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The 5th Annual Colloquium: Presenters and Abstracts
The English Students’ Association is excited to present our fifth annual Colloquium! This conference will feature presentations from English undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members. It provides a great opportunity for those in the department to share their work and research. Download our event agenda by clicking here. Paper copies will also be distributed at the event. 💰 HOW CAN I ATTEND? Get your RSVP tickets now for the Colloquium! Non-members can attend by donating any amount of money, which will go towards the literary charity Room to Read (suggested donation: $3 – 5). Members can attend for free, although they are still welcome to donate. Donations…
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ESA Hiring: AUS Rep and First-Year Rep
The ESA is hiring 1 AUS Representative and 1 First-Year Representative – this could be you! You may apply for one or both positions. FINAL DEADLINE: Mon Jan 28 @ 11:59 PM. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply ASAP! AUS Representative:– attend biweekly AUS meetings & weekly ESA meetings– coordinate between and update the AUS and the ESA as needed– attend events, help set-up, takedown and plan for events as needed– self-motivated individual with strong teamwork skills First-Year Representative:– attend weekly ESA meetings– promote ESA events to first-year students, act as a liaison between first-year students and the ESA– attend events, help set-up, takedown and plan…
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The Medieval Origin of a Vile New Insult: Cuck
If you happen to frequent the comments section in political Facebook and Twitter posts, YouTube videos, and many other such places on the Internet, you may have encountered alt-right commenters referring to 'those stupid liberal snowflakes' as “cucks”.
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Translation as Literary Reconciliation: Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali’s Sounds of a Cowhide Drum / Imisindo Yesigubhu Sesikhumba Senkomo
The 1995 South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) intended to “provide a forum for both victims and perpetrators [of apartheid] to share their stories and bear witness to historical harms and injustices in an open, public forum” (Gaertner 446). The terms and expectations for the TRC’s notion of reconciliation, however, do not account for the lasting effects of the legacy of apartheid on contemporary South Africans. More specifically, the TRC does not account for socio-political and cultural reconciliation beyond the proposed reconciliation of the individual victim and perpetrator. It instead provides a temporary but ultimately insufficient method of healing dependent on the closure of a past that cannot and…
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What’s in a Name? The Importance of Being Earnestly Yourself
The Importance of Being Earnest is Oscar Wilde’s witty play centering around Jack Worthing and the consequences of having a false identity (named Ernest) to escape social obligations and limitations. As Jack explains to his friend Algernon Montieff, his name is “Ernest in town and Jack in the country” (5). Algernon learns of this deception by an inscription on Jack’s cigarette case, addressed to him by his real name, and is shocked by his confession, responding that Jack looks “as if [his] name was Ernest” and that “[he is] the most earnest looking person he ever saw in [his] life” (5). Jack’s situation turns into a complicated affair when his…
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Submit to the 2019 Colloquium!
