PhD in Literary History (Race/Representation/Justice/Cultural Activism)

Overview

Applications are welcomed from prospective students to research under the supervision of Professor Sharon Monteith, a Leverhulme Fellow writing a literary history of the US civil rights movement who has supervised c. 30 PhD students to successful completion.
Proposals should focus on literary history in the cultural context of race (representation, rights, social justice, cultural activism) in the US and/or the UK.
A range of methodological approaches and creative interventions, including critical-creative writing that responds to literary history, are welcome.
A project might focus on:

• mapping new literary histories
• recovery of neglected writers, texts, print media
• a particular genre or cultural form (e.g. poetry, drama, the novel, personal journalism, the photo-essay)
• the US civil rights movement or struggles around race and rights in the UK
• African-American literary studies from Reconstruction to #Black Lives Matter
• Black British literary studies and cultural activism.

Proposals based in literary history from a variety of approaches will be considered.
The successful applicant will join a thriving postgraduate community of researchers in a department that has a national and international reputation for excellent research. English’s REF2014 submission resulted in 70% of research classified as world leading or internationally excellent; 100% of the research environment was classed as 4*/3*, and 86% of the impact activities were rated 4*/3*. English at NTU is dynamic and energetic, with a particular focus on literary history and recovery research with expertise in African-American and Black British literatures and critical-creative writing. They will be supported by Director of Studies and supervisory team. Research training, seminars, conferences and knowledge exchange activities will support and enhance the successful applicant’s academic research and its potential for social and cultural impact. Apply here.