M.A. University of Alberta, Comparative Literature, 2008
B.A. Taylor University College, General Studies, 2003
Certificate, NAIT, Multimedia Developer, 2003
B.R. North American Baptist College, Religious Studies, 1998
Teaching
GRANT MACEWAN COLLEGE
English 111 - Communications: Fall 2008
THE KING'S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
English 204 - Introduction to English Literature: Fall 2008
English 205 - Introduction to English Literature: Winter 2007
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
Lectures:
“Five Keys To Faerie: Towards a Theory of Fairy Tale Film” C LIT 343, April 2, 2008.
“Steampunk: Neo Victorian Science Fiction” C LIT 342, February 28, 2008.
“Through a Mirror Shade Darkly: The Subtle Sublime of Cyberpunk” C LIT 342, February 26, 2008.
Marking
History 207: Europe in the Central Middle Ages: Winter 2008
Religion 101: Religions of the World: 2007-2008
Teaching Assistant
History 207: Europe in the Central Middle Ages – Winter 2007
Religion 200: Introduction to Religious Studies – Fall 2006
GURU DIGITAL ARTS COLLEGE
Webcamp: Introduction to Photoshop and Dreamweaver: Summer 2006
SCHOLARSHIPS, HONORS & AWARDS
Provost Doctoral Entrance Award, 2008
Alberta Advanced Education Graduate Student Scholarship, 2008
Walter H John's Graduate Fellowship, 2007-2008
Senate and Faculty of Graduate Studies Best Presentation, “All Roads Lead to U”, 2007
SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship, Master’s, 2007-2008
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Associate Pastor, Holyrood Mennonite Church 2002-2007
Staff Pastor, Greenbay Bible Camp 2002
Youth Care Worker, Robina Baker Elementary School 2001-2002
Leadership Mentor, The Gathering 1998-2002
Professional Musician – 1993-1999
CURRENT RESEARCH
Five Keys to Faerie: Toward a Theory of Fairy Tale Film
Jack Zipes, prominent scholar of fairy tales and folklore, makes the statement that “we know immediately that a particular film is a fairy tale when we see it” (1), but is this necessarily the case given the breadth of inclusivity the academic community has afforded the onscreen fairy tale? Beyond the obvious candidates of Disney’s animated canon, or live-action films such as Stardust and Princess Bride, bursting as they are with familiar fairy tale tropes and motifs, fairy tale scholarship has included such unlikely additions as Stephen King’s Carrie, suspense-thriller Freeway, and comic-book adaptation The X-Men. What are the criteria for making such an evaluation? Is it simply a matter of adapting an old tale and updating it? Or is there something more to what one should consider a fairy tale film? In the end, do we really immediately recognize a fairy tale film when we see it?
This research project suggests five thematic elements which are found individually in many film genres, but when combined, indicate that the film in question is likely of the fairy tale tradition. Using Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth as a model case study which utilizes these five elements harmoniously, the project posits a possible taxonomical and evaluative matrix for determining the classification of films belonging to the fairy tale tradition.
Zipes, Jack. “Towards a Theory of the Fairy-Tale Film: The Case of Pinocchio” The Lion and the Unicorn 20 (1996): 1-24.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Neo-Victorian Literature/Steampunk
Fairy-tales and Folklore
Norse Mythology
Biblical Literature
The Tradition of the Heroic Epic
Science Fiction,
Cyberpunk
Alternate History
Fantasy Literature
Film Studies
Dystopic Literature
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Introductory English
European Literary Tradition
Popular Literature and Culture
Medieval Literature
Science Fiction
Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Children’s Literature and Culture
Introduction to Film Analysis
Biblical Literature
The Fantastic in Literature
Introduction to Religious Studies
World Religions
Norse Mythology
Shakespeare
RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS
REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
"Matthew's Nativity Narrative from a Mythic Perspective." Axis Mundi. University of Alberta, Edmonton. 2004. (19 pages) LINK
OTHER REFEREED CONTRIBUTIONS
"Faerie in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction: Digital Malleability and the Online Oral Tradition" PopPrint. University of Alberta, Edmonton. 28 August 2008.
“Five Keys to Faerie: Towards a Theory of Fairy Tale Film.” Coordinates of Comparison. University of Alberta, Edmonton. 22 March 2008.
“Transformational Trails; Taking the Long/Wrong? Way Round.” All Roads Lead To U. Office of the Senate. University of Alberta, Edmonton. 28 Sept. 2007.
"Getting Real in Virtual Reality." Fourth Annual Symposium in Religious Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton. April 2007.
"World Tree." Research in Religious Studies Conference. University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge. 7 May 2005.
NON-REFEREED CONTRIBUTIONS
“Changing my Religion.” Christian Weekly. Aug. 15 (2008) 1-5.
“Changing my Religion.” Unlimited Magazine. January/February (2008) 50-54.
"Counter-consumer Culture." Out of the Ooze. Spencer Burke, ed. Colorado Springs: Navpress, 2007. 87-96.
Panel Participant in Top Story CTS Edmonton. October 2007-March 2008.
"Shared Fantasy: Using Fantasy Roleplaying in the Classroom." Greater Edmonton Teacher's Conference, GETCA. Shaw Convention Centre. 3 Mar. 2006.
"Blink and You'll Miss It." Youthworker Journal 21. (2005) 22-25.
“Confessions of a 21st Century Theologian: Room Enough For A Crisis of Faith.” Youthworker Journal, 21. (2005): 36-42.
