Eric Parks

Lecturer - Literary Arts + Studies

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 2024 Courses

LAS E101-31 - FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
Level Undergraduate
Unit Literary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Seminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

LAS E101-31

FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR

Level Undergraduate
Unit Literary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Seminar
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: TF | 4:40 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Eric Parks Location(s): Washington Place, Room 021A Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: 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).

Major Requirement | BFA

LAS E101-30 - FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR
Level Undergraduate
Unit Literary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Seminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

LAS E101-30

FIRST-YEAR LITERATURE SEMINAR

Level Undergraduate
Unit Literary Arts and Studies
Subject Literary Arts and Studies
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Seminar
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: TF | 2:50 PM - 4:20 PM Instructor(s): Eric Parks Location(s): Washington Place, Room 021A Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: 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).

Major Requirement | BFA