Drawing an eventful semester to a close, the English Department’s annual Spring Fling event was held at the Anderson House on Tuesday, May 2nd. The event opened with a light breakfast curated by Paula Connors which preceded the presentation of awards and recognitions by chair, Professor Meredith Neuman. First, plaques were presented to the beloved…
Studying English
English Department Events, English Department News, Studying English
Students Uncover Origins and Motifs of Horror in Ari Aster’s Midsommar
By Cassie MayerAt the second annual celebration of Women in Horror Month’s Student Panel event, two students presented historical-cultural inspirations and motifs in Midsommar, which follows a dysfunctional relationship’s trip to a remote commune in Sweden to celebrate a midsummer festival. Theo Mitterando ‘24 presented his paper “Reflections: Unification & Division” which focuses on the…
English Department Events, Studying English
The Rare Book Open House
By Damian StockliThe Goddard Library’s Archives and Special Collections opened its doors to visitors Wednesday, November 16th at 10:00 AM for the annual Rare Book Open House, where each of Prof. Neuman’s student archivists presented a rare book—and its charming idiosyncrasies—from the Jonas Clark collection to visiting students and faculty. I’ve had the privilege of meeting…
English Department Events, Studying English
Clark University’s Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta Used Book Sale
By Christina Rose WalcottOn Wednesday, November 30th, from 1:30-3:30pm in the Academic Commons of the Goddard Library, Clark University’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honors Society, set up at the pop-up to station their used book sale. A wide variety of books were sold from The Way to Cook by Julia Childs…
English Department Events, Studying English
Queer Comedy Presents: “The Lesbian Avengers and the Possibilities of Queer Feminist Humor”
By Christina Rose WalcottCW: brief discussions of sexual, racial, and homophobic violence as well as some “citational swearing” On Thursday, October 20th at 4:30pm, Kristen Leng, an associate professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UMass Amherst, gave her first public talk since the pandemic on her current paper in progress about the Lesbian…
Career Paths for the English Major, English Department News, Studying English
Monica Sager: Graduate Student Success
By Monica SagerThroughout my time at Clark, I have been set on becoming an investigative journalist. There was no doubt in my mind that, no matter what it took, I would get there. I created my own major. I studied abroad and away. I interned and freelanced at numerous papers, and I even created a…
English Department News, Studying English
Clark Students Get Firsthand Look into Shakespeare Adaptation
By Monica SagerAssistant Professor Justin Shaw’s “Advanced Studies in Shakespeare” have gone beyond typical studies of The Bard to explore race, health, sexuality, and more. Students have read a variety of stories, but recently they were able to dive deeper into James Ijames’ “Fat Ham” after the playwright visited the class. “It’s a modern adaptation…
English Department Events, English Department News, Studying English
Sophia Dahlin’s Poetry Readings from Natch and Generative Workshop
By Kira HoustonIn the Higgins lounge on a quiet Autumn evening, students settled into couches with their eyes turned to guest reader and poet Sophia Dahlin. Dahlin visited campus as part of the Clark Poets and Writers Reading Series, an initiative which seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogues and center minority voices while giving students an…
Career Paths for the English Major, English Department News, Notes from Majors and Minors, Studying English
Why did so many Clark Employees Major in English?
Curious about the number of Clark employees who use skills related to the English major, we reached out via email to Clark employees to see who had majored in English as an undergrad. We were pleased at the variety of responses we received. Interestingly, the English major was useful in a variety of contexts. Why…
Studying English, Writing
Science Fiction Builds Mental Resiliency in Young Readers
Dean Esther Jones explains the ways science fiction can benefit young readers, especially during Covid-19 times. Young people who are “hooked” on watching fantasy or reading science fiction may be on to something. Contrary to a common misperception that reading this genre is an unworthy practice, reading science fiction and fantasy may help young people cope, especially…