CFP for 2018 MLA 4H: History, Hamilton, & Hip hop in High School

Here's the paper call for the session I'm chairing at MLA in 2018.

CFP for 2018 MLA

4H:History, Hamilton, & Hip hop in High School

2018 MLA Conference, New York City, January 4-7, 2018

Session sponsored by MLA’s Children & Young Adult Literature Forum

This session will examine the range of innovative informational texts and historical fictions that introduce young adult readers to significant events and figures in American history and culture in innovative formats. The session will consider creative texts that move beyond the traditional, and sometimes dull textbook approach, to reimagine American history and attempt to reach young adult readers/viewers in nontraditional ways. Possible texts might include, but are not limited to, the cast recording of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton; John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell’s March trilogy; Kate Schatz’s Rad American Women A-Z; Don Brown’s Drowned City; Carole Boston Weatherford’s Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer; Derek Waters’s Drunk History; and John and Hank Green’s Crash Course YouTube Channel. The session will appraise the multiple methods that contemporary writers and illustrators are using to present and represent American history and culture in inventive, but accurate, ways that will resonate with contemporary young adults.

Send 250-word abstract by March 10, 2017 to Jan Susina (jcsusina@ilstu.edu) . In order to participate in this session, you need to be a member of MLA by April 7, 2017.

Jan Susina

Professor of English

English Department

Illinois State University

WGLT interviews me about Alice in Wonderland's 150th anniversary

Thanks to Judy Valente for putting together a smart, charming piece about the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Judy has done so many interesting and intriguing radio pieces for WGLT. Whenever she has interviewed me, it has been a good experience and she always makes me sound much better.

Here's a link to the interview. https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2015/10/alice-wonderland-turns-150/WGLT's Charlie Schlenker took this photo of me and aa selection of Alice books. 

Alice in Wonderland exhibit opening at ISU's Milner Library

Twelve different illustrators' interpretations of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland will be exhibited in the special collections section of Illinois State University's Milner Library. Included in the exhibit will be Alice related items such as posters and fashion.

Thanks to the Maureen Brunsdale, special collections librarian, and Reiley Bonislawski, Milner library intern and an English major at ISU, who made this exhibit possible.

We have received quite a bit of media attention.

• WMBD-TV reported on putting up the show on Thursday, Nov. 5. http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/celebrating-150-years-of-alice

• The Vidette's reporter Brent Bader did several interviews to write his article on the show "Milner Library Celebrates Alice in Wonderland's 150th anniversary." (Nov. 3, 2015) http://www.videtteonline.com/index.php/2015/11/03/milner-library-celebrates-alice-in-wonderlands-150th-anniversary/

• WJBC interviewed me and Reiley Bonislawski last month for a preview about the exhibit.

• The Pantagraph had a mention of the show in its roundup article about arts events this weekend. http://www.pantagraph.com/entertainment/go/art-round-the-corner-and-beyond/article_a9fa31a0-c936-5cad-99a2-a3a0e0394012.html

Fall 2012: Adolescent Literature

Welcome back to ISU!  Syllabi for Adolescent Literature, sections 1 and 2, are now availble on my website.  Here's a link.  Looking forward to a great semester learning about great books, films, plays, poems, graphic novels, and multimedia for teens.

A psychedelic Alice opens in Disneyland

Looks like we'll have to go back to Disneyland to see the new Alice section in the revamped Disney California Adventure.  This Alice is inspired by the weird, colorful word of Tim Burton's film that's re-imagined through the theme park lens.  It's a House of Cards nightclub that opens in the evening with arcade and a rock band headed up by a Mad Hatter channeling Mick Jagger and a White Rabbit dj channeling deadmau5. The caterpillar dance in channeling Pilobus dancers.  Alice is channeling Ashley Tisdale from High School the Musical. Check out the video here.  Maybe just a little squeaky clean, or just squeaky teen Disney, but still seems fun.

Alice in Disneyland