Pranav Jani: The Continuing Impact of the 1857 British India Rebellion

Pranav Jani, Associate Professor of English, researches the literatures, cultures and history of current and formerly colonized people. His current book project examines the 1857 Rebellion in British India, and he describes the historical context of the rebellion, its depiction as the Sepoy Mutiny by imperialist narratives, and provides an in-depth analysis of the underlying causes. He highlights the rebellion’s historiographical journey, notably its impact on Indian nationalism, and how it evolved in Indian consciousness from a mutiny to the First War of Independence. Jani discusses with host David Staley the rebellion’s influence on current ideological frameworks.

Exploring Shakespeare’s London with Christopher Highley

Christopher Highley, Professor of English and Director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at The Ohio State University, discusses the context and findings of his most recent book, Blackfriars in Early Modern London. He highlights his extensive knowledge of the historical and cultural landscape of London during the time of Shakespeare. He describes the opportunities The Ohio State University has for students who want to learn more about this subject both at the university and overseas. Highley also tells host David Staley about the exciting initiatives through the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, which range from symposiums and research talks to fencing and falconry exhibitions.

Elizabeth Renker: Discovering and Recovering Sarah Piatt

Elizabeth Renker, Professor of English at The Ohio State University, discusses her work in “Discovering Sarah Piatt“, a podcast and recovery project aimed at reclaiming the legacy of 19th-century poet Sarah Piatt, who was once a famous poet but faded into obscurity due to shifts in literary canon. Renker faced challenges in recovering Piatt’s work, such as incomplete archives and lost manuscripts but persevered to make her poems accessible through a digital humanities project. Renker gives glimpses of her forthcoming biography of Piatt, her views on the evolving nature of English departments, and her award-winning teaching methodologies.

“Who Was Your Favorite Guest?”: ASC Podcasters Talk Shop

Voices host David Staley is joined by podcasters from the College of Arts and Sciences: Kayley DeLong – Shakespeare in the “Post”Colonies, Jim Phelan – Project Narrative, Elizabeth Renker – Discovering Sarah Piatt, and Elise Robbins – Nouvelle Nouvelle. They describe their podcasts and discuss whether podcasting can be considered a form of scholarship. The conversation explores the democratization of knowledge through podcasts, challenges in making academic work accessible, and the interdisciplinary and collaborative benefits of podcasting. They also discuss notable guests and episodes, audience engagement, and the personal motivations behind their podcasting ventures.

Adélékè Adéẹ̀kọ́: Why Would Anybody Write an Ode to Palm Trees?

Dr. Adélékè Adéèkó, Humanities Distinguished Professor at The Ohio State University, discusses his book Arts of Being Yorùbá. Dr. Adéèkó delves into the cultural significance of Yorùbá proverbs, praise poetry, and fiction. He explains how these forms of expression define Yorùbá identity and addresses their use in modern forms like pictorial magazines. The conversation also touches on orature, a term coined to describe oral literature, and its impact on written texts. Dr. Adéèkó reveals his interest in 20th-century literary theory and how he integrates Derrida’s deconstruction into his work.

Angus Fletcher: How to Hack the GRE and Get into Yale

Angus Fletcher, a professor in the Ohio State University Department of English, discusses his unconventional journey from studying neuroscience at the University of Michigan to obtaining a PhD in literature at Yale. He shares how his background in neurophysiology, which involved studying neuronal communication, informed his unique approach to literature. Listen in to hear about his experiments that measure the impacts of narrative elements on empathy and problem-solving.

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Elizabeth Hewitt on the Speculative Fiction of Alexander Hamilton

Elizabeth Hewitt, Professor of English, studies African-American literature, American literature before 1900, and economics in literature. Her most recent book, Speculative Fictions, examines the economy in the early United States with a focus on Alexander Hamilton and his attempts “to explain economic science in a way that didn’t just depend on empiricism.” 

Jared Gardner On How Comics Have Long Focused On the Environment

Jared Gardner, Joseph V. Denney Designated Professor of English and Director of Popular Culture Studies, has a wide set of interests, including finding “striking examples of 19th century comics and cartoons” describing how humans impact the environment.

Have You Been Reading Dickens All Wrong? Maybe, Says Robyn Warhol

Distinguished Professor of English Robyn Warhol researches a variety of subjects, from narrative theory to Regency and Victorian novels to feminist theory to television narrative. She sees great parallels between binge watching tv shows and reading Victorian novels straight through, something that contemporary readers couldn’t do.

Jim Phelan Describes the Power of Narrative

Distinguished University Professor and Arts and Humanities Distinguished Professor in the Department of English, Jim Phelan, also serves as Director of Medical Humanities and Director of Project Narrative. He joins David Staley to define narrative theory, identify the many audiences built into narratives, and discuss how “narrative competence enhances medical competence.”

Laughter and Disruption From Women Comedians with Prof. Linda Mizejewski

Linda Mizejewski, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, researches comedy and women comedians as well as women detectives in popular culture. She joins David Staley to discuss her research and suggests some great classic movies to watch.

Frederick Luis Aldama Takes Comics Seriously

David Staley and Frederick Luis Aldama discuss Aldama’s recent Eisner award for his book Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics, Aldama’s formative years with comics, and why comics have become an area of scrutiny for academics.