Francois-Xavier P. Gleyzon

Department of English

Associate Professor

Francois-Xavier.Gleyzon@ucf.edu

Campus Location

Trevor Colbourn Hall 255A

Biography

As an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida since 2017, I hold a PhD in Early Modern Literature and Visual/Cultural Theory from the University of Lancaster, United Kingdom (2008). In addition to my role as an associate professor, I also serve as the Director of the Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor.

Prior to my time at the University of Florida, my academic journey included positions at the University of Liverpool and the American University of Beirut. Throughout my career, I've delivered courses on various subjects, including British literature, comparative literature, cinema, literary theory, as well as seminars focused on the intricate relationships between literature and iconography, the interplay between the East and West, and the significance of cartography in the global literary context. I've also held visiting professor positions at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA-CMR Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies) in 2010, as well as at the American University of Beirut and the University of Balamand, Lebanon, during 2018-19. In Spring 2024, I was as a guest professor at Aix-Marseille University's Center for Anglophone Studies and Research (LERMA).

My academic contributions include one published monograph (with a second one scheduled for release by Palgrave in 2023), co-edition of 3 essay collections, authoring 26 articles, and delivering 41 presentations (8 of which were as a keynote speaker at conferences). My research pursuits are anchored in the goal of fostering interdisciplinary connections. Following the publication of my book, Shakespeare’s Spiral (Rowman & Littlefield, 2010), I shifted my focus to American cinema with David Lynch in Theory (Charles University Press, 2010). My exploration of themes related to place, space, and cartography led to the publication of Deleuze: Space of Change and Challenge (Journal for Cultural Research, 2016), a work whose theoretical applications are exemplified in my essay dedicated to the Lebanese-American author Rabih Alameddine, titled "A New Cartographer: Rabih Alameddine and An Unnecessary Woman" (Palgrave, 2021). My scholarly trajectory seeks to move beyond the limitations of a predominantly Western-centric critique, aiming to bridge the gap that separates the interactions between "writings and cultures" between the East and West. This intention is evident in works such as Shakespeare and the Future of Theory (Routledge, 2017) and Reading Milton through Islam (Routledge, 2019). I am committed to challenging the conventions of canonical literature and its classical criticism, creating space for marginalized voices in history. An example of this endeavor can be seen in my essay "Minoring Shakespeare: Caliban or the last of the Palestinians" (2020), which will feature an expanded and revised version in my forthcoming publication.

My research agenda revolves around four central themes, creating a dynamic intellectual map through their interconnected trajectories:

British Literature and Theater, Iconography (spanning the Renaissance to contemporary times)
Comparative Literature
Visual Arts (Painting and Cinematography)
Geo-Philosophy
Abrahamic Theology and Theology of Alterity
Western/Eastern Contacts & Crossings

My scholarly undertakings, teaching experiences, and on-site engagements align with a cross-disciplinary approach spanning the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Beyond geographical and conceptual borders, they illustrate a commitment to transcending national, linguistic, and disciplinary boundaries, cultivating an inherently "open" framework that encourages dialogue and the sharing of cultural diversity.

In parallel with my research and teaching pursuits, I am also the Series Editor for Renaissance Literature and Cultures at Anthem Press.

Education

Ph.D. in Early Modern British Literature & Visual/Cultural Theory from University of Lancaster, United Kingdom (2008)

Research Interests

Early Modern British Literature and Theater & Iconography (spanning the Renaissance to contemporary times)
Comparative Literature
Continental Philosophy
Visual Arts (Painting and Cinematography)
Geo-Philosophy & Cartography
Abrahamic Theology and Theology of Alterity
Western/Eastern Contacts & Crossings.

