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Body Politics: Pro Wrestling in Social, Cultural, and Political Perspective
The piledrivers, stunners, and chokeslams pro wrestlers deal out to one another in the ring may be more scripted gesturing than actual fighting, but the bodily engagement is real. In this course, we will study the practice of pro wrestling from different theoretical perspectives within the social sciences and humanities.
In this seminar with experiential components, students draw upon our readings, discussions, and observations to:
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attend an independent pro wrestling event and write analytic fieldnotes on the experience,
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develop wrestling personas that have the potential to transform and transport (Schechner 1981),
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script promos and matches that challenge stale cultural categories, and
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collaborate on producing and performing as their final presentation a wrestling match accompanied by critical commentaries informed by the theoretical perspectives we studied.
Students also have the opportunity to collaborate on a grant proposal to perform a site-specific ethnographic analysis of a pro wrestling subculture.​​​​​​
Counter-clockwise from left: Dr. Teri "Babytooth" Bull, Dr. Jorie Hofstra, Wynter Lake, students at a local match, students on campus (student photos shared with consent). Come back soon for photos of students' final presentation!
Gray Matter: A Writing Seminar
Evidence of Teaching Efficacy
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Full Inclusion
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High Expectations
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Real-World Relevance
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As a teacher, I strive to guide my students into an experience of intellectual immersion, so that they leave my classroom having developed a more informed, critical, and passionate engagement with the world around them. High academic expectations, real-world relevance, and inclusivity are the touchstones of my teaching. I am deeply committed to creating learning experiences that fully accommodate diversity in educational background, life experience, and learning style. My work in the classroom was recognized with the 2017 Harry C. Bredemeier Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Please click the links at left for documentation that speaks to my approach and its outcomes, and download my CV to view a list of my teaching and mentorship experiences.
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