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Robertson, Benjamin J

Assistant Professor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • My research focuses on franchise studies, genre studies (especially science fiction, fantasy, and horror), American literature and culture, and media studies.

keywords

  • Franchise studies, genre (especially science fiction, fantasy and horror), 20th and 21st-century American literature, history, culture, media and technology studies, late capitalism

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • ENGL 1001 - Freshman Writing Seminar
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018
    Provides training and practice in writing and critical thinking. Focuses on the writing process, the fundamentals of composition, and the structure of argument. Provides numerous and varied assignments with opportunity for revision.
  • ENGL 1220 - From Gothic to Horror
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2019
    Explores literature in the Gothic mode and aesthetic and critical theories related to modern "horror" genres or their precursors. Introduces literary-critical concepts (such as notions of abjection, repression and anxiety) that developed alongside this branch of literature. Students read canonical works in British and American traditions while reflecting on notions of popular or marginalized literature.
  • ENGL 2026 - Popular Culture, Critical Reading
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Fall 2022
    This course engages with forms of popular culture (for example, franchises, graphic novels, genre fiction, video games, trashy books) and considers how we can analyze these cultural forms critically. Students read a range of criticism written by amateurs, fans, journalists, social media, critics, and scholars, and will consider how the production of these cultural forms are shaped by different audiences.
  • ENGL 2112 - Introduction to Literary Theory
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023
    Introduces students to a wide range of critical theories that English majors need to know. Covers major movements in modern literary/critical theory, from Matthew Arnold through new criticism to contemporary postmodern frameworks. Required for all English majors.
  • ENGL 3060 - Modern and Contemporary Literature for Nonmajors
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Summer 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019
    Close study of significant 20th-century poetry, drama, and prose works. Readings range from 1920s to the present.
  • ENGL 3246 - Topics in Popular Culture
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2020
    Studies special topics in popular culture; specially designed for English majors. Topics vary each semester. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours for different topics.
  • ENGL 3377 - Multicultural Literature
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2021
    Studies special topics in multicultural literature; specially designed for English majors. Topics vary each semester. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours for different topics.
  • ENGL 3856 - Topics in Genre Studies
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022
    Studies special topics in genre studies; specially designed for English majors. Topics vary each semester. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours for different topics.
  • ENGL 3930 - Internship
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021
    Provides academically supervised opportunity for upper-division students to work in public or private organizations on projects related to students' career goals and to relate classroom theory to practice. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Department enforced prerequisite: 3.0 GPA and faculty supervision.
  • ENGL 4039 - Critical Thinking in English Studies
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Spring 2023
    Concerned with developments in the study of literature that have significantly influenced our conception of the theoretical bases for study and expanded our understanding of appropriate subject matter. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.
  • ENGL 4830 - Honors Thesis
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023
    Students accepted to English Departmental Honors are enrolled in this course.
  • ENGL 5019 - Survey of Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
    Introduces a variety of critical and theoretical practices informing contemporary literary and cultural studies. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
  • ENGL 5529 - Studies in Special Topics 1
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2020
    Studies special topics that focus on a theme, genre, or theoretical issue not limited to a specific period or national tradition. Topics vary each semester. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours. Same as IAWP 6100.
  • ENGL 6959 - Master's Thesis
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2022 / Spring 2023
    -

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