Professional Activities

Anthem Press Series Editor in Renaissance Literature and Culture
Actively engaged in the role of primary investigator, FXP Gleyzon is currently working on an International Research Program: Cultural Inquiry – Reading And Reaching Across Disciplinary Boundaries (CI), which is in the process of development. The CI mission entails a comprehensive commitment that runs parallel to the establishment of an international research consortium. This consortium brings together universities and research institutes from diverse countries across the Middle East, the United States, and Europe. At the core of this consortium's focus lies a specific research theme approached through an inherently cross-disciplinary and multidisciplinary lens. This unique approach not only amplifies international interactions by blending a spectrum of ideas and perspectives but also transcends doctrinal confines. CI's objective is to facilitate dialogue and correspondence between junctures of convergence that drive literary, cultural, and philosophical traditions in both the Middle East and the Western world.The essence of CI's mission rests in transversality, enabling the transcendence of conventional barriers and the holistic exploration of interactions between these two dynamic regions. This process simultaneously fosters a profound and nuanced comprehension of their intellectual and cultural exchanges.

Publications

Books

Milton and the Quranic Moment. London: Routledge
Shakespeare and the Future of Theory. London: Routledge
David Lynch in Theory. Prague: Charles University Press
Shakespeare’s Spiral. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield, 2010.

Edited Collections

“Deleuze: Spaces of Change and Challenge." (with Christian Beck) Special Issue of Journal for Cultural Research

Articles/Essays

"whither criticism? A poetics of images in Shakespeare, at last." Preface to Picturing Shakespeare by Jean-Louis Claret. Anthem Press, New York, 2024
“Minoring Shakespeare – Deleuze’s Tempest.” London: Routledge, 2019
Deleuze and the Event(s)” (with Christian Beck). Spec. issue of Journal for Cultural Research 19 (Fall 2016).
“The Grandeur of Palestine: Territory, Nomadology and Resistance”. Spec. issue of Journal for Cultural Research 19 (Fall 2016).
“Milton and Islam: Bridging Cultures” (with David Currell) English Studies 96.1 (2015): 1-5.
Holistic Typology: ‘Uniting the Dissevered Pieces’: Quranic Retention and Protension in Milton’s Areopagitica and Nativity Ode.” English Studies 96.1 (2015): 21-43.
“Thinking through Shakespeare and Theory.” (with Johann Gregory) English Studies 94.3 (2013): 251-258.
Christine Buci-Glucksmann or the Archaeology of Shadows: Shakespeare and Mannerism", Critical Reader in Visual Theory, Saint, Nigel (Dir.) & Stafford, Andy (Dir.), Critical Reader in Visual Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2013.
“Lynch, Bacon, and the Formless.” Prague: Charles University Press, 2010.
“David Lynch’s Seismograph.” Prague: Charles University Press, 2010.

Book Sections/Chapters

“A New Cartographer: Rabih Alameddine and An Unnecessary Woman” in Christian Beck (Ed.), Literary Spaces of Resistance. London: Palgrave (2020)

