Anna Shechtman
Assistant Professor, Literatures in English
Academic focus:
Media studies; literary theory; American literature, film and television
Current research project:
My current book project traces the history of the "media" concept across American culture industries (journalism, museums, publishing, broadcasting, the university and Silicon Valley). I examine the social formations and technologies of production that have allowed "media" to incorporate — and perhaps even supersede — the categories of "art," "literature," "communication" and "culture" in the United States.
Previous positions:
- Klarman Fellow, Literatures in English, 2021-2024
Academic background:
- Ph.D., English literature, film and media studies, Yale University, 2020
- M.Phil., English literature, film and media studies, Yale University, 2017
- M.A., English literature, 2017
- BA., English literature and art history, Swarthmore College, 2013
Last book read:
“Sons and Lovers” by D.H. Lawrence — I'm in a Lawrence reading group with a friend this summer — and “The Question of Zion” by Jacqueline Rose
In your own time/when not working:
I'm writing crossword puzzles.
Courses you’re most looking forward to teaching:
Novel Technologies, which explores the history of the novel as it has assimilated or resisted the influence of newer communication technologies (telegraphy, cinema, tape recording, television and social media).
What most excites you about Cornell:
The students! As a Klarman fellow I had the opportunity to guest teach a few classes of the Introduction to Media Studies undergraduate course. I'm very excited to get back into the classroom full time.