{"id":291,"date":"2023-09-24T17:16:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T21:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/?page_id=291"},"modified":"2025-09-24T08:06:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T12:06:49","slug":"literary-studies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/literary-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"Literary Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Powerful Stories, Supportive Classrooms, Engaging Experiences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n    \n<component\n  is=\"media-context\"\n  class=\"media-context media-context--light \"\n>\n  <div class=\"media-context__inner grid\">\n    <div class=\"media-context__context\">\n          \n<component is=\"context\" class=\"context context--medium context--dark \">\n          <p>As part of the Literary Studies program at Queens, you will discover the power that stories and texts can have in influencing our communities and our world. You\u2019ll learn how stories unsettle and reinforce systems of power and privilege, and you\u2019ll experience literature\u2019s impact on individual readers and society as a whole while gaining sought-after skills like cross-cultural awareness, critical thinking, and empathy. You\u2019ll do all this with the support and guidance of our passionate and beloved faculty members, who will challenge you and encourage you every step of the way. <\/p>\n\n    <\/component>    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"media-context__image\">\n                              <picture>\n      <source media=\"(min-width:768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/03\/LitStudies.jpg\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\"\n        class=\"media-context__img\"\n        src=\"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/03\/LitStudies.jpg\"\n        alt=\"Two students reading books in quad\"\n      \/>\n    <\/picture>\n  \n                  <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/component>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet Jenna Plaisted &#8217;23 &amp; Sophia Russano &#8217;23<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I experienced immensely passionate professors who encouraged open discussion and provided safe and supportive classrooms and who inspired me to broaden my views and knowledge. I was given full support both in my undergraduate work and in my journey to beginning my graduate applications, and I felt uplifted at all times.&#8221; \u2013 <strong>Jenna Plaisted &#8217;23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The English Department will always be my favorite part of Queens. Each professor has a heart of gold, and they continuously supported me in my endeavors in and outside the classroom. My professors helped reignite my love of learning by encouraging me to follow my sense of curiosity and wonder.&#8221; <br>\u2013 <strong>Sophia Russano &#8217;23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Program Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Career Readiness<\/strong>: The Literary Studies program at Queens attracts the most ardent readers and writers who have a passion for engaging with stories and voices in an ethical context. By sharpening your critical thinking, research, and communication skills across digital and print modalities, you graduate ready to shape the stories and communities of tomorrow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Undergraduate Research<\/strong>: As a Literary Studies major, you will have the opportunity to apply to QLIT: Queens Literary Studies Undergraduate Research Program. As a QLIT participant, you will work closely with faculty to develop your original Literary Studies research and present at an academic conference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Publication<\/strong>: You\u2019ll have the opportunity to publish your work in Signet, Queens\u2019 literary magazine, and in QUEST, Queens\u2019 journal of Undergraduate Research; you\u2019ll also connect with students and faculty through the interdisciplinary arts community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Editing Experience<\/strong>: Signet and QUEST are both produced by students, under faculty mentorship. You\u2019ll have the chance to learn about all the aspects of producing these journals, from editing to marketing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seelbinder Literary Arts Series<\/strong>: As a student in our community, you\u2019ll attend readings and scholarly lectures by notable visiting authors and scholars as part of the Seelbinder Literary Arts Series.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your Degree in Action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A degree in literary studies develops your ability to think critically and find patterns and themes across digital and print mediums \u2013 skills that are invaluable across a variety of industries, including: &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Publishing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Editing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Newspaper and Television Journalism&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content Creation\u202fand Copywriting&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entertainment\u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teaching\u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public