Course #	Course	Title	Mode	Days/Times	Syllabus
93238	ENL4333	Shakespeare Studies	Web-Based (W)	7:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Unavailable
In this course, students will read plays from Shakespeare's tenure as chief dramatist for The Lord Chamberlain's Men and, later, The King's Men. Our discussions will involve close analysis of Shakespeare’s language, cultural context, and the various moral, political, and aesthetic issues raised in his plays and poetry. Rather than following a strict chronological order, we will take a thematic approach, allowing for a deeper exploration of key motifs such as kingship and kinship, gender, love, friendship, and reciprocal obligation. We will also examine domestic and political tyranny, revenge, and moral redemption. The course will incorporate interdisciplinary perspectives, connecting Shakespeare’s works to Renaissance-era visual art and cinema. Additionally, we will engage with contemporary critical theories to explore Shakespeare’s enduring relevance in today’s world. Plays will be supplemented by readings in Shakespearean criticism and contemporary theory. The course is structured into weekly modules, each dedicated to a single author and primary text(s). These primary readings will be supported by two scholarly articles per module, each offering unique perspectives. Through synthesis and analysis of these sources, students will engage with critical scholarship and contribute to broader discussions in Early Modern literature and contemporary theory. By undertaking close readings of Shakespeare’s texts, alongside visual artifacts such as Renaissance paintings, this course will provide insight into Early Modern culture and explore broader themes of cultural identity, nationhood, and individuality.
83359	LIT3933	Literature and Law	Mixed Mode (M)	M,W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM	Unavailable
This course explores the intricate relationship between Renaissance/Early Modern literature and legal discourse. Writers such as Machiavelli, More, Shakespeare, and Milton engage with legal subject matters to articulate nuanced concepts of personhood, nationhood, and political identity. Throughout the semester, we will examine literary texts from the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries—both fiction and non-fiction—through the lens of "legal narratives." These works offer incisive critiques of the intersections between law and morality, sovereignty and rights. The course provides an innovative, interdisciplinary analysis of legal themes in Renaissance literature while also incorporating contemporary philosophical perspectives. We will consider how these "legal" plays and texts remain relevant today, revealing the ongoing dialogue between historical legal thought and modern legal concerns. The course is organized into weekly modules, each featuring a foundational literary text accompanied by two scholarly articles. These articles will approach the text’s themes from distinct perspectives, enabling students to engage in deeper analysis. Through synthesizing these materials, students will refine their critical thinking skills and actively participate in scholarly discourse on legal themes in Early Modern literature. By closely examining legal and literary texts, this course will offer valuable insights into Early Modern legal imagination and its lasting impact on contemporary legal and philosophical debates.

Course #	Course	Title	Mode	Days/Times	Syllabus
19826	ENL3220	English Renais Poetry Prose	Web-Based (W)	7:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Unavailable
PRE-1865. This course is designed to immerse you in the realm of early modern English literatures and cultures, through the lens of contemporary cultural and visual theories. Its overarching objective is to acquaint you with the authors, forms, and pivotal themes that animate English Renaissance poetry and prose. Our selection of readings is strategically tailored to delve into themes that offer profound insights into the poetry and prose, culture, and historical dynamics of this era. Through an array of works by diverse authors such as Thomas More, Thomas Wyatt, Edmund Spenser, and John Milton, we seek to explore these themes from multifaceted perspectives. Throughout the course, we will dissect cross-sections from the works of various authors, which will allow us to engage with these themes from a multitude of angles. A significant portion of the curriculum will be devoted to examining the re-construction and re-presentation of the human body, which includes a critical investigation into the visual conception of anatomy. Additionally, we will probe how acts of creation and writing serve as mechanisms for shaping both the body and identity (as exemplified by Wyatt), positioning the self within social and religious constructs, and delineating the distinctiveness of gender (as seen in Milton's works).
12924	ENL3222	Renaissance Women in Lit	Web-Based (W)	7:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Unavailable
PRE-1865 and DIVERSITY. "Did Women Have a Renaissance?" (J. Kelly-Gadol). Renaissance women were often stereotypically portrayed—or objectified—as silent, chaste, pious, and obedient. Faced with many challenges, if not outright barriers, they struggled in their pursuit of knowledge and basic artistic literacy. This course, through selected texts, seeks to explore two key aspects: first, how Renaissance women were portrayed by the male writing class, and second, how some women of the period actively and vocally engaged in writing and publishing to re-fashion, interpret, and comment on the world around them. The course offers an innovative, interdisciplinary analysis of Renaissance women writers, while also providing an overview of current feminist approaches. It argues for the critical importance of reconsidering Renaissance writers in today’s context, inviting reflection on what these historical voices have to offer now and, in the future, and how our past continues to inform the present, and vice versa. Focusing on literature by and about women in the Renaissance, the course is structured into biweekly modules, each featuring a single author and their primary text(s). These readings are supported by two scholarly articles per module, each offering unique perspectives on the text and its themes. By synthesizing these articles in their analysis of the primary readings, students engage with critical scholarship, practice analytical skills, and participate in the broader scholarly conversation surrounding both Early Modern Women’s literature and contemporary feminist theory