Whitney James Emerson
Short Curriculum Vitae
E-mail: wjemerson at gmail dot com
Research Interests include: Modern Chinese Theatre, Stage Combat, Directing, Historical European Avant-Garde Theatre.
EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Higher Education
5/2020 (Expected) Ph.D. in Theatre History, Theory, and Literature, Indiana University. Ph.D. Minor: East Asian Languages and Cultures.
Dissertation: Performing Source Texts at the Intersection of Culture and Location: Zuni Icosahedron and Avant-Garde Theatre in Hong Kong.
Completed comprehensive exams in Ancient, Pre-Modern, and Modern Global Theatre History, Theory, and Literature.
2013 M.A. Theatre Studies, University of Central Florida. Thesis: All of Chinese Literature Condensed, a play.
2008-2009 Independent Study of Chinese language, Suzhou University, China.
2007 B.A. Theatre Arts, Appalachian State University. Minor: Chinese language.
Academic Positions
2014-Present Associate Instructor, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
Courses Taught
Introduction to Theatre — Instructor of Record (5 sections over 5 semesters)
This course covers a broad range of topics related to theatre, such as its origins, social function, and the roles of the actor, director, designer, playwright, and producer. I focused on teaching plot structure and incorporated a sampling of global plays as reading texts. Co-taught with other Ph.D. students, I was responsible for creating assignments and activities, delivering lectures, and grading student work.
Script Analysis — Instructor of Record (5 sections over 5 semesters)
Encouraged to develop techniques for analyzing play scripts, students study a selection of world drama with a focus on dramatic structure, historical performance conditions, and genre. I designed the syllabus and assignments to foster a discussion-and-writing-based pedagogy, so students could reach beyond the surface level of texts and make connections between plays and theories. Students are expected to apply the critical thinking skills acquired both in the roles of practitioners and audience members.
Acting I for Non-Majors — Instructor of Record (1 section)
Taken by students from across the university, the course covers the basics of Stanislavski-based realistic acting. Students worked on open scenes, duet scenes from Dinner With Friends or Stop Kiss , and finally a realistic monologue of their own choosing.
Public Oral Communication — Instructor of Record (4 sections over 2 semesters)
This course teaches rhetoric organization, source assessment, and speech delivery as a degree requirement for students of College of Arts and Sciences. Students practiced public speaking on a single issue of social import in three styles: invitational, sympathetic, and transformational.
Stage Combat — Assistant Instructor (1 section)
Assisted in the instruction of SAFD stage combat techniques.
Martial Arts for Stage and Film — Assistant Instructor (1 section)
Assisted in the instruction of SAFD techniques geared toward film combat.
Teaching Interests
Introduction to Theatre, Theatre History (Ancient to Modern), Public Speaking, Script Analysis, Acting (Intro to Advanced), Movement for the Stage, Stage Combat (Intro to Advanced), Asian Theatre, World Theatre, Theories of the Theatre, Performance Studies, Directing (Intro to Advanced)
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
Published Articles
Journal Article “Boosting Creativity Within the Limits: Choreographing Silence and Sound in Heathers: The Musical” The Fight Master, Spring 2019.
Articles under Consideration
Journal article “Enter, Fighting a Lion: Female-Enacted Violence in Flaminio Scala’s Alvida” Under consideration at the Journal for Early Modern Cultural Studies.
Articles in Progress
Journal article “Lao She’s Past Future of the Present: Cat Land in Beijing”
Journal article “East Wing, West Wing: A Mediatized Voice for Hong Kong”
Curation
2014 Researched, selected, and co-curated “Still/Moving,” an Indonesian Wayang Kulit and Wayang Golek puppet exhibit at the Mathers Museum of World Culture in Bloomington, IN.
Book Reviews
Three short book reviews for TDR: More Books on Noh theatre, Chinese playwright and intellectual Tian Han, and performances of Eva Peron in Argentina. TDR/The Drama Review Vol. 60, No. 3, Fall 2016.
Book review of City of the Dead and Song of the Night by Gao Xingjian. Asian Theatre Journal Vol. 33, No. 1, Spring 2016.
Book review of Theatre: A Very Short Introduction by Marvin Carlson. Texas Theatre Journal Vol. 12, 2016.
Double book review of Theatre & Museums by Susan Bennett, and Theatre & Architecture by Juliet Rufford. Theatre Topics Vol. 25, No. 2, June 2015.
Unpublished Plays
All of Chinese Literature Condensed, a play written to educate and entertain.
Other Conference Participation/Internship
2018 Association for Asian Performance ATHE Pre-Conference.
2018 The Allegheny Alley Fight SAFD Stage Combat Workshop Intern.
2017 The Tourist Trap SAFD Stage Combat Workshop Intern.
2015 Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference.
2015 Indiana University Preparing Future Faculty Conference .
2014 Association for Asian Performance ATHE Pre-Conference.
2014 The Tourist Trap SAFD Stage Combat Workshop.
2013 Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference.
2013 Montford Park Players Summer Dramaturge Internship.
2013 Philadelphia Theatre Research Symposium.
STAGE COMBAT AND FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
2018 Certified Advanced Actor Combatant by the SAFD.
2018 Basic Pass in Sword & Shield by the SAFD.
2018 Recommended Pass in Single Sword, Unarmed, Broadsword, and Knife by the SAFD.
2017 Certified Actor Combatant by the SAFD.
2017 Basic Pass in Unarmed and Rapier and Dagger by the SAFD.
2016 Recommended Pass in Single Sword by the SAFD.
2016 Basic Pass in Knife by the SAFD.
2015 Recommended Pass in Rapier & Dagger by the SAFD.
2015 Basic Pass in Sword & Shield by the SAFD.
UNIVERSITY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
2018-2019 Dramaturg Search Committee Member, IU Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance.
2017-2018 Association for Research in Theatre at IU (ART@IU) President.
2015-2017 IU Graduate and Professional Student Government Representative for the Department of Theatre and Drama and Contemporary Dance and served on the Programming Committee.
2016-2017 Association for Research in Theatre at IU (ART@IU) Vice-President.
2015-2018 Association for Asian Performance Graduate Student representative.
2014-2016 Association for Research in Theatre at IU (ART@IU) Historian.
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
- Dr. Jennifer Goodlander, Associate Professor of Theatre and Comparative Literature. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
- Dr. Ronald Wainscott, Professor of Theatre. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
- Dr. Eleanor Owicki, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
- Dr. Julia Listengarten, Professor of Theatre. University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.