Relations\u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marketing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Human Resources\u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Library Sciences\u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Highlighted Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n  \n<component\n  class=\"accordion\"\n  is=\"accordion\"\n  v-slot=\"accordion\"\n      :single=\"1\"\n  >\n      <article class=\"accordion__panel\" data-accordion-panel>\n      <h3 class=\"accordion__header\">\n        <button\n            class=\"accordion__button\"\n            data-accordion-button\n            :aria-expanded=\"accordion.active.includes(0) ? true : false\"\n            @click=\"accordion.toggleActive(0, $event)\"\n        >\n          Blood, Sweets, &#038; Beer: Forbidden Food in Literature and Culture (ENG 100)\n          <span class=\"accordion__arrow-btn\">\n                  <svg class=\"\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 10 6\" viewBox=\"0 0 10 6\">\n      <path d=\"M.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0L5 3.6 8.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0 .4.4.4 1 0 1.4l-4 4c-.4.4-1 .4-1.4 0l-4-4C-.1 1.3-.1.7.3.3z\" style=\"fill-rule:evenodd; clip-rule:evenodd;\" \/>\n    <\/svg>\n  \n          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div\n        class=\"accordion__window\"\n        data-accordion-window\n      >\n        <div\n          class=\"accordion__content\"\n          data-accordion-content\n        >\n          <div class=\"wysiwyg\">\n  <p>The castle on the hill. The ghostly cellar. The witch\u2019s kitchen. In this course, we aim to (re)discover joy and confidence in reading; develop a marketable, personalized set of critical reading skills; enhance our reading comprehension and analysis skills; and practice applying these skills beyond this class. To achieve these learning goals, we\u2019ll explore representations of dangerous food and drink across a wide variety of literary genres: fantasy, magical realism, gothic, and horror. As a discussion-based course that centers student voices, perspectives, and creativity, we will discover together how writers use forbidden food to probe our deepest cultural beliefs regarding indulgence, restraint, and gender, sexuality, and dis\/ability.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n      <article class=\"accordion__panel\" data-accordion-panel>\n      <h3 class=\"accordion__header\">\n        <button\n            class=\"accordion__button\"\n            data-accordion-button\n            :aria-expanded=\"accordion.active.includes(1) ? true : false\"\n            @click=\"accordion.toggleActive(1, $event)\"\n        >\n          Women Writing Women in British Literature (ENG 220)\n          <span class=\"accordion__arrow-btn\">\n                  <svg class=\"\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 10 6\" viewBox=\"0 0 10 6\">\n      <path d=\"M.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0L5 3.6 8.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0 .4.4.4 1 0 1.4l-4 4c-.4.4-1 .4-1.4 0l-4-4C-.1 1.3-.1.7.3.3z\" style=\"fill-rule:evenodd; clip-rule:evenodd;\" \/>\n    <\/svg>\n  \n          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div\n        class=\"accordion__window\"\n        data-accordion-window\n      >\n        <div\n          class=\"accordion__content\"\n          data-accordion-content\n        >\n          <div class=\"wysiwyg\">\n  <p>Traditionally, British literature survey courses study the \u201ccanon\u201d\u2014a collection of literary \u201cgreatest hits\u201d historically composed by white male writers. This course instead tracks the political, social, and creative legacy of British women who wrote about women. We\u2019ll read writers who occupy a range of intersectional identities\u2014trans, cis, queer, straight, racialized, disabled\u2014and whose pioneering works collectively probe the following questions: What does it mean to be a woman? What choices, desires, spaces, life paths, and bodies ought to made be available to those who identify as women? Who gets to decide? In addition to exploring these questions through reading, discussing, and writing about our course texts, for our final class project we will compile a digital anthology through archival research into marginalized voices, especially in relation to gender, sexuality, disability, and race.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n      <article class=\"accordion__panel\" data-accordion-panel>\n      <h3 class=\"accordion__header\">\n        <button\n            class=\"accordion__button\"\n            data-accordion-button\n            :aria-expanded=\"accordion.active.includes(2) ? true : false\"\n            @click=\"accordion.toggleActive(2, $event)\"\n        >\n          Superheroes (ENG 251)\n          <span class=\"accordion__arrow-btn\">\n                  <svg class=\"\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 10 6\" viewBox=\"0 0 10 6\">\n      <path d=\"M.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0L5 3.6 8.