Post #1--Introduction: Dr. Silvia Nagy-Zekmi

Hi everyone both in Brazil and in the U.S.!

I am a professor of Hispanic and Cultural Studies and director of the newest (and coolest) major in Cultural Studies, http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/culturalstudies.html
at Villanova University in Philadelphia. I am also the director of the graduate program in Hispanic Studies. http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/romancelanglit/graduate/

My research is focused on questions of unequal power relationships and social justice mostly (but not excluisively) in the postcolonial world. I published in English, Spanish, French and Hungarian. Right now I am working on a manuscript titled, The Postcolonial Condition: Eurocentric Discourse in Latin America and on our second co-edited book with Dr. Kayn Hollis, Global Academe. My books (both authored and edited) include, Truth to Power: Public Intellectuals In and Out of Academe (with Karyn Hollis 2010); Empire Colonization or Globalization?Postcolonial Exploration of Imperial Expansion (with Chantal Zabus 2009), Moros en la costa: Orientalismo en America Latina (2008), Paradoxical Citizenship: Edward Said (2006, paperback 2008); Arte de vivir: Aproximaciones críticas a la obra poética de Pedro Lastra (with Luis Correa-Díaz 2007); Democracy in Chile: The Legacy of September 11, 1973 (co-edited with Fernando Leiva, 2005), which won the Arthur P. Whitaker prize as the best book in Latin American studies; Le Maghreb Postcolonial (2003), Paralelismos transatlánticos: Postcolonialismo y narrativa femenina en América Latina y Africa del Norte (1996) and Historia de la canción folklórica en los Andes (1989). More on my website: http://www19.homepage.villanova.edu/silvia.nagyzekmi/

My other passion besides research is teaching. I believe teaching should be an interactive endeavor in which students and teacher take an active role. I see the role of the professor as a mediator who leads the discussions and not just passes on information. New ideas are explored in my classes and originality is rewarded. I often ask questions without seeking a specific answer. In fact, one of the most challenging aspects of our profession is to ask the right questions. I do not see myself as a teacher of a particular subject, but rather, as a facilitator for critical and analytical thought. I encourage students to be independent thinkers and be critical of themselves, as well as others in a constructive way that leads to improvement, rather than discouragement. In my view, teaching demands respect of the subject taught, and of the students, in addition to intellectual and academic rigor, accompanied by creativity, flexibility and collegiality.

I hope all of you will like this new class on Writing Brazilian culture. We prepared it with much interest and care and we hope it reflects our admiration for this amazing culture.