DEADLINE EXTENSION: We are now accepting submissions until Sunday Dec 23rd at 11:59PM The English Students’ Association is officially calling for submissions to our fifth annual conference, The Colloquium! This conference features presentations from English undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members. The Colloquium offers the opportunity to share your work and discuss ideas with other students and faculty members in the English Department. The Colloquium will be held on Thursday, February 28, 2019. Please see below for more detailed info! Submission Information When can I submit? The deadline for submissions is currently Thursday, Dec 20, 2018 at 11:59PM. Who can submit? Are you a UBC graduate or undergraduate student? Then…
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7 Poets to Follow on Instagram that aren’t Rupi Kaur
If you have been living anywhere that isn’t under a rock for the past 4 years, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of Rupi Kaur. She has captivated readers with her two simple yet incredibly resonant collections of poetry: Milk and Honey and The Sun and Her Flowers. Her 3.1 million Instagram followers wait daily for her to post another poem. This being said, if you’re anything like me you’re probably a little tired of hearing about Rupi Kaur and are looking for something new. Below are 7 other poets to help refresh your Instagram feed. @atticuspoetry Atticus is my favourite poet on Instagram,…
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Drama, Determination and Death: Diving into Sophocle’s Antigone
On the surface, Sophocle’s Antigone presents itself as your typical Greek-style tragedy. Yet, I was left thoroughly shaken by the morally diverse depth of each and every character throughout the play, abstract questions swarming in my head, urging me to explore further than the words lying on the pages. I delved into the personal beliefs each character holds and the consequential implications of their resulting actions in society, as well as examined the dynamics that arise amidst the characters’ interactions with each other. What I discovered are not some bland, stale answers that neatly wrap up my trains of thought; there are many answers for one concept depending on your…
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Halloween Books to Kickoff Your Halloween Week
The origins of Halloween date back to a Celtic tradition marking the end of the harvest season. Later, this pagan celebration was given Christian connotations by the Church, and the term “Halloween” translates to “All Saints” (“History of Halloween” Radford, B.). The modern celebration of Halloween proves to be far more removed from its origins, and nowadays Halloween is typically associated with candy, haunted houses, pumpkin spice lattes, and carving jack-o-lanterns. As the weather cools and Halloween approaches, here are some spooky books you can curl up with to embrace the Halloween spirit. 1. “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley “Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful” –…
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Childhood Trauma and the Search for Closure
Guilt, sadness, resentment. Trauma. In childhood, we experience the world as creatures of intensity. Our memories remain clear yet marred, the pain of trauma cutting through all senses in recollection, even as we become adults. Madeleine Thien’s novel, Simple Recipes, recounts the fictional stories of individuals from different backgrounds and locations as they look into their childhoods and relationships in their search for closure. Set in Vancouver, Thien weaves a realistic portrayal of innocence and trust, as well as guilt and sadness, in her characters’ recollection of their traumatic experiences as children. The stories in the book range from childhood disciplinary violence, abandonment to sexual assault and alienation within the…
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Meet the Profs 2018
A huge thank you to everyone who came out to our Meet the Profs event – both profs and students! An extra special thank you goes out to all the professors who stayed to chat with students, including: Elizabeth Hodgson Y-Dang Troeung Miranda Burgess Scott MacKenzie Deanna Kreisel We hope everyone enjoyed the icebreaker questions – who doesn’t want to know how much caffeine everyone else consumes on a daily basis, or what your profs’ biggest pet peeves are for student essays? Our top event highlights: Finding out how late everyone else has stayed up to finish writing an essay – good to know we’re not alone (courtesy of…
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Drugs, Alcohol and Literature
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan are only a few of the many incredible works that Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote in his troubled lifetime. When he lost his father as a young boy and suffered from several health issues in his youth, the solution that was offered to him was opium. While the drug was initially administered to him in small doses, it slowly made its way into his life and to become a full-fledged addiction. Among other reasons, Coleridge began regularly using opium as an antidepressant and relaxant amongst other reasons. He even admitted to using laudanum, particularly during times of extreme stress and anxiety. Since…
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Crabdance: An Afternoon of Dramatic Readings
🦀 The UBC Department of English, UBC Library, and ESA are pleased to present a selection of dramatic readings from Vancouver playwright Beverly Simons’ Crabdance. 🦀 Crabdance is a tragicomedy in three acts in which a lonely, middle-aged woman plays elaborate, ritualistic games with three men whom she forces to play the roles of her son, her husband, and her lover. Please join us on March 22 in the Buchanan Penthouse at 4 PM for an exciting night of drama. Coffee, tea, and cookies will be provided. All are welcome! If you are interested in being a dramatic reader, please contact president@ubcenglish.com. No experience necessary! Crabdance is an absurdist play…
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5 Common Phrases in their Shakespearean Context
Although we may not realize it, many common phrases we use today were written by Shakespeare hundreds of years ago. When was the last time you were so tired you felt as “dead as a doornail”? Or when you experienced a “wild goose chase”? Although these sayings may not have been coined by Shakespeare himself, they were certainly present in his written works and were popularized by him. Here are some Shakespearean phrases in their literary context to boost your knowledge of The Bard. 1. Dish fit for the gods “And, gentle friends, Let’s kill him boldly but not wrathfully. Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the…
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ESA Elections 2018!
