After spending a year teaching English language and culture courses at the Westfällische-Wilhelms Universität Münster, Jeffrey returned to the University of Washington to continue his PhD. In the past year, he has taught courses at the WWU and UW, finished his prospectus, co-organized an interdisciplinary conference, advised the department’s German Club, and is currently participating in an ongoing graduate student workshop on Romanticism studies.
Jeffrey was able to continue remotely teaching a course on American culture, concentrating on the historical origins of contemporary social issues, at the WWU Münster while living in the United States. Concurrently, he has instructed 100 and 200 level German language classes at UW; an environment that often meshes with his role as graduate advisor to our German Club.
In addition to his teaching, Jeffrey has recently submitted his prospectus, titled “Tribal Terminology or the Language of Liberation: Tracing Volk from Herder to Büchner.” This project investigates the politicization of the term Volk in 19th century literature, concentrating on the disconnect between its prescribed revolutionary potential and the gradual loss of faith in the fruition of such ideals.
This project’s connection with Romanticism, particularly Romantic nationalism, allowed Jeffrey the opportunity to participate in the North American Society for the Study of Romanticism’s ongoing graduate student workshop. Although only just now starting, this group provides an effective room for the presentation and discussion of his research, as well as the chance to learn about ongoing projects in other literary disciplines.
Recently, Jeffrey co-organized an interdisciplinary graduate student conference with several of his peers. Titled Conceiving the (Un)Quiet Mind: Representations of Mental Health in Literature, Media, and Art, this conference was a mix of asynchronous presentations and live Zoom discussions. Keynoted by UW German Studies’ own Professor Richard Block, the two-day conference was a great success. With Richard’s excellent mentoring and commentary, all the graduate students involved came away with new ideas and perspectives.
Jeffrey is looking forward to completing his exams next quarter and continuing to work on exciting projects with his peers and mentors.
And the Bansleben Award in 2021 will go to... Jeffrey Jarzomb.