Research Assistantship with Professor Jennifer Scappettone on “Poetry After Fascism” across languages and media

Opportunity Description:

Professor Jennifer Scappettone is seeking research assistance toward completion of a book manuscript called "Poetry After Fascism: Barbarism, the Abracadabrant Word, and the Invention of a Motherless Tongue." This project tracks how poetic expression spanning multiple languages, produced by authors lacking a single mother tongue, lends itself to the creation of new poetic forms that occupy expanded visual and sonic fields—in line with the possibilities opened by revolutions in global telecommunications. The book manuscript proposes that poetry testing the boundaries of any single sanctioned national language obliges us to rethink political definitions of citizenship.

The project is interdisciplinary, and encompasses literary and visual studies, including new media, in English and Romance languages, with some forays into Classics and into Arabic and East Asian languages as well. Students interested in poetry and poetics, multilingualism, translation, issues of migration, and language in contemporary art (including visual art, digital media, and performance) will gain experience in those fields.

Opportunity may be extended into the summer upon consultation with research mentor. The research opportunity is remote only.

Primary Responsibilities: 

The undergraduate research assistant(s) Some knowledge of bibliographical style, bibliographical software, database research, and the Adobe Creative Suite would be useful in this position, though the professor can help with development of skills in any or all these areas.will help locate and retrieve primary and secondary sources, both visual and textual; assist with the creation of annotated bibliographies; seek out, prepare, and organize images, and help with permission to reproduce materials from libraries, archives, and other sources. Other vectors of this project include the preparation of audiovisual poetry archives (so that the RA might help with the curation of that archive and the production of relevant web pages) and research into the material archaeology of the “cloud” (so that students with an interest in environmental humanities would have the chance to explore issues in ecopoetics).

Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements: 

Some knowledge of bibliographical style, bibliographical software, database research, and the Adobe Creative Suite would be useful in this position, though the professor can help with development of skills in any or all these areas.

Knowledge of Romance and Classical languages, most particularly Italian and Latin, would be highly desirable, though it is not required; knowledge of Arabic and/or Mandarin also a plus. 

Knowledge or skills gained from the experience: 

The undergraduate researcher will be exposed to a wide range of poetic and new media texts, and contemporary cross-media arts practice—and will have a solid grip on database searching, bibliographical and note preparation, and the nuts and bolts of copyright.  The researcher will specifically gain skills in archival research, image research, organizing sources, file management, best practices in citation, image permissions, and the preparation of bibliographies.

In conceptual terms, the researcher will be exposed to recent debates in comparative literature and translation, and critiques of citizenship and refugee discourse. The research assistant may also learn to prepare sound and image files for public presentation. As such, they will learn how to disseminate their ideas to a wider audience, both live and online, in public and academic venues—aurally, visually, and in written form.

Application Process: 

To apply for this opportunity, please submit in *one* pdf document saved as "LAST, First_RA Scappettone AUT20", the following materials to Professor Scappettone [jscape@uchicago.edu]: 

• Current CV with the contact information for two possible references (references can be current teachers, and will not need to provide a letter)
• 350-word statement of interest in the opportunity (this is not a formal cover letter; it is a motivation statement and an opportunity to explain what skills you will bring and what you hope to gain from this research experience);
• Unofficial transcript.

When submitting your application materials by email, please include the following in the subject line: "Application materials attached: Undergraduate Research Opportunity - Prof. Scappettone". Please submit high quality materials; this indicates your seriousness and potential for success in your research appointment. Following the review of materials, you should expect to be interviewed by Professor Scappettone.

Application Requirements: