Side / El otro lado” in MELUS: Multi-Ethnic Literature of the U.S. 44.1 (2019): 110-131.

Upcoming Events and Meetings — Here is a list of upcoming events and deadlines:

March 12 — Sam Shapiro is presenting a 90-minute program on the “art of adapting books into film.”  He is focusing primarily on Katherine Anne Porter’s novella Noon WIne.  Here is the link to Charlotte Lit’s website, with further information: https://www.charlottelit.org/event/shapeshifting-adapting-the-novella-for-screen/?mc_cid=a38f543029&mc_eid=69ee4ca45f

March 21 — The Children’s Literature Graduate Organization (CLGO) will hold their annual Graduate Student Colloquium on March 21 in Cone 111 from 9:30 to 2:30. The title for this year’s colloquium is “Modern Authors, Historic Influences:  Framing Children’s Literature in Historical Context.”

March 23 — Grace C. Ocasio will lead a poetry workshop, read from her two previous books, and read from her now under-contract collection (Family Reunion/Broadstone Books) at Press 53’s The High Road Festival on Saturday, March 23, in Winston Salem.

March 26 — The Personally Speaking presentation featuring Bryn Chancellor will take place on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at UNC Charlotte Center City.  Bryn’s presentation on her book Sycamore will begin at 6:30 p.m.  A book signing and reception will follow her presentation. For more information and to RSVP, please click on the following link: https://clas.uncc.edu/community/personally-speaking/sycamore-novel

March 30 — The Center City Literary Festival will take place on Saturday, March 30, at UNC Charlotte Center City. The children’s part of the festival will run from 10:00am to 1:00pm, and the adult part will run from 6:00pm-9:00pm.  For more information, please click on the following link:  https://centercitylitfest.uncc.edu/

Quirky Quiz Question — Bryn Chancellor’s familiarity with Arizona stems from the fact that she lived in the state for much of her youth.  She earned her B.A degree from Northern Arizona University and her M.A. degree in English from Arizona State University before earning her M.F.A. from Vanderbilt University.  Like Bryn, another person associated with our English Department has significant connections to the English Department at Arizona State University.   Who is this other person?

Last week’s answer: Lincoln College, Oxford University

Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) received many honorary doctoral degrees, but he never completed the PhD in English that he started after graduating from Dartmouth College.  What is the name of the university where Dr. Seuss pursued his graduate studies?

Bridging Generations at the Seuss-a-Thon — The eighth annual Seuss-a-Thon will take place on Saturday, March 9, at Park Road Books (4139 Park Road) from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  This community event is co-sponsored by the English Department and Park Road Books, Charlotte’s only full-service, independent bookstore.   At the Seuss-a-thon, many members of the English Department and other literacy advocates will participate in a four-hour marathon of reading Dr. Seuss books aloud to listeners of all ages.  The Children’s Literature Graduate Organization (with help from Monica Burke and Kelly Brabec) will run a Dr. Seuss-themed crafts table, and his books will be on sale for the day.

One of the pleasures that I gain from organizing the Seuss-a-Thon every year is observing how the event brings together participants from multiple generations.  I am especially pleased when the event spans three generations within one family.  I am already aware of one example of such generational bridging that will take place.  Heather Vorhies, her daughter (Aniela), and her mother (Janice Blain) are all planning to participate.  Heather will read I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!, and Janice will read One Fish, Two Fish.

I am also aware of another special example of generational bridging that will take place at this year’s Seuss-a-Thon.  At last year’s event, our dearly missed friend and colleague Anita Moss read Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?  I still remember how much energy and expression she put into her reading.  She had a special way of looking directly at the children in the audience and asking them the question that runs as a refrain throughout the book:  “Mr. Brown can do it.  How about you?”  Well, nobody can read Dr. Seuss books quite like Anita, but her daughters are also very talented at reading Dr. Seuss books, and both of them will be participating in this year’s Seuss-a-Thon.  Pam Hausle will read Horton Hatches the Egg, and Heather Smith will read Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?   In a sense, Anita’s presence will be felt at the Seuss-a-Thon thanks to the magic of Dr. Seuss and the love of her daughters.

I will be there.  How about you?

Kudos  — As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of the English Department.  Here is the latest news:

Janaka Lewis recently gave an invited Black History keynote presentation titled “Where Are We in Our Stories?” and read excerpts of her books to the staff, parents and students at the CT Walker Traditional Magnet School in Janaka’s hometown of Augusta, Georgia.

