BIO
Chris Williams joined the UW-Stevens Point Department of English in 2002. He received his Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University after working several years in online design and consulting. Professor Williams is interested in a broad variety of topics in 20th Century literature, literary theory, and other newly emerging fields of study that have an interest in narrative, including film studies, pop culture studies, and media studies. Narrative, technology, and philosophy blend into the majority of his work and play. View CV
He has published his work in journals like Film Criticism, Post Script, Popular Culture Review, Gothic Studies, Reconstruction and Atenea. He also has written chapters for collections like Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By (Mise, 2006) and Passionate Dialogues: Critical Perspectives on Mel Gibsons The Passion of the Christ (I.B Tauris, 2006). Additionally, he is the editor of the multimedia section at PopMatters.
Williams is presently teaching Freshman Composition and various literature and media studies related courses with a desire to make students more aware of rhetorical strategies and able to read texts closely.
PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
“Nihilism and Buddhism in a Blender: The Religion of Chuck Palahniuk.” Reading Chuck Palahniuk: American Monsters and Literary Mayhem. Ed. Cynthia Kuhn and Lance Rubin. Routledge, 2009. 170-82.
“Wizards & Words: An Interview with Patrick Rothfuss.” PopMatters.com. 5 June 2008.
“Birthing an Undead Family: Reification of the Mother’s Role in the Gothic Landscape of 28 Days Later.” Gothic Studies 9.2 (2007): 33-44.
“The Death of Jean Baudrillard Did Not Take Place.” International Journal of Baudrillard Studies 4.3 (2007).
“Super Columbine Massacre RPG!: Can a Historic Event Be Examined Seriously By a Video Game?” PopMatters.com. 20 September 2007.
“Pimp and Whore: The Necessity of Perverse Domestication in the Development of the West.” Reading Deadwood: A Western to Swear By. Ed. David Lavery. I.B. Tauris, 2006. 145-56.
“Being the Sons of Submission: Playing an Obedience to Authority in Metal Gear Solid 2.” (with UWSP graduate Christopher Harwood–the paper we prepared in ENGL 399). Midwest Popular Culture Association. Minneapolis, MN. October 2003
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- UWSP University Writers, Faculty adviser
- Issues in Writing, publishing editor
- Department of English Travel Committee, member
- Multimedia Review Essayist, popmatters.com
- Sigma Tau Delta, member