spotlight on honors

  A DAY IN THE LIFE... STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING HONORS FACULTY NEWS PHOTOS

honors faculty

Dr. Darlene Hantzis

2012 Honors Faculty of the Year

  Dr. Darlene Hantzis, Honors Faculty

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Ph.D. Louisiana State University, Performance Studies (related areas in Rhetorical Theory and Feminist Theory)

M.A. Baylor University, Performance Studies (related areas in Rhetorical Theory and Literary Theory)

B.S. Indiana State University, English and Communication, with a minor in Women's Studies

RESEARCH INTERESTS

All of my research projects focus in some way on human beings as powerful cultural actors--subjects in the world.  I began a research program in Sri Lanka in 1993 and have worked through several projects featuring postcolonial South Asia through examinations of cultural dress as it signifies aspects of identity (gender, ethnicity, caste, class, religion), street theatre, insurrection, and astrology as a practice embedded in a majority-Buddhist culture.  I continue to research cultural texts here as well.  Currently, I am completing one project focused on the "new" woman police detective and one examining the language and social construct of "good hair."  I have published in the area of feminist theory, performance studies, media studies, and education  Most of my work addresses gender, race, sexuality, and class as crucial intersections of the human subject position.

  Dr. Darlene Hantzis, Honors Faculty  

HONORS BEGINNINGS

Well, of course I enrolled in honors classes as an undergraduate.  I have been fortunate to teach honors courses nearly every semester since I arrived at ISU as a professor in 1990.  I try to teach one seminar each semester and am enjoying the revised curriculum.

TYPICAL CLASSES TAUGHT

Recently, I created a seminar focused on Religion and Culture, as well as seminars focused on Civic Agency; The 2012 Presidental Campaign; Gender, Race, and Nation; When Culture Changed Everything, which examined 20th century social justice movements; and Introduction to the Great Works - Ten Texts That Shook the World.

ADVICE TO HONORS STUDENTS

Live in the interrogative position.