American Studies in Europe: Interview with Cristina Cheveresan, West University of Timisoara, Romania
My study of the United States itself has inevitably included questions of language, particularly due to my special focus on ethnic and immigrant literature(s), which feature such issues prominently, as part of the intricate experience of self-articulation, self-adaptation, and self-definition. As an element of effective communication and as an essential marker of belonging, language shapes individual and communal experiences. In the context of literary and cultural studies, its importance becomes easily apparent, as it can equally unite and segregate, depending on the circumstances. It can serve noble and perverse purposes alike, it lies at the heart of both illumination and indoctrination, and therefore mastery of language is a most powerful tool. Continue reading