Work-in-Progress (WiP) Series
The Center for American Studies at the University of Bucharest is happy to organize a work-in-progress series in which our M.A. students present their on-going research and share their ideas with the academic community at large.
Work-in-Progress Series (Academic Year: 2023-2024)
19 April 2024, 6 to 8 pm (online via google meet) WiP#3: Andrada Spanu and Teodora Leon (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), Probing Gender and Privilege in American Culture [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Andrada Spanu: Unmasking Authenticity: A Comparative Analysis of Elite and Non-Elite Lives in Contemporary Media
Abstract: This presentation aims to analyze two different social environments, that of people with high social status and that of people with lower social status, more precisely, details from the lives of elites and average people. My research aims to show that although elites are considered privileged in some aspects, such as financial status and the degree of influence they have over other people and society in general, when it comes to living an authentic life and making their own decisions, things are not as easy as we might imagine. Although these things are true for the majority of elites, my research will focus on examples and situations involving representatives of the LGBTQ+ community. Even though it may seem like they live a simple life, most do not dare or are not allowed to portray themselves to the world as they truly are, for fear of damaging their social image and pression from families. For a better understanding of the subject and to highlight the theme, throughout the paper, I will compare two romantic comedies entitled Red White and Royal Blue(2023) and Fire Island (2022). By comparing the two films, I will discuss themes such as identity, the importance of image in society, tradition, psychological issues, social status, with the aim of showing that the process of achieving, accepting, and living as a queer elite can be just as difficult or even more complicated than that of a queer average person.
Teodora Leon: Facets of Femininity in Greta Gerwig’s Filmography – A Feminist Exploration
Abstract: My presentation will pinpoint an underlying thread in Greta Gerwig’s movies, namely the way in which the director interestingly chooses to resort to elements from the past and reintroduce them in the present, so as to envision possible futures. Through her films – Lady Bird (2017), Little Women (2019) and Barbie (2023) – Gerwig manages to enhance the importance of the female gaze in order to bring various facets of womanhood to the forefront. In this cinematic universe, the overlap of concepts from more waves of feminism reveals the fact that it might actually be inevitable for younger women to seek out answers from older generations (literal or symbolic “mothers,” in particular). For Gerwig’s characters, it is a matter of learning that it is essential not only to accept the lingering remnants of the past, but also embrace themselves as bundles of contradictions, while establishing where their potential lies.
29 March 2024, 6 to 8 pm (online via google meet) WiP#2: Alexandra Neculai and Laura Ungureanu (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), Genocide and Minority Traumas in American Literature and Culture [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Alexandra Neculai: Hidden Conflicts Between Body and Mind: the Aftereffects of Genocide Trauma in Elie Wiesel’s Night Trilogy
Abstract: In this presentation I zero in on some of the subtle threads and details that lead to the hidden conflicts between the body and the mind caused by genocide trauma. Therefore, the focus is going to be on the experience of Holocaust survivors as represented in Elie Wiesel's trilogy composed of Night (a memoir first published in 1956), Dawn (published 5 years later, in 1961), and Day (initially titled The Accident and which appeared in 1962). In order to reach this goal and get a clearer view of the author’s conflicts, I will apply an anthropological perspective; more precisely, I am going to make a lot of references to the medical branch of anthropology, and I will also include certain elements of holism.
Ungureanu Laura: Interrogating Normalcy in The Daytime Television Shows Acces Direct and Dr. Phil: How Popular Culture Reinforces Minority Trauma and Oppression
Abstract: My dissertation aims to examine the intricate ways in which popular culture contributes to the normalization of trauma directed at minorities, perpetuating cycles of oppression and marginalization. The study will pursue a close examination of two of the most beloved daytime shows from Romania and the United States, Acces Direct and Dr. Phil. Prepare to unravel the layers of societal norms and cultural conditioning as I will dissect iconic phrases from these shows, such as the shocking exchange on Acces Direct between the presenter and a guest, about an aunt's trip to Germany and the infamous "Cash me outside, how about that" line from Dr. Phil. Come witness firsthand the power of popular culture in shaping attitudes and behaviors!
