Reflections on EJI Legacy Museum and Memorial for Peace and Justice

by Matthew Teutsch

Every semester, I try something new in my classroom. Recently, I’ve been working on decentering my courses in various ways, specifically through the use of active learning assignments. These involve assignments such as my archives project or creating more student centered discussion through the questions I pose in class. This summer, I taught a minimester course in early American literature. Essentially, we met 24 … Read More Reflections on EJI Legacy Museum and Memorial for Peace and Justice

June 19, 2018 + african american literature, american literature, attorney general, frederick douglass, immigration, jeff sessions, john fea, propaganda, romans 13, sarah huckabee sanders, slavery, william apess

“I play Monopoly with refugees”: Romans 13 and Immigration

by Matthew Teutsch

Last week, while speaking in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Attorney General Jeff Session referenced Romans 13 as he defended the administration’s policy of separating immigrant children from their families at the border. He said, “I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of government because God has ordained them for the purpose … Read More “I play Monopoly with refugees”: Romans 13 and Immigration

May 31, 2018 + christopher columbus, daniel webster, donald trump, early american literature, pilgrims, puritan, william apess

How Did Our Ancestors “Tame” a Continent?

by Matthew Teutsch

Last week, Donald Trump delivered the commencement address at the Naval Academy. There, he stated that “our ancestors tamed a continent,” and he followed this statement up by adding, “we are not going to apologize for America.” What does this mean? What does it mean to “tame” a continent? What does it mean to be so sure of your achievements that you do not … Read More How Did Our Ancestors “Tame” a Continent?

November 28, 2017 + african american literature, american literature, anne bradstreet, catharine maria sedgwick, early american literature, henry david thoreau, king philip, Literature, lydia maria child, mary rowlandson, native american literature, ralph waldo emerson, samson occom, sarah kemble knight, southern literature, sydney smith, walt whitman, william apess

Chronicling the Rise of A Distinctly American Literature in the Survey Course

by Matthew Teutsch

Every semester, I discuss how American authors sought to carve out their space in a early-nineteenth century world that countered European cultural and artistic influence. As we read throughout the semester, we encounter numerous authors who either explicitly or indirectly address the question, “How do we construct a distinctly American literature?” For me, this topic arises from the outset of the semester due to … Read More Chronicling the Rise of A Distinctly American Literature in the Survey Course

October 17, 2017 + american literature, david walker, early american literature, J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur, just teach one, king philip, Literature, lydia maria child, mary rowlandson, Rosa; or, American Genius and Education, samson occom, sarah kemble knight, theodore dwight, thomas jefferson, william apess

“Rosa” and The Formation of an American Literature

by Matthew Teutsch

At first, teaching Rosa, or American Genius and Education (1810) in an early American literature survey course seemed somewhat daunting. I frame my courses around conversations, typically beginning with David Walker and Thomas Jefferson then moving around through time and region back and forth from the colonial to the early nineteenth century. I do this to show students that even though these texts appear … Read More “Rosa” and The Formation of an American Literature

Interminable Rambling

Reflections on EJI Legacy Museum and Memorial for Peace and Justice

Category: william apess