|
|  |
Washington University in St. Louis News & Information > Faculty Experts at Washington University in St. Louis >
Lynne Cooper Harvey Distinguished Chair in English
Expertise: American literature, American political argument, rhetoric, presidential speechmaking non-fiction prose, rhetoric, Mark Twain, Mississippi River
Bio:
Fields is a nationally known expert on American literature, non-fiction prose, rhetoric and American political argument. His book, "Union of Words: A History of Presidential Eloquence" (1996) examines the use of rhetoric in presidential speeches, from declarations of candidacy to nomination acceptances, inaugural addresses, state-of-the-union speeches, declarations of war, executive farewells and other special addresses. His opinions are frequently sought by the national media to help interpret political speeches. He has served as a commentator for National Public Radio, Radio Free Europe and various television and radio network programs, and for five years wrote a regular column, "Close to Home," for St. Louis Magazine. Other books include "James Fenimore Cooper: A Collection of Critical Essays" (1979); "What the River Knows: An Angler in Midstream" (1990), a highly acclaimed non-fiction book about fly-fishing, the mysteries of rivers and the uncertainties of life's second half; and "The Past Leads a Life of Its Own" (1992), a collection of pieces about American boyhood.
WUSTL Contact Information:
Education:
-
Ph.D. in English at University of Chicago
-
M.A. in English at University of Chicago
-
B.A. in English and Philosophy at Augustana College
| News Stories & Tip Sheets: |
Showing 1 Stories.
|
|
Exploring "Our Anxiety About Rhetoric"
Wayne Fields to deliver Assembly Series talk on rhetoric
April 4,
2006 --
Distinguished professor and writer Wayne Fields will present the Interdisciplinary Project in the Humanities/Phi Beta Kappa/Sigma Xi Lecture for the Assembly Series at 11 a.m. April 12 in Graham Chapel. The talk, on "Love and Seduction: Our Anxiety About Rhetoric," is free and open to the public.
|
Showing 1 Stories.
|
|
Negative rhetoric seen beyond campaign trail
Associated Press
and 58 others
April 28,
2008 -- Scorching rhetoric and negative campaigning aren't confined to the long presidential contest. They're spilling over into other segments of public life.
"It's partly this environment where we can't let things slide," said Wayne Fields, director of the American Cultural Studies program at WUSTL.
"There's big bucks to be made. These former leaders are going to protect their positions of expertise so they can keep selling books and keep getting speaking engagements."
|
Analysis: Debate Unlikely to Change Race
Associated Press
and 66 others
Feb. 27,
2008 -- WUSTL's Wayne Fields comments on final pitches by Democratic presidential candidates as they head into the last weeks of primary elections.
|
Missouri vote signals complex national mood
Chicago Tribune
Feb. 7,
2008 -- Missouri has an uncanny ability to choose presidential winners, going with the loser only once in the past century (Adlai Stevenson in 1956). The state is effectively an intersection of cultural forces — urban and rural, north and south, east and west — and it periodically swings with prevailing national moods.
WUSTL American culture studies director Wayne Fields comments.
|
Additional Background: Fields served as acting chair of the Department of English in 1987-88 and chair from 1989 to 1992. He was director of the Master of Liberal Arts Program from 1986 to 1992 and dean of University College in Arts & Sciences from 1992 to 1996. He has been director of the American Culture Studies Program, which he helped develop, since 1996.
Over the years, Fields has served on numerous academic and advisory committees, including the Arts & Sciences Academic Planning Committee, the school's Faculty Council and the Task Force on Undergraduate Curriculum, which recently issued recommendations for revising the Arts & Sciences undergraduate course of study. He also has received numerous teaching awards, including the Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, a Founders Day Faculty Award, the Burlington-Northern Teaching Award, a University College Teaching Award and the Interfraternity Council Excellence in Teaching Award.
Fields was a fellow of the National Humanities Institute at Yale University in 1976-77 and a Fulbright-Hays Lecturer in American Literature at the University of Copenhagen in fall 1980, a McGee Professor of Writing at Davidson College in spring 1990 and a Lamont Visiting Professor of Literature at Union College in spring 1995.
|
| |
|
Download
Show More Clips
Email this page
Print ready page