EML Represents at Midwest Modern Language Association meeting 2019

Three EML faculty members and two students represented our department at the Midwest Modern Language Association convention this year, held in Chicago.

Dr. Caroline Burd, assistant professor of French, presented the paper "Female familial harmonics in Darriuessecq’s Le Mal de mer" and chaired a panel. Dr. Gaywyn Moore, assistant professor of English and a member of the MMLA Executive Committee, reviewed curriculum vitaes in CV workshops  and presented on the professionalizing session Thriving on the Tenure Track. Dr. Miguel Rivera, associate professor of Spanish, delivered a paper titled "Doppelgangers and Monsters in 'El Aleph.'"

French majors Nicholas Reznick and Skylar Proctor presented the papers "Avant de disparaître: A Multifaceted Literary Analysis" and "Linguistic Power and Hierarchies in La Farce de Maître Pathelin," respectively.   

From left to right, Dr. Burd, Mr. Reznick, Dr. Moore, Ms. Proctor. Photo credit Dr. Rivera

Alyssa Striplin Spills the Tea about Godzilla

Instructor of English Alyssa Striplin gave her lecture "Godzilla: King of the Metaphors" at East Hills Library today. The talk is part of the series "Pop Talks," a collaboration between the St. Joseph Public Library and the Department of English and Modern Languages that interprets popular culture issues for the community.

Ms. Striplin explained how Godzilla has become a popular culture icon over time since its debut in Japan in the 1950s. The movie covers a great deal of metaphorical ground, including how it handles literary plot conventions such as man vs. nature, man vs. nature, man vs. technology, man vs. self, man vs. man, and more.

It was concluded that Godzilla, despite his deceptively simple nature, is a pretty complicated creature.

Reach Open Mic a Big Success

On Nov. 21, 2019, Reach (MWSU's literary and arts journal sponsored by our English and Modern Languages department) hosted its last open mic for the fall semester. More than 60 people gathered in Mokaska Coffee shop on a cold night to hear the poetic, prosaic, and musical gifts of MWSU students and faculty and local authors. Clarissa Blakely, an English major, MC'd this monthly event, called "Reach 4 the Mic."

 

 

Following the open mic was a launch for an ENG 395 student project by Janae Boykins: a zine called Flavor featuring all African-American writers and artists. Janae spoke about making her project, and then cut a cake celebrating Flavor and led the crowd in a few readings out of Flavor.

 

 

As always, Dr. Kunkel and the entire Reach staff thank all the EML faculty who came out during a busy season, as well as our dean, Dr. Joel Hyer, and his wife. Thanks, too, to our chair, Dr. Stacia Bensyl, for her support!

Tiniest Haunted House--A Crypt for Poetry and Cider

The 2019 edition of the Tiniest Haunted House was found in Murphy Hall on October 30 and 31. Students, staff, and faculty were treated to cider and scary poems as they rode up and down the Murphy Hall elevator.

This spooky service was brought to MWSU by staff members of Reach, our campus literature and arts journal.

Dawn Terrick Gives Dracula Lecture

Today at the East Hills Library, Director of Developmental Writing and Advanced Instructor Dawn Terrick gave a talk as part of the Pop Talks Series sponsored by Department and St. Joseph Public Library. The talk, "The Lore and Lure of Dracula," explained the history, mythology, and literary influences of Bram Stoker's classic tale.

 

Professor Charlton publishes two chapters

 Dr. Michael Charlton, professor of English, has recently published chapters in two different books. His essay "The Bunker Horror Film" appears in the collection The Spaces and Places of Horror, edited by Francesco Pascuzzi and Sandra Waters and published by Vernon Press. His essay "Dumbo and the Circus of Childhood" appears in the collection Big Top on the Big Screen: Explorations of the Circus in Film, edited by Teresa Cutler-Broyles and published by McFarland Press.

Congratulations to Professor Charlton!
 

Dr. Kaye Adkins Receives Major Professional Award

Congratulations to Dr. Kaye Adkins, Professor of English, for receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication.

Dr. Adkins was recognized for her service to the organization as Treasurer and for her service to the field of Technical Communication education.