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Dr. Kelly Ross, who specializes in American Gothic literature (yes that means Edgar Allan Poe), talks all things about why she is so drawn to 19th-century literature and her work on African American literature. She explains her recent work on "surveillance" in the works of Poe, Harriet Jacobs, and Charles Ball who are rarely studied together, and how they invert power dynamics.
Kelly talks about how important it is to move beyond venerating traditional canonical (mostly white and male) authors and the importance of including more diverse voices and perspectives. Then, we talk about why current popular culture is interested in themes of "racial surveillance and anxiety," think Hulu's The Other Black Girl or HBO's The Gilded Age!
Of particular interest to Kelly's studies is how The Other Black Girl critiques how publishing prioritizes profits over diversity and sensitivity. Kelly explains that the issues in the publishing industry that the TV show explores, is really similar to academia.
You can find out more about Kelly's research and writing, including her book Slavery, Surveillance and Genre in Antebellum United States Literature. https://www.rider.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/kelly-ross
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