WT Distinguished Lecture Series: Dr. Bryan M. Santin

West Texas A&M University’s Distinguished Lecture Series and the Department of English, Philosophy, and Modern Languages (EPML), as well as the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, will host Dr. Bryan M. Santin, assistant professor of English at Concordia University Irvine, at 7 p.m., March 2, sharing his message on “Postwar American Fiction and the Rise of Modern Conservatism: The Meaning of Ralph Ellison’s (Near) Invisibility on the Right.” “Santin offers a new, literary lens for thinking about events like the political victories of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, events which still shape the lives of college students and community members in the 21st century,” said Dr. Ryan Brooks, assistant professor of English at WTAMU. “He is approaching these issues as a historian of culture and ideas, not as a partisan, meaning that the talk should be stimulating no matter your political persuasion.” Brooks adds that Santin is “asking important new questions about the politics of post-World War II American fiction, from 1945 to the 21st century” and will help attendees gain insight into modern conservatism as well as how literature and politics are interconnected. Santin is the author of “Postwar American Fiction and the Rise of Modern Conservatism: A Literary History, 1945-2008.” His scholarly writing has appeared in various academic journals including American Quarterly and Orbit: A Journal of American Literature. He currently teaches courses in American literature and world literature, composition and rhetoric, among others. His research interests focus on 20th and 21st century American literature and politics, especially related to race and ethnicity. To attend the lecture, which will be hosted on Zoom, people should register using the link: https://bit.ly/2N7pfDl. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting on Zoom. About WTAMU’S Distinguished Lecture Series The Distinguished Lecture Series was created to enhance education in the classroom by inviting people of national prominence to speak to WTAMU students and the community about important issues.