If you’re looking for a fun opportunity to get involved that looks great on a resume, then have we ever got an offer for you! We are officially seeking executives for next year’s ESA. This is a great way to develop new skills, meet new people, and have an influence on campus. The executive team collaborates to plan everything from ice cream cake socials to The Colloquium, supports initiatives like The Garden Statuary, and connects with students, other clubs, and the department. New ideas are more than welcome, and this is a platform that can help you realize them. What positions are available? We currently elect the following: President, VP Finance,…
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The Kids’ Section: Oliver Jeffers’ The Heart and the Bottle
Though I consider myself a geek when it comes to English literature or anything poetry, there will always inevitably come a time when I need some kind of a break. Watching my mother teach kids in kindergarten and seeing the adorable picture books she would bring back home was fascinating. I was surprised when I learned how much planning and intricacy was involved in creating the perfect picture book, and soon found myself taking interest in the field of children’s literature. Having been exposed to some great picture books as a child, I was keen to find out more about different, new authors and illustrators. One of my favourites is…
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Canon Cagematch! Couples Edition
This Valentine’s Day the ESA is deciding, once and forever, who the best fictional couple of all time really is. This event is open to all, romantics and cynics alike! Come to Buchanan Tower in ROOM 599 at 4 PM on Thursday, February 15th for the following post-Valentine’s Day festivities: 💗 A BRACKETED TOURNAMENT to decide on the very best canonical couple 💗 A screening of Black Mirror’s SAN JUNEPIRO to melt even the most jaded of hearts 💗 Snacks! 💗 And more! All are welcome. Bring along friends, romantic interests, partners, or enemies. If you have a favourite fictional couple, let us know and you might see them in…
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6 Poetry Bites to Feed Your Soul on Dark, Gloomy Days
Dark Raincouver nights. Week after week of essays. A never-ending list of obligations. Whether you’re taking double shifts at work, crunching to meet a word count or studying into the wee hours of the morning for midterms, it’s important to take a quiet moment for yourself however you need to. Here are some small bites of poetry to get you through those dark, gloomy days. A few words of encouragement, a phrase to resolve your existential crisis, or just a beautiful, brief verse — sometimes literature can keep us going even when copious amounts of caffeine cannot. 1. “O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman “Oh me! Oh life! of…
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Senior Leaders on Sauder 2013 FROSH: A Discourse Analysis
Last term, I chose to do my ENGL 312A (Discourse and Society) final paper on how people at UBC talk about the Sauder 2013 FROSH chants. In today’s blog entry, I will discuss the portion of my research that focused on how senior leaders at UBC responded to the controversy. Do you remember a time when Sauder had the most amazing FROSH activities on campus? Me neither. When I came to UBC, I was a second-year transfer student entering Sauder. It was 2014 and FROSH was no longer an event held for new students. New students to Sauder now attended The Spark, a student-run event welcoming first-years and transfer students.…
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‘Too Strong’ of a Female Role: Feminist or Anti-Feminist?
(Editor Note: This blog article contains spoilers from Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl) Geoffrey Chaucer’s Wife of Bath’s Tale and Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl evoke two kinds of reactions in their readers: “you go, girl!” or “crazy b****”. Within the frame of their respective marriages, The Wife of Bath and Amy seek to control their husbands. While these strong female roles can be seen as either liberating or misogynist, this categorization is not so black and white. Both texts perhaps agree that women are strong and smart enough to have power, but also present this power as potentially problematic. Does this type of narrative illustrate women positively or negatively? The Wife of…