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0 .4.4.4 1 0 1.4l-4 4c-.4.4-1 .4-1.4 0l-4-4C-.1 1.3-.1.7.3.3z\" style=\"fill-rule:evenodd; clip-rule:evenodd;\" \/>\n    <\/svg>\n  \n          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div\n        class=\"accordion__window\"\n        data-accordion-window\n      >\n        <div\n          class=\"accordion__content\"\n          data-accordion-content\n        >\n          <div class=\"wysiwyg\">\n  <p>It began with a man in blue tights and a red cape lifting a car above his head in June 1938, on the cover of Action Comics #1. In the 80 years or so since then, superheroes have saved the world over and over again and generated billions of dollars in profits for huge entertainment conglomerates, even as their forms have wildly morphed and the faces behind the masks have become more diverse. This course will examine the history of superheroes, as we think about why these characters are so popular and resonant and how they and their worlds have changed over time.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n      <article class=\"accordion__panel\" data-accordion-panel>\n      <h3 class=\"accordion__header\">\n        <button\n            class=\"accordion__button\"\n            data-accordion-button\n            :aria-expanded=\"accordion.active.includes(3) ? true : false\"\n            @click=\"accordion.toggleActive(3, $event)\"\n        >\n          Queens at Queens  (ENG 309)\n          <span class=\"accordion__arrow-btn\">\n                  <svg class=\"\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 10 6\" viewBox=\"0 0 10 6\">\n      <path d=\"M.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0L5 3.6 8.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0 .4.4.4 1 0 1.4l-4 4c-.4.4-1 .4-1.4 0l-4-4C-.1 1.3-.1.7.3.3z\" style=\"fill-rule:evenodd; clip-rule:evenodd;\" \/>\n    <\/svg>\n  \n          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div\n        class=\"accordion__window\"\n        data-accordion-window\n      >\n        <div\n          class=\"accordion__content\"\n          data-accordion-content\n        >\n          <div class=\"wysiwyg\">\n  <p>Don\u2019t have enough drama in your life? The queens of Medieval and Renaissance literature and history had more than enough to go around! We\u2019ll read a variety of works featuring queens, ranging from the tales of Marie de France to Mary Sidney\u2019s The Tragedy of Antonie to Shakespeare\u2019s Antony and Cleopatra. Along the way, we\u2019ll investigate what it meant to be a queen then\u2014a position of agency but also subject to the king\u2014and how it\u2019s still relevant today\u2014what is the legacy of empire?!<\/p>\n\n<\/div>        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n      <article class=\"accordion__panel\" data-accordion-panel>\n      <h3 class=\"accordion__header\">\n        <button\n            class=\"accordion__button\"\n            data-accordion-button\n            :aria-expanded=\"accordion.active.includes(4) ? true : false\"\n            @click=\"accordion.toggleActive(4, $event)\"\n        >\n          Comics and Graphic Novels (ENG 326)\n          <span class=\"accordion__arrow-btn\">\n                  <svg class=\"\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 10 6\" viewBox=\"0 0 10 6\">\n      <path d=\"M.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0L5 3.6 8.3.3c.4-.4 1-.4 1.4 0 .4.4.4 1 0 1.4l-4 4c-.4.4-1 .4-1.4 0l-4-4C-.1 1.3-.1.7.3.3z\" style=\"fill-rule:evenodd; clip-rule:evenodd;\" \/>\n    <\/svg>\n  \n          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div\n        class=\"accordion__window\"\n        data-accordion-window\n      >\n        <div\n          class=\"accordion__content\"\n          data-accordion-content\n        >\n          <div class=\"wysiwyg\">\n  <p>In this course we\u2019ll explore the world of independent comics and alternative publishers and discover how comics and graphic novels have become a celebrated art form. We\u2019ll read stories about Holocaust survivors, Latina rockers, monster hunters in the Harlem Renaissance, and people like you and me, struggling to figure out their identities and their values.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n  <\/component>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Program Contact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/09\/craig-renfroe.jpg\" alt=\"S. Craig Renfroe Jr., M.F.A.\" class=\"wp-image-611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/09\/craig-renfroe.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2023\/09\/craig-renfroe-300x243.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:23px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Craig Renfroe, M.F.A.<\/strong><br>Associate Professor, Creative Writing<br><a data-type=\"mailto\" data-id=\"mailto:renfroec@queens.edu\" href=\"mailto:renfroec@queens.edu\">renfroec@queens.edu<\/a><br>704-337-2488<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet Your Professors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-8631861a wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/eng-dept-faculty\/\">Faculty Directory<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Powerful Stories, Supportive Classrooms, Engaging Experiences Meet Jenna Plaisted &#8217;23 &amp; Sophia Russano &#8217;23 &#8220;I experienced immensely passionate professors who encouraged open discussion and provided safe and supportive classrooms and who inspired me to broaden my views and knowledge. I was given full support both in my undergraduate work and in my journey to beginning [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page_with-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-291","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=291"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5295,"href":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291\/revisions\/5295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.queens.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}