Source: Karin Westman, 785-532-2190, westmank@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Rosie Hoefling, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu

Monday, May 2, 2011

CREATIVITY AND CULTURE: K-STATE ENGLISH STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH, WORK

MANHATTAN -- Several Kansas State University English students will finish the spring semester with presentations of their work in creative writing and cultural studies.

The Undergraduate Cultural Studies Symposium will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, in Room 212 of the K-State Student Union. The Masters of the Universe creative writing event will take place at 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 9, in Room 212 of the Union.

Both events are free, open to the public and sponsored by the department of English.

The symposium will feature the final projects of undergraduate students in K-State's cultural studies English course. Taught by Wendy Matlock, assistant professor of English, the course focuses on various theories and methods of cultural studies and their application in culture and literature. Topics of discussion in the course include gender and sexuality; power relations in social groups; and the construction, communication and preservation of knowledge.

"The symposium provides an opportunity for these students to share their work outside the confines of the classroom, expanding the audience for their studies of cultural texts beyond the university to the larger society that produces and consumes these texts," Matlock said.

More than 50 students will present projects at the event in a variety of media formats, including posters, papers, interactive games, scrapbooks and videos.

The Masters of the Universe event highlights the work of graduating master's students in creative writing at K-State. Upon graduation, these students will attend law school, accept positions with a variety of employers or further their creative study in the fall.

This event will be an opportunity to celebrate the students' achievements at K-State, according to Elizabeth Dodd, university distinguished professor of English and director of the creative writing program.

"Poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction -- we'll hear work in all these genres from our featured readers," Dodd said. "It will be an eclectic event with something for everybody."

K-State students participating in the Masters of the Universe event, all master's students in English, include:

Kelsey Vetter, Lenexa; Cody Riedy, Manhattan; Paula Ebert, St. George; and John Kulikowski, Wamego.

From out of state: Ryane Thomas, Huntsville, Ala.; Michael Mlekoday, Minneapolis, Minn.; and Jordan Kimbrell, masters student in English, Liberty, Mo.

From out of country: Jie Liu, China.

More information about the student presentations is available by contacting the department of English at english@k-state.edu or 785-532-2190.