Tiffany Morin published a review of Growing Up with Vampires:  Essays on the Undead in Children’s Media in the most recent issue of the Children’s Literature Association Quarterly.  

Alan Rauch recently received a research grant from the Lilly Library at Indiana University to conduct a research project titled “Science, Women, and the Mother Tongue:  Translating Knowledge for Young Readers.”

Upcoming Events and Meetings — Here is a list of upcoming events and deadlines:

March 21 — The Children’s Literature Graduate Organization (CLGO) will hold their annual Graduate Student Colloquium on March 21 in Cone 111 from 9:30 to 2:30. The title for this year’s colloquium is “Modern Authors, Historic Influences:  Framing Children’s Literature in Historical Context.”

March 26 — The Personally Speaking presentation featuring Bryn Chancellor will take place on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at UNC Charlotte Center City.  Bryn’s presentation on her book Sycamore will begin at 6:30 p.m.  A book signing and reception will follow her presentation. For more information and to RSVP, please click on the following link: https://clas.uncc.edu/community/personally-speaking/sycamore-novel

March 30 — The Center City Literary Festival will take place on Saturday, March 30, at UNC Charlotte Center City. The children’s part of the festival will run from 10:00am to 1:00pm, and the adult part will run from 6:00pm-9:00pm.  For more information, please click on the following link:  https://centercitylitfest.uncc.edu/

Quirky Quiz Question — Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) received many honorary doctoral degrees, but he never completed the PhD in English that he started after graduating from Dartmouth College.  What is the name of the university where Dr. Seuss pursued his graduate studies?

For the students who participated in Collegium for African American Research, one of the highlights was having the opportunity to hear Alice Walker speak.  Walker is perhaps best known for her book The Color Purple, which was also made into a movie.  In what state was this movie filmed?

Going on an Expotition — Toward the end of Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin gathers up his friends sets out on an expedition to discover the North Pole.   Pooh, however, is not familiar with the word expedition, so he replaces it with the following new word that he invents on the spot: Expotition.  Apparently for Pooh, this new word is a proper noun, for it is always capitalized in the book.  For Pooh, an Expotition has to do with going on adventures and discovering new things.  I am please to report that many members of our English Department have been going on their own Expotitions over the past few weeks.  Although none of them discovered the North Pole as far as I know, they all had interesting experiences during their various Expotitions.  Here are summaries of three recent Expotitions involving members of our department.

Expotition #1 — Malin Pereira took three undergraduate students (Kevin Bonilla, Diana Nava, and Xavier Neal) to the Collegium for African American Research (CARR) held at the University of Central Florida from January 30 to February 2.  Malin’s teaching assistant, Shanon Murray, also participated in CARR.  The students participated in a round-table discussion titled “The Relevance of Zora Neale Hurston to American College Students Today.”  They also had an opportunity to hear a presentation by Alice Walker, the keynote speaker.  These students are taking Malin’s course on African American Literature:  Harlem Renaissance to the Present.  For these students, this experience gave them an opportunity to make connections between the insights they gained at CARR and what they are learning in Malin’s course.

Expotition #2 — Tiffany Morin took the members of the English Learning Community (ELC) last week to see Charlotte Ballet’s performance of “Shakespeare Reinvented:  A New Take on the Works of William Shakespeare through Contemporary Dance” by the Charlotte Ballet.  Part of the Charlotte Ballet’s Innovative Works Series, “Shakespeare Reinvented” has a direct connection to the English Department through Andrew Hartley, who was one of the collaborators on this production.  For the ELC students, going to this performance provided them with a memorable experience and it helped them become more familiar with the cultural resources available in Charlotte.

Expotition #3 — Alan Rauch took the drive down Providence Road to the Sandra & Leon Levine Jewish Community Center on four occasions between January 16 and February 13 in order to deliver a series of salons on the topic of “Jewish Identity and Assimilation.”  Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Charlotte, these salons attracted over forty people for each of the four presentations.  For Alan, leading these salons provided him with an opportunity to share his deep knowledge of Jewish heritage with an important segment of the Charlotte community.

As the aforementioned examples demonstrate, the reach of the English Department extends far beyond the walls of the Fretwell Building.  It seems clear to me that Pooh is speaking our language when he says to Piglet, “We’re going on an Expotition, all of us, with things to eat.  To discover something.”

