As the countdown to major December holidays approaches, now is the time to search for the perfect gift or find an opportunity to learn something new over winter break. Our faculty have come to the rescue with amazing new books for readers of many interests – from commentary on indigenous religious freedoms to poetry to video game design. Here are seven of the most recent CAH faculty publications from this semester, and all are available for purchase online or at major retailers. They’re great as presents for friends or family members – be sure to get one for yourself, too!
What Has No Place, Remains: The Challenges for Indigenous Religious Freedom in Canada Today by Nicholas Shrubsole – published August 14, 2019
In his debut book, Philosophy faculty member Shrubsole analyzes the social, political, cultural and legal events that threaten Indigenous religious freedom in Canada, where Indigenous spiritual practices were outlawed until 1982. While national apologies have been issued for these injustices, Shrubsole argues that multiple factors make religious freedom for the Indigenous community in Canada an impossibility, even today. For a comprehensive understanding of the current struggle for human rights in one of our society’s most marginalized groups, Shrubsole offers the concept of cultural incommensurability as a foundational construct in the pursuit of more productive legal discourse.
Other Possible Lives by Chrissy Kolaya – published October 15, 2019
A collection of poems by English assistant professor Kolaya that lets readers imagine themselves as someone else. What lives exist in other houses, other relationships, and at the end of other roads chosen? While our circumstances and decisions lead us to one place, poetry has the power to show us many others. For all who have wondered what it would be like to live an entirely different life, Kolaya’s work, according to reviewer Eric Morris-Pusey, embodies saudade, a Portuguese word for a type of longing. Kolaya previously worked with CAH-league Alex Burtzos in the School of Performing Arts on her piece Mirabilis for UCF Celebrates the Arts 2019.
Hard Letters and Folded Wings by Martha Catherine Brenckle – published October 15, 2019
Featuring poems that were finalists for the Emily Dickinson Award, The Frank O’Hara Award, the Richard Eberhart Poetry Award, and the Michael Egan Annual Poetry Contest, this book is a must read for any poetry lover. From loss to romance, Writing and Rhetoric professor Brenckle draws on public and historical events to tell a more intimate story of human experience, emotion, and connection. Her past short story “Nesting Dolls” was a Machigonne Fiction Contest finalist for the independent literary review The New Guard in 2017.
Animating Short Stories: Narrative techniques and visual design by Cheryl Briggs – published November 14, 2019
Learn how to bring a story to life using practical techniques from School of Visual Arts and Design associate professor Briggs. Novices and advanced animators alike can learn about developing story ideas, preparing for creative obstacles, scriptwriting and storyboarding. Beautiful illustrations and still images of animated shorts provide clear examples and an accompanying website allows readers an even deeper look into featured student movies. A great way to pick up or develop new skills for the new year!
Chaucer’s Losers, Nintendo’s Children, and Other Forays in Queer Ludonarratology by Tison Pugh – published December 1, 2019
Ever heard of ludonarratology, or a blend of the study of games and the study of narrative? For gamers and those interested in studying the intersections of queerness, gaming and narrative, this book uncovers the disruptive potential of gaming texts and the wide applicability of gaming studies in the humanities. English and Pegasus Professor Pugh has published on queer-media intersections before to acclaim and teaches the wildly-popular course on Harry Potter. Readers can discover a new way of looking at media that offers more room for queer narratives through illustrative readings of the Canterbury Tales and Harry Potter alike.
Bright Lights, Medium Sized City by Nathan Holic – published December 10, 2019
Welcome to the “city of the future”: Orlando, Florida during the 2009 housing market collapse. Writing & Rhetoric faculty member Holic writes of a bleak past: your fiancé is gone, bank account emptied, and future uncertain – where do you go from here? Follow Marc Turner, a “toxic man and hapless house flipper”, as he traverses the glitz and grit of city life, eventually realizing the danger of his own ambition. A combination of text, comic panels and watercolor illustrations come together to bring this exciting story to life. Alumnus Sean Walsh also created the cover art! A fantastic addition to the shelf of any Orlando lover, city dweller, or book reader.
A CRISIS OF PEACE: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution by David Head – published December 3, 2019
History faculty member David Head gives readers a whole new look at the United States right after the American Revolution, illuminating some of the greatest challenges of George Washington’s career. Fiscal turmoil, political unrest, out-of-control conspiracy thinking, and suspicions between soldiers and civilians all threatened America’s new-found independence. Head’s other book, Privateers of the Americas: Spanish American Privateering from the United States in the Early Republic, won the John Gardner Maritime Research Award for most significant contribution to maritime research in 2015.
Curious for more? A list of the College of Arts and Humanities’ most recent faculty publications can be found online all year, updated periodically as faculty add their newest works.