Faculty Directory
Rita Felski headshot
RF

Rita Felski

Professor
Editor
+1 (434) 924-6622
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Department: Department of English
Office location and address
232 Bryan Hall
201 Cabell Dr
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
Education
Ph.D. Monash University, 1987
M.A. Monash University, 1982
B.A. Cambridge University, 1979
Recent courses as listed in the Student Information System (SIS) Course Catalog:
ENCR 3400: Theories of Reading
Credits: 3
This course has two parts. The first half offers a survey of influential styles of critical reading, including psychoanalysis, structuralism, deconstruction, and several styles of political interpretation. The second half invites students to think theoretically yet sympathetically about affective dimensions of reader response such as identification, empathy, enchantment, and shock.
ENGL 3815: Theories of Reading
Credits: 3
This course has two parts. The first half offers a survey of influential styles of critical reading, including psychoanalysis, structuralism, deconstruction, and several styles of political interpretation. The second half invites students to think theoretically yet sympathetically about affective dimensions of reader response such as identification, empathy, enchantment, and shock.
ENCR 4500: Advanced Studies in Literary Criticism
Credits: 3
Limited enrollment. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.engl.virginia.edu/courses.
ENGL 4580: Seminar in Literary Criticism
Credits: 3
Limited enrollment. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.engl.virginia.edu/courses.
CPLT 8002: Comparative and Transnational Studies
Credits: 3
An advanced seminar that studies issues presented when considering literature in its transnational context, paying special attention to comparison. Focus on the modern and contemporary period, but we consider also earlier periods. 2 essays and final exam. This course is required for the Graduate Certificate in Comparative Literature. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.engl.virginia.edu/courses.
ENCR 8640: Critical Methods
Credits: 3
'Critical method' is the point at which general philosophical or political claims intersect with specific techniques of interpretation. The aim of this course is to give students a thorough introduction to current debates in the methodology of literary and cultural studies in ways that will aid their own future thinking and writing. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.engl.virginia.edu/courses.
ENGL 8993: Independent Study
Credits: 1–3
A single semester of independent study under faculty supervision for MA or PhD students in English doing intensive research on a subject not covered in the usual courses. Requires approval by a faculty member who has agreed to supervise a guided course of reading and substantial written exercise, a detailed outline of the research project, and authorization by the Director of Graduate Studies in English. Only one may be offered for Ph.D credit. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.engl.virginia.edu/courses.
ENGL 9580: Advanced Studies in Critical Theory
Credits: 3
Topics vary from year to year.
  • Guggenheim Fellowship  2010
  • SW Brooks Visiting Lecturer in English, University of Queensland 2010
  • Harry Lyman Hooker Distinguished Professor, McMaster University 2005
  • Research Fellow, Institut fur die Wissenschaften vom Menschen, Vienna 2000
  • George A. Miller Visiting Professor, University of Illinois, 1998
  • Australian Research Council Major Grant 1993
  • Fellowship, Commonwealth Center for Literary and Cultural Change, University of Virginia. 1991
  • Fellowship, Society for the Humanities, Cornell University 1989-1990
  • William Parker Riley Prize, best article in PMLA