Kudos  — As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of the English Department.  Here is the latest news:

Janaka Lewis‘s Freedom Narratives of African American Women:  A Study of 19th-Century Writings was recently named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title.

Quirky Quiz Question — For the students who participated in Collegium for African American Research, one of the highlights was having the opportunity to hear Alice Walker speak.  Walker is perhaps best known for her book The Color Purple, which was also made into a movie.  In what state was this movie filmed?

Last week’s answer: Clue

CLGO’s board game night reminds me of the board games that I played as a boy.  One of my favorite games from my childhood includes a character named Professor Plum. What is the name of this board game?

Games People Play — For the members of the Children’s Literature Graduate Organization (CLGO) this spring semester is barely long enough to fit in all of the events and projects that they have planned.  The biggest of these events is their annual Graduate Student Colloquium, which will take place on March 21 in Cone 111 from 9:30 to 2:30. The title for this year’s colloquium is “Modern Authors, Historic Influences:  Framing Children’s Literature in Historical Context.”  However, they are also planning a series of other activities, including a board game night, which will take place this Friday (February 15) in the English Department Seminar Room (Fretwell 290B).  Their game night will start at 4:15 and will continue until there are no more moves.

I think it is fitting that CLGO is holding a game night in the English Department Seminar Room since our English Department has deep connections to the diverse world of games and gaming.  Aaron Toscano, for example, is currently on a Reassignment of Duties (RD) to complete a book that he has tentatively titled The Rhetoric of Video Games:  A Cultural Perspective.  In this book, Aaron is analyzing the connections between video games and American culture.  As he recently stated, his book uses “a cultural studies approach to explain how video games are products of American culture even though the industry is global.”

Our English Department also has members who love games that involve word play.   The most notable example is Jay Jacoby, a retired faculty member who currently plays in competitive Scrabble tournaments throughout the southeast.  Last year he did especially well at a tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he won $145 in prize money.  Jay’s interest in Scrabble stems from his fascination with words, a fascination he developed over the course of his twenty-seven years as a professor in our English Department during which he taught a wide variety of courses on writing and Jewish-American literature.  When I asked Jay about his love of playing in Scrabble tournaments, he wrote, “I really do enjoy the competition and the camaraderie–I’ve met tons of people from all over and we are all word freaks.”

I am sure that the sense of camaraderie that Jay associates with Scrabble tournaments will also come into play during CLGO’s upcoming board game night.  Let the games begin.

Report from the Levine Scholars Program’s Finalist Dinner — Last night I represented the English Department at the Levine Scholars Program’s Finalist Dinner, and I am pleased to report that two of the finalists have expressed an interest in majoring in English.  I ate dinner with these two finalists and their parents, and I shared with them information about our faculty and programs.  However, I was not the only person at the table who was singing the praises of the English Department.

Two of our current students also participated in this dinner, and they did a fantastic job of answering the finalists’ questions about the department.  Eddie Angelbello, a current Levine Scholar who will be graduating at the end of this semester, shared his story of how he went from being a physics major to becoming an English major.  He talked about how much he enjoyed all of his English classes, but he was especially enthusiastic about his creative writing classes.  Shanon Murrary, one of our graduate students, was also sitting at our table.  She serves as a graduate assistant for the Levine Scholars Program, so she was able to provide the finalists with lots of information about the program.  However, she also talked with them about our department, and she did an excellent job of responding to the finalists’ questions about our literature courses.  After observing Eddie and Shannon interact with the two finalists, I came away from the dinner convinced that the best promoters of our department are our excellent students.

Kudos  — As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of the English Department.  Here is the latest news:

Grace Ocasio recently gave a poetry reading at the Waccamaw Library on Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Ralf Thiede recently learned that he had an article accepted by the Children’s Literature Association Quarterly for a special issue of Cognitive Science and Children’s Literature.  His article is titled “Synesthetic Entrainment in Interactive Reading Sessions of Children’s Books.”

Upcoming Events and Meetings — Here is a list of upcoming events and deadlines:

February 12 — The Early Modern Paleography Society (EMPS) will meet on February 12 from 1:00 to 2:00 in the English Department Conference Room (Fretwell 280C).  Participants will examine and try the earliest manuscript recipe for chocolate in England.

Quirky Quiz Question — CLGO’s board game night reminds me of the board games that I played as a boy.  One of my favorite games from my childhood includes a character named Professor Plum. What is the name of this board game?

Last week’s answer: MacArthur Fellowship