Alumni Spotlight: Laura Thacker

Laura Thacker (BA '12, MA '14) The most beautiful thing about studying English is the ability to step outside of yourself and experience a new perspective. In a 1964 interview, James Baldwin said, “You think your pain and heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Laura Thacker

35th Annual Cultural Studies Symposium with Dr. Sianne Ngai

Dr. Sianne Ngai Celebrated literary theorist Sianne Ngai will discuss her most recent book, Theory of the Gimmick, at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6 via livestream in the K-State Union’s Wildcat Chamber. The event will also be presented via Zoom; registration for the Zoom option is available at tinyurl.com/ngaikstate. This hour-long conversation is the … Continue reading 35th Annual Cultural Studies Symposium with Dr. Sianne Ngai

Anxiety and Aesthetics: The Frutiger Aero Aesthetic  

(Image: Asdal Stock Image 86 from the Frutiger Aero Archive) Today we share the fourth of six pieces of public writing selected for publication from an assignment in ENGL 801 “Graduate Studies in English” — and the first selection from Section A of ENGL 801, taught last fall by Cameron Leader-Picone: a piece of public … Continue reading Anxiety and Aesthetics: The Frutiger Aero Aesthetic  

Winter 2025-2026 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Traci Brimhall's poetry appears in issue 49 of the journal Southward: New International Writing (2025) Each month during the academic year, we assemble a newsletter of the department's recent publications, presentations, announcements, and awards. We're happy to recognize the recent successes in research, scholarship, and creative activity outlined below.  Want to catch up on past … Continue reading Winter 2025-2026 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Spring Preview

Spring flowers on K-State's campus during Open House (April 2025) Welcome to the spring semester! We hope that you are keeping warm and safe as 2026 gets underway. Here are some of the events that we're looking forward to in the months ahead. Please join us for community, creativity, and conversation! All are free but … Continue reading Spring Preview

Why You Should Read the Comments of Paris Paloma’s “Labour”: Everyday Work, Capitalism, and Unrecognized Emotional Labor  

(Image: "What is Emotional Labor and Why is it Important?") Today we share the third of six pieces of public writing selected for publication from an assignment in ENGL 801 “Graduate Studies in English”: a piece of public scholarship (700-1,000 words) which tailors an academic paper and its scholarly intervention of 10-12 pages for a … Continue reading Why You Should Read the Comments of Paris Paloma’s “Labour”: Everyday Work, Capitalism, and Unrecognized Emotional Labor  

November 2025 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Phillip Marzluf's essay appears in Studies in Travel Writing (10 Oct. 2025) Each month during the academic year, we assemble a newsletter of the department's recent publications, presentations, announcements, and awards. We're happy to recognize the recent successes in research, scholarship, and creative activity outlined below.  Want to catch up on past successes or to find future … Continue reading November 2025 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

From the Archive: Shakespeare and Fun

Professor Emeritus Don Hedrick shares highlights from his recently released book Shakespeare and Fun: The Birth of Entertainment Value (Bloomsbury, 2025) Since our blog debuted in 2017, we have published 500+ posts.  While some of you may have been with us from the start (thank you, loyal readers!), others may have joined us more recently. … Continue reading From the Archive: Shakespeare and Fun

October 2025 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Philip Nel's contribution to the OUPblog titled "Turn off AI. Pick up a crayon" (10 Oct 2025).  Each month during the academic year, we assemble a newsletter of the department's recent publications, presentations, announcements, and awards. We're happy to recognize the recent successes in research, scholarship, and creative activity outlined below.  Want to catch up … Continue reading October 2025 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

September 2025 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Cover for The Nature of Our Times: Poems on America's Landas, Waters, Wildlife, and Other Natural Wonders (Paloma Press, 2025), which includes a contribution from Traci Brimhall.  Each month during the academic year, we assemble a newsletter of the department's recent publications, presentations, announcements, and awards. We're happy to recognize the recent successes in research, … Continue reading September 2025 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity