Welcome to the blog for the Villanova English department! Visit often for updates on department events, guest speakers, faculty and student accomplishments, and reviews and musings from professors and undergraduates alike.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Literary Festival: David Gilbert

Please join us in Falvey Memorial Library’s Speakers’ Corner on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7:00 p.m. for a 16th Annual Villanova Literary Festival event featuring writer David Gilbert. Gilbert is the author of several works including & Sons, The Normals and Remote Feed. His stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, GQ, and Bomb.

At this event, Gilbert will read selections of his work. Following the reading, there will be a book sale and signing.

This event, co-sponsored by the Department of English and Falvey Memorial Library, is free and open to the public.

David Gilbert

Charles Dickens: The Mutual Friend


Villanova’s Abbey Theatre Professional Internship

The Villanova University-Abbey Theatre Exchange Program will provide a grant to a Villanova student to intern at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland during the summer season.  Founded in 1904, the Abbey Theatre is a world-class institution that actively engages and reflects Irish society.  It is also one of the most enduring institutions in literary history and has long occupied an important place in Irish emigrant cultures around the world.

The paid internship will begin at the end of May and continue for eight weeks into July. The student will work alongside theatre professionals in the day-to-day operations of Ireland’s national theatre and help run a new program—the Abbey Theatre Summer Studio. Junior and senior undergraduates and graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences at Villanova University are eligible.  A grade point average of at least 3.0 is required.

Students studying in any Arts and Sciences discipline—particularly Irish Studies, Theatre, English, Media Relations, and Performance Studies—are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must demonstrate:

·         Interest in and/or knowledge of Ireland and Irish culture
·         Knowledge of dramatic literature and/or theatre practice
·         Excellent research, writing, speaking, and presentation skills
·         Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Applications are being accepted until February 10.



Saturday, January 25, 2014

Villanova Match Research Program with Dr. Megan Quigley

The new Villanova Match Program for Freshmen includes a project with English faculty member, Dr. Megan Quigley.  The Villanova Match Research program provides opportunities for motivated freshmen to pursue undergraduate research in the Spring 2014 semester.  Freshmen applicants do not need substantial experience as they will serve as research assistants to faculty mentors. If selected for the Match program, freshmen students will conduct research for 10 hours per week for 10 weeks for which they will receive a $1000 stipend for the Spring 2014 semester.  Current English majors might want to encourage Freshmen they know to apply for the program.

Dr. Quigley's project description:  Modernist Fiction and Vagueness: Philosophy, Language, and Form
Having worked in book publishing before my academic career, I believe this research project, which combines scholarly research with learning the tricks of the trade of book publishing, could provide a unique opportunity for a liberal arts student.

Modernist Fiction and Vagueness: Philosophy, Language, and Form is a book manuscript that investigates the intertwined history of philosophy and literature in the modern British novel.  The final book manuscript is due to the editor at Cambridge University Press on April 15, 2014, though substantial publishing work will continue after that date.  The project argues that we would better understand modernist fiction if we appreciated its connections to early twentieth-century Anglo-American philosophy.  Building on recent interest in the connections among analytic philosophy, pragmatism, and modernist literature, I offer new readings of novels by Henry James, Virginia Woolf, and James Joyce that link aesthetic and philosophical vagueness. Overall, I maintain that debates about vagueness instigated the transition in the form and language of the modernist novel. The question of vagueness—how precise language can possibly be and how it can match up with our experience of the world—is still a thriving topic in philosophy, computer science, and linguistics.  I argue that we should read vagueness—whether it be indefinability, fuzziness, or the reconceptualization of literary realism—not as an aesthetic deficiency but as a defining attribute of much modernist fiction.

This research position would help a freshman student to learn the skills necessary for researching, editing, proofreading and, finally, publishing an interdisciplinary liberal arts book.  Specifically the tasks would include:
Scholarly:
--Tracking down literary and philosophical texts for citations, including complex primary source treasure hunting.
--Helping with work on permissions (contacting researching libraries, etc.).
--Proofreading and learning to use the Chicago Manual of Style.
Professional:
--Learning about the publishing business: author bios, blurbs, industry standards.
--Researching competitive works on philosophy and literature.
--Drafting book jacket copy.

Dr. Megan Quigley in her office
To apply for the Villanova Match program, submit a resume and cover letter directly to Dr. Quigley (megan.m.quigley@villanova.edu).  Please include in your one-page resume your first semester GPA, high school GPA, and SAT/ACT scores in addition to your academic, professional, and relevant experiences and skills.  Please also include in your one-page cover letter your motivations and qualifications for this research assistantship.  Dr. Quigley will review your application materials (resume and cover letter) and will contact you to interview for the position in early February.



Friday, January 24, 2014

Rescheduled: Eamon Wall Reception

Please join the English Department faculty in welcoming Irish poet Eamonn Wall to Villanova as the Charles A. Heimbold Chair of Irish Studies at a reception on Wednesday, January 29, from 4:00-4:30, in the English suite (SAC 402).


Thursday, January 23, 2014

James Joyce Birthday Celebration

This is an all-ages event for Villanovans and the community to celebrate the great works of Joyce and other Irish writers.  It also triples as a St. Brigid’s Day/Imbolc/Groundhog Day celebration.  Come along for a fun night.


New York Times Researcher Amanda Doyle

VIllanova English major Amanda Doyle (class of 2010) was featured in a recent New York Times' article about Olympics researchers.  According to the article, "There are a lot of athletes, who are covered more widely than ever, without a lot of spare time to talk about their lives to the NBC researchers preparing background material. Sometimes, a researcher might need to speak with 30 or 40 athletes in a weekend, said Amanda Doyle, whose portfolio includes speed skating."  "The researchers," says the article,"are enamored of stories that, when they come upon them, are not in the mainstream;"  because much of the research goes unused, "the big payoff for researchers is hearing a nugget of information they unearthed used during a broadcast."  Click here to read the full article.

Amanda Doyle with fellow researchers.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Sports Illustrated Internship

As you probably know, the English department and Sports Illustrated have a special partnership by which one or two English majors each semester have the opportunity to work in New York for Sports Illustrated, in a paid internship position that also earns you 12 credits.

Details:


Abbey Theatre Summer Studio

Villanova has just created a exciting and distinctive new program in Ireland: the Abbey Theatre Summer Studio, a three-credit summer course taking place for the first time in June 2014.  It’s a two-and-a-half week immersion at the National Theatre of Ireland, studying literature, history, and the practice of Irish theatre.  The course counts toward the English major and the Theatre minor.

If you are interested, an informational meeting will take place on Wed., Jan. 29, at 5 pm in the Vasey Theatre.


Monday, January 20, 2014

Eamonn Wall Reception Invitation

Please join the English Department faculty in welcoming Irish poet Eamonn Wall to Villanova as the Charles A. Heimbold Chair of Irish Studies at a reception on Wednesday, January 22, from 4:00-4:30, in the English suite (SAC 402).  Each spring, the English Department and the Irish Studies Program host a distinguished Irish writer who teaches two courses and does a public reading, providing a special opportunity for Villanova students to meet and get to know some of the most important figures in the Irish literary world.  Prof. Wall is the author of six critically acclaimed volumes of poetry.

Heimbold Chair Eamonn Wall

Friday, January 17, 2014

NYC Ad Trek

You’re Invited to Attend Villanova University’s 7th Annual NYC Ad TREK!
Friday, January 31st, 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM

"Looking for a way to "market u"?"  Want to see/hear what it’s like to work in the advertising industry?  Want to know how to land a job within advertising…directly from industry experts? Then join us for this year's NYC AD TREK! We will leave campus at 7:30 AM and return around 6:00 PM (depending on traffic).


The day consists of visits to two leading agencies at which you’ll meet with key players in various functional areas, such as client and creative services, sales, and content creation. Additionally, you will hear from the HR department about the hiring process, career opportunities and what they are really looking for on your resume.




We will begin our visit at DraftFCB, one of the largest global advertising agency networks. They are the mind behind some of the most talked about advertising campaigns including the recent Kmart “Ship My Pant”, “Big Gas Savings” and “Show Your Joe” Jingle Bells ads.  Other clients include KFC, Oreo & Toyota.  But to get a full picture, check out their website here.

We will then head over to Laird + Partners, a leading New York-based creative agency specializing in fashion, lifestyle and luxury branding and communications. Clients include: Coach, Diane Von Furstenberg, DKNY, Juicy and Tory Burch just to name a few.  Check out their innovative work here.


If you are interested in attending this event, RSVP to danielle.tadros@villanova.edu with your name, class year, major and phone number.  Because space at each agency is limited, spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis!  The deadline for registering is noon on Friday, Jan. 24.  The organizations involved in the Ad Trek are interested in English majors, and the Office for Undergraduate Students is eager to have English majors be part of the trip.  

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Copywriter Internship

The Acquity Group is looking for a Copywriter Intern who would work in Conshohocken.  To apply, write to Danielle Goldberg (Danielle.Goldberg@acquitygroup.com).  Remember that to receive credit for an internship, you must apply at our Internship Office: http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/undergrad/ous/internship.html

Acquity Group is a leading Brand eCommerce® and digital marketing company. Acquity Group leverages the Internet, mobile devices and social media to create award-winning digital experiences that build unbreakable customer relationships.  Acquity Group has served more than 600 companies and works with leading brands like Adobe, AT&T, General Motors, Motorola, and Saks Fifth Avenue across thirteen offices throughout North America.

Position Description:
The Copywriter Intern is responsible for supporting conceptual development as well as composing and editing copy for a variety of interactive projects including websites, online advertising and emails for a high-profile client serving many industries. The Copywriter Intern works very closely with the Senior Copywriter, Creative Director and Marketing Directors through all stages of conceptual development. He/ She will also work with Interactive Designers in helping to support translating business requirements into compelling content that reflects the client’s brand identity and needs of its diversified user audiences.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
• Proofread/edit content relative to client-specific editorial guidelines
• Collaborate with other team members to develop/determine copy direction for marketing/branding
initiatives
• Independently create long-form branding/marketing/editorial content and short-form
branding/marketing copy
• Understand client's brand identity and conceptualize original/innovative content ideas (web
development; microsites; campaign executions; landing pages; game content)
• Implement SEO findings/recommendations into new or existing content
• Create content based on existing copy deck formats and populate content matrices
• Create editorial calendars
• Actively participates in brainstorm sessions for online advertising and site development

Qualifications:
• MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) experience
• Familiarity with SEO standards
• Familiarity with style standards (AP Style, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA Style, etc.)
• Strong organizational abilities & ability to multi-task
• Results-oriented: ability to take feedback and metrics and infuse learning into go-forward action
• Collaborative: ability to thrive and contribute in a team environment
• Knowledge of the consulting industry a plus

Education:
• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Marketing, English or related field.


Sunday, January 12, 2014

Alumni Profile: Max Stendhal, Class of 2010

Occupation: Senior Reporter, Law 360, a LexisNexis Company legal news service

Major: English, Honors, and Political Science


What he does:  Stendhal is a reporter and writer for Law 360 specializing in stories on securities litigation and white collar crime.

How his English major helped:  “Studying English at Villanova taught me how to comprehend difficult texts on a wide breadth of topics. I also became a much more accomplished writer, which is critical in my field of work and in every industry. The ability to write well cannot be overestimated. Also, who is better prepared to apply for a job than an English major? You need to write a succinct and compelling cover letter and express yourself well in an interview.”

Saturday, January 11, 2014

BRIDGE Society Writing, Media & Communication Event


You are invited to the BRIDGE Society Writing, Media, and Communication Mentoring & Networking Event on Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00pm in the Villanova Room. This is an opportunity to meet alumni and professionals who work in public relations, sports writing, editing, media, journalism, publishing, advertising sales, and other communication-centered positions at
·         ESPN
·         Time
·         CNN
·         QVC
·         Sports Illustrated
·         Please Touch Museum
·         Braithwaite Communications
·         Hypertonic
·         Cooke Publishing Company and many more…

To register for the event, you can also use the link in Dr. Radcliffe's Jan. 10 email to all English majors.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Spring Internships

Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences have the opportunity to earn academic credit for their approved paid or unpaid internships.  Credits can be applied to your major, minor, or concentration, and students can earn 3 credits for every 150 hours they intern.    Applications for internship academic credit are available here 

Students interested in earning academic credit for a Spring 2014 internship can schedule an appointment with the Office for Internships by emailing as.internship@villanova.edu.


Remember too that Prof. Jody Ross is our own English department advisor for internships.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Chris Eagle's Dysfluencies

1998 Villanova graduate Chris Eagle (who wrote his Honors thesis on James Joyce) has recently published his book Dysfluencies: On Speech Disorders in Modern Literature.  Dysfluencies is the first comprehensive study of how speech disorders are portrayed in modern literature. Tracing the roots of this interaction between literary practice and speech pathology back to the rise of aphasiology in the 1860s, Dysfluencies examines portrayals of disordered speech by writers like Zola, Proust, Joyce, Melville, and Mishima, as well as contemporary writers like Philip Roth, Gail Jones, and Jonathan Lethem.