Welcome to the new year with a new episode featuring Bucky Lemons, a Bass Grad alumnus who graduated last spring. Bucky talks about his own research interests in literary theory, Marxist theory, and horror studies, as well as finding your path when you find yourself at unexpected career crossroads.

Malignant (Wan, 2021)

Skinamarink (Ball, 2022)

We’re starting off this new semester of the Bass GradCast with Literature PhD Candidate Jonathan Sonnier and a discussion of his commitment to the novel as an ethical project and how this shapes his pedagogy. Jonathan dives deep into his own interest in Toni Morrison and William Faulkner in his dissertation writing, the importance of being personally invested in your dissertation topic, and practical advice for preparing for the long-haul in your dissertation.

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Please note: This is a re-upload, the original upload of this episode had an error at the beginning that muted the intro.

This month, Visual and Performing Arts PhD candidate and Edith O’Donell Institute of Art History fellow Merve Sahin shares her research in cybernetics, land art, and the joining of art and technology. Merve’s research focuses on cybernetics, systems, biological life, and art history as well as artists who are working through these ideas such as Agnes Denes, Gordon Pask, and Nina Sobell. In addition to discussing her research, Merve talks about her own academic journey and the importance of finding the right PhD advisor.

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For our first episode, Bass Literature PhD Candidate Nikita D’Monte discusses her dissertation research on Rumiko Takahashi, a Japanese manga artist (mangaka) and author of beloved manga classics such as Ranma ½ and Inuyasha. In her research Nikita works through issues of gender, labor, and popular culture in Japan, as well as how we can correct the historical record to include female mangaka. In addition to her research, Nikita encourages graduate students early in their PhD process to find their niche and pursue what interests them rather than what's convenient.

The Bass GradCast is a production of the Office of Graduate Studies in the Harry W. Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology at the University of Texas at Dallas and is a student-produced podcast. Our cover image is by Rachel Catlett and our theme song is Rainbow Party by Greg Shows.

Contexts and Communities @ the SP/N Gallery: ⁠https://bass.utdallas.edu/news/parallel-exhibits-illuminate-sp-n-gallery-with-dragon-eye-and-contexts-communities/⁠

The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga by Helen McCarthy: ⁠https://www.abebooks.com/9780810982499/Art-Osamu-Tezuka-God-Manga-0810982498/plp⁠

Schoolgirl Milky Crisis Blog: ⁠https://schoolgirlmilkycrisis.com/⁠

Rumic World Blog: ⁠https://www.furinkan.com/