Brown Bag Lecture with Dr. Dorothea Trotter, “Towards an Epistemology of Media: Navigating Personhood and Belonging With Intermedial Reference In Zadie Smith’s Novels”
Our next faculty Brown Bag talk will feature Dr. Dorothea Trotter on Thursday, April 6th at 1pm (on Zoom). Dr. Trotter's talk is titled "Towards an Epistemology of Media: Navigating Personhood and Belonging With Intermedial Reference In Zadie Smith’s Novels."
Abstract: With the publication of her debut novel, White Teeth, British writer Zadie Smith became a darling of the literary scene. Since then, she has written four novels, and each of these features an exceptional concern with audio-visual media and thematizes the relationship between media, personhood, and belonging. A closer look at Smith’s use of intermedial reference reveals several patterns in their aesthetics and messages that either support or push back on theories about representation, identity, affectivity, or fame. At the same time, the references also bring into stark relief the historical and technical evolution of various media and offer speculations about the implications of these developments at the individual and societal level. This talk will provide an initial look into Smith’s use of intermedial reference and provide insights into what these can offer readers in an ever-changing media landscape.
