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Lynne Cooper Harvey Distinguished Chair in English
Expertise: Presidential speechmaking, American political argument, American literature, rhetoric, 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:
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Ph.D. in English at University of Chicago
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M.A. in English at University of Chicago
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B.A. in English and Philosophy at Augustana College
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Violence and social order
Research workshop explores social science of international development, March 24
March 3,
2009 --
Community-based conservation in Madagascar, property rights for the poor in Argentina and trade-offs between violence and power in societies throughout human history are among topics to be explored in a free public workshop on the social science of international development from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24 in the Women's Building Formal Lounge.
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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.
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Analysis: Obama tries evenhanded approach
Associated Press
and 51 others
June 8,
2009 -- Nancy Benac reports on Obama's Cairo speech in which he tried to explain the American mindset to Muslims and the world of Islam to Americans. Various experts comment on the speech, including WUSTL presidential rhetoric specialist Wayne Fields.
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Flu control tests Obama balancing skills
Associated Press
and 47 others
May 4,
2009 -- When it comes to swine flu, Obama is trying to strike the right balance between protecting public and economic health. That's resulted in some doublespeak and spin, evidence of the inextricable ties between a looming epidemic and a listing economy. Includes comments by WUSTL American culture studies director Wayne Fields, who is an expert on presidential rhetoric.
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Under Obama, 'war on terror' catchphrase fading
Associated Press
and 18 others
Feb. 2,
2009 -- The "War on Terror" is losing the war of words. The catchphrase burned into the American lexicon hours after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, is fading away, slowly if not deliberately being replaced by a new administration bent on repairing the U.S. image among Muslim nations. Includes comments by WUSTL English and American culture studies professor Wayne Fields, who is an expert on presidential rhetoric.
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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 helped develop the American Culture Studies program and served as its director from 1996 until 2008.
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.
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