A researcher into the portrayal of women, especially Roman empresses in classical historiography, Eric Parks is currently teaching a first-year literature seminar at RISD about Dracula, Frankenstein and Cthulhu. The connections are perhaps not immediately obvious. In both his research and his teaching, Parks is especially interested in issues of representation in history, literature and culture, and the ways in which “outsider” figures—whether outside the traditional political system or outside the sane boundaries of time and space—can be used by writers and artists to express anxieties about their societies, to convey moralizing lessons and to pass on or even challenge cultural norms and stereotypes.
Parks teaches at a variety of area colleges beyond RISD, and recent literature seminars have dealt with a wide range of materials from Homer to Thomas Aquinas to Wonder Woman. His current research looks at the historian Tacitus’ use of episodes involving elite women as “symptoms” of familial and political disorder in the first dynasty of the Roman Empire.
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
LAS E101-30 - FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
LevelUndergraduate
UnitLiterary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatSeminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
LAS E101-30
FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
LevelUndergraduate
UnitLiterary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatSeminar
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: TTH | 4:40 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Eric ParksLocation(s): Washington Place, Room 310Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
An introduction to literary study that helps students develop the skills necessary for college-level reading, writing, research and critical thinking. Through exposure to a variety of literary forms and genres, historical periods and critical approaches, students are taught how to read closely, argue effectively and develop a strong writing voice. The course is reading and writing intensive and organized around weekly assignments. There are no waivers for LAS-E101 except for transfer students who have taken an equivalent college course.
First-year Students are pre-registered for this course by the department.
Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Transfer Students register into the designated section(s).
Major Requirement | BFA
Spring 2024 Courses
LAS E101-01 - FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
LevelUndergraduate
UnitLiterary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
FormatSeminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
LAS E101-01
FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
LevelUndergraduate
UnitLiterary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
PeriodSpring 2024
Credits3
FormatSeminar
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: MW | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PMInstructor(s): Eric ParksLocation(s): College Building, Room 301Enrolled / Capacity: 12Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
An introduction to literary study that helps students develop the skills necessary for college-level reading, writing, research and critical thinking. Through exposure to a variety of literary forms and genres, historical periods and critical approaches, students are taught how to read closely, argue effectively and develop a strong writing voice. The course is reading and writing intensive and organized around weekly assignments. There are no waivers for LAS-E101 except for transfer students who have taken an equivalent college course.
First-year Students are pre-registered for this course by the department.
Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Transfer Students register into designated section(s).
