Peter Swirski
Encyclopedia
Peter Swirski is a Canadian scholar and literary critic listed in Canadian Who's Who. Specialist in American literature and American Studies, he is the author of twelve books, including the National Book Award nominated Ars Americana, Ars Politica (2010) and the staple of popular culture studies
From Lowbrow to Nobrow (2005). His other prominent studies include American Utopia and Social Engineering (2011), Literature, Analytically Speaking (2010), and Of Literature and Knowledge (2007).
in Guangzhou, China, and was previously Honorary Professor of American Literature at the University of British Columbia
(UBC). He has written twelve books and almost a hundred articles on American literature, culture, history, politics, and society, as well as on American popular and “nobrow” culture and film. His research interests and publications also extend to interdisciplinary studies in literature and science, philosophy, aesthetics, and literary Darwinism (evolist). He is the world's foremost scholar on the late writer and philosopher, Stanislaw Lem
.
Born in Europe, in the 1980s he worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC
). Distinguishing himself as a University Scholar and Faculty Scholar, he obtained his doctorate summa cum laude from McGill University
in Montreal, Canada, in 1996. Subsequently he taught at the University of Toronto
, the University of Alberta
, and the University of Hong Kong
. In 2003 he was nationally honoured for his teaching in the annual Guide to Canadian Universities (Favourite Professor). For years he has also volunteered with children, in the early 1990s at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital and from 2005 in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay Social Centre and at the Kau Yan Kindergarten and Primary School where he held the honorary position of English Enrichment Program Director.
Swirski’s study of popular and "nobrow" cultures, From Lowbrow to Nobrow
(2005) has gone through several reprints and is by now a staple in popular culture studies, while his Ars Americana, Ars Politica (2010), nominated among others for the National Book Award, garnered enthusiastic reviews from a variety of reviewers, including Howard Zinn
and the Financial Times
.
Others
Popular culture studies
Popular culture studies is the academic discipline studying popular culture from a critical theory perspective. It is generally considered as a combination of communication studies and cultural studies....
From Lowbrow to Nobrow (2005). His other prominent studies include American Utopia and Social Engineering (2011), Literature, Analytically Speaking (2010), and Of Literature and Knowledge (2007).
Life and career
Peter Swirski is currently Professor and Research Director at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies (Finland) and Professor of American literature and culture at the Department of English , University of Missouri—St.Louis. He is also Honorary Professor in American Studies at Jinan UniversityJinan University
Jinan University is a public research and comprehensive university based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. It is one of the oldest universities established on mainland China tracing back to the Qing Empire...
in Guangzhou, China, and was previously Honorary Professor of American Literature at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
(UBC). He has written twelve books and almost a hundred articles on American literature, culture, history, politics, and society, as well as on American popular and “nobrow” culture and film. His research interests and publications also extend to interdisciplinary studies in literature and science, philosophy, aesthetics, and literary Darwinism (evolist). He is the world's foremost scholar on the late writer and philosopher, Stanislaw Lem
Stanislaw Lem
Stanisław Lem was a Polish writer of science fiction, philosophy and satire. He was named a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle. His books have been translated into 41 languages and have sold over 27 million copies. He is perhaps best known as the author of the 1961 novel Solaris, which has...
.
Born in Europe, in the 1980s he worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC
ICMC
ICMC may refer to:* International Catholic Migration Commission* International Computer Music Conference* The Indiana College Mathematics Competition...
). Distinguishing himself as a University Scholar and Faculty Scholar, he obtained his doctorate summa cum laude from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal, Canada, in 1996. Subsequently he taught at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, and the University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong is the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong. Its motto is "Sapientia et Virtus" in Latin, meaning "wisdom and virtue", and "" in Chinese...
. In 2003 he was nationally honoured for his teaching in the annual Guide to Canadian Universities (Favourite Professor). For years he has also volunteered with children, in the early 1990s at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital and from 2005 in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay Social Centre and at the Kau Yan Kindergarten and Primary School where he held the honorary position of English Enrichment Program Director.
Swirski’s study of popular and "nobrow" cultures, From Lowbrow to Nobrow
From Lowbrow to Nobrow
From Lowbrow to Nobrow is a book on literary culture written by Peter Swirski, professor of American literature and culture at the University of Missouri, St. Louis and Research Director at the prestigious Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies...
(2005) has gone through several reprints and is by now a staple in popular culture studies, while his Ars Americana, Ars Politica (2010), nominated among others for the National Book Award, garnered enthusiastic reviews from a variety of reviewers, including Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn was an American historian, academic, author, playwright, and social activist. Before and during his tenure as a political science professor at Boston University from 1964-88 he wrote more than 20 books, which included his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United...
and the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
.
Books
- The American Nobrow (forthcoming).
- Lemography: Lem In the Eyes of the World (2014)
- War on Errorism, or American Political Fictions (2014)
- Lem, Turing, Darwin: Explorations in Computer Literature, the Philosophy of Mind, and Cultural Evolution (2013)
- Lem--Polemics with Art and Science: Essays, Letters, Provocation (2012)
- American Utopia and Social Engineering in Literature, Social Thought, and Political History (2011)
- Ars Americana, Ars Politica: Partisan Expression in Contemporary American Literature and Culture (2010)
- Literature, Analytically Speaking: Explorations in the Theory of Interpretation, Analytic Aesthetics, and Evolution (Cognitive Approaches to Literature and Culture) (2010)
- I Sing the Body Politic: History as Prophecy in Contemporary American Literature (2009)
- Of Literature and Knowledge: Explorations in Narrative Thought Experiments, Evolution, and Game Theory (2007)
- All Roads Lead to the American City (2007)
- The Art and Science of Stanislaw Lem (2006)
- From Lowbrow to NobrowFrom Lowbrow to NobrowFrom Lowbrow to Nobrow is a book on literary culture written by Peter Swirski, professor of American literature and culture at the University of Missouri, St. Louis and Research Director at the prestigious Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies...
(2005) - Between Literature and Science: Poe, Lem, and Explorations in Aesthetics, Cognitive Science, and Literary Knowledge (2000)
- A Stanislaw Lem Reader (Rethinking Theory Series) (1997)
External links
Articles by Swirski- You-ropean Democracy or American Dumbocracy? in Helsinki TimesHelsinki TimesHelsinki Times is Finland’s only weekly newspaper published in English. The tabloid format newspaper is published on Thursdays with an average print run of 15,000 copies. It is on sale at bookstores and kiosks and is available on incoming Finnair flights to Helsinki...
- Dumb and Dumberer in Helsinki TimesHelsinki TimesHelsinki Times is Finland’s only weekly newspaper published in English. The tabloid format newspaper is published on Thursdays with an average print run of 15,000 copies. It is on sale at bookstores and kiosks and is available on incoming Finnair flights to Helsinki...
Others
- Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies
- Home page at UMSL
- Author's blurb on Words Without Borders
- "Entertaining troublemakers", HUB interviews Peter Swirski HUB 2-2011 p44-45
- European Television Interviews Peter Swirski