Nido R. Qubein School of Communication Judy Isaksen

Dr. Judy Isaksen – jisaksen@highpoint.edu

BA, MA, PhD – University of South Florida

Teaching areas and approach:  I teach within the Media and Popular Culture Studies track where we work from a humanistic, critical, and cultural studies perspective. Along with teaching media & pop culture, I also teach Women, Gender, & Culture; Hip-Hop Culture; Black American Voices: Stories and Sounds; Gender Speak; and Media Representations: Race, Class, Gender, and Beyond. In other words, all of my classes meet at the intersection of cultural texts and critical theory, and many of my courses are cross-listed with Sociology.

Research interests:  I’m deeply interested in systems of oppressions and privilege, difference and inclusivity, performance and identity politics in a variety of social categories, but primarily in race, gender, and gender identity.

Current research project or creative work:  The resistive works of young women who are loudly and proudly “Talking Back”!

Favorite quote:  “Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.” –Thich Nhat Hanh

Favorite novel:  This week?? Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Favorite movie:  Which genre? Any Spike Lee, any Almodóvar, most Tarrantino’s, and the tremendous women-produced documentary Women, War & Peace

Coolest thing you’ve done in the last few years:  18 miles of white-water rafting (class IV) down the Pacuare River, a virgin tropical rainforest in Costa Rica~~utterly heaven on earth and also scary as hell!!