The U.S. Studies Online 60 Seconds interview feature offers a short and informal introduction to a postgraduate, academic or non-academic specialist working in the American and Canadian Studies field or a related American and Canadian Studies association.
Our first interviews will be with the U.S. Studies Online Editorial team so you can get to know a little more about us.
Where are you right now?
Physically, in my local library. Career-wise, I'm a third (and final!) year PhD student in History at the University of Warwick. I am also a part-time tutor there.
If you could time-travel to observe one moment in the history of America, where would you go?
1963 March on Washington and the Martin Luther King ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?
FDR, John Lennon, the Buddha, though I'm sure Lennon would insult someone somehow and then the whole thing would fall apart.
You’re stranded on a desert island, but luckily you pre-empted it. Which book do you take with you?
I can't live with just one book, so I'll take a series. I'm undecided between The Big Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny or the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R R Martin (once it’s completed)
What has been your most memorable career moment so far?
Guest lecturer at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance about the history of the ‘British Invasion’
What advice would you give to early career academics?
I don’t know, I’m not there yet. Try getting published early?
What is the most exciting thing you have planned in the next six months?
Submitting my PhD!
How did you come to your current area of research?
Hours and hours (and hours) of listening to music
What profession other than academia would you like to attempt?
Professional songwriter. All I'd have to do is write one Christmas hit and live off the royalties for the rest of my life. Actually, I'm still hoping to do that.
What book is currently on your bedside table?
I've just moved and don't technically have a bedside table at the moment. Nonetheless, I'm reading Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson when I get the chance, usually in bed.
Be honest; how long has it been there?
3-4 weeks (it’s a big book!)
What’s in your fridge right now?
I've actually just moved, so currently have no fridge. Normally there would be salad-making materials, fruits, houmous. milk, soda and probably cider. It's a little disconcerting not having these, actually.
About the Author
Collin is a PhD student in History at the University of Warwick. His dissertation is entitled ÔÓA Little Bit Me, A Little Bit YouÓ: American and British Cross Cultural Exchange During the British InvasionÕ, where he uses music and musicians from the 1960s to explore issues of national identity, transnationalism and re-analysing the 1960s myths. He was the founder and editor of Retrospectives: A Postgraduate History Journal until 2013.