15 March 2024, 6 to 8 pm (online via google meet) WiP#1: Andreea Manolache and Andrei Neatu (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), Features of Mysticism, Sci-Fi and Fantasy in American Culture [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Andreea Manolache: Mysticism and Cultural Manifesto. African-American identity in the Works of Jean-Michel Basquiat
Abstract: Dazzling and thought-provoking, the work of the 1980s ‘radiant child’ Jean-Michel Basquiat holds important instances of African heritage at play in the late 20th century American society. From his artistic beginnings as part of the SAMO duo and remarkable implications in the graffiti culture, to his later development of painting style, association with Andy Warhol and famous art exhibitions, Basquiat is well-known for his combinations of text and drawing, words and symbols, that become a single unit in which one can find several encoded messages. By deciphering these messages, we can observe a discourse of power, challenges, and mysticism attributed to African-American identity. The aim of my presentation is to break Basquiat’s code and read his pieces of art through the lenses of identity studies, delving into the influence that his African ancestry holds as well as into the social and cultural context that shaped his work. The African warrior, African spirituality, socio-political struggles of African-Americans are some points of focus that my presentation shall explore.
Andrei Neatu: An Interdisciplinary Look at Sci-Fi and Fantasy Tropes in Video Games
Abstract: This presentation will concern the world-building and implicit rhetorical content of the two primary sources,The Mass Effect and Dragon Age video game trilogies, through the lens of gender, sexuality and race studies. The main questions I will address are: Does the narrative challenge or reinforce hegemonic structures present in our own reality? In which way does the reality of the primary sources mirror (in the case of hegemonic reinforcement) or subverts our own?
Work-in-Progress Series (Academic Year: 2022-2023)
23 May 2023, 6 to 8 pm (online via google meet) WiP#6: George Chircu and Andrei Gheorghe (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), Race, Sports and Music in Contemporary U.S. [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
George Chircu: Racism in the World of Sport (FIFA and NBA)
Abstract: My MA paper focuses on racist events that have happened throughout the years in the world of sport. The catalyst for my choice is given by the online racist abuse black England players endured after the 2020 EURO final against Italy, but I’ll also touch upon racism in NBA. Moreover, the fact that FIFA’s official motto is “no to racism” indicates that racism heavily affected this sport and action was required. In order to get to the root of the issue and see how the past has heavily influenced the present, I’ll combine critical race theory with a history-based approach. Despite the fact that there are no more blatant racist laws, racism is deeply embedded in societies after centuries where it was state-sponsored all around the world. This is what I will focus on in chapter 1. In the second chapter I’ll present the hardships black players have had to endure due to discrimination from staff members, fans, or even other players, since the beginning of the 20th century. In the third chapter, I’ll focus on NBA and how racism affected and still does a sport where the majority of the participants are black. Similarly to the first chapter, I’ll adopt a history-centered approach given that it is necessary to see how this phenomenon affected the society through the years, from how the game was played during the era of segregation to how the Association has supported the BLM movement.
Andrei Gheorghe: Breaching the Sexist Barrier of Hip-Hop Through the Lens of Black Feminism
Abstract: Hip-Hop has always been a genre dominated by men and toxic masculinity. This has led to various stereotypical and sexist portrayals regarding women which can be found especially in the “gangsta” hip-hop of the 1980s and 1990s. In my dissertation, I aim to show how black feminism blended with hip-hop in order to combat, subvert and dismantle sexism and its stereotypes towards women, more specifically African-American women. One of the most unique aspects of black feminism is that of unity, which is prevalent in bell hooks’ and other scholars’ works. Rather than portraying men as their enemy, through the idea of unity, African-American feminists preach for a tight communion between black men and women, in order to stand up against sexism. This is also revealed by two of the main artists I analyze, Queen Latifah with “U.N.I.T.Y.” and Lauryn Hill with “Doo Wop (That Thing).” Another aspect I focus on is that of putting women and the female body at the forefront in a genre traditionally known for disregarding them. I find that the message is twice as powerful when it comes to such an unequal playing field. In this regard, it is quite interesting how hip-hop from a space of hostility becomes a space of protest. Queen Latifah’s “Ladies First” proves this extremely well. A few songs and theirmain themes constitute the subject of my analysis. I focus on other aspects as well, such as the racial dimension or Hip-Hop Feminism as a genre in itself. All of these come together in order to show how Hip-Hop becomes a space of protest for African-American women, a space in which stereotypes are subverted and sexism is opposed and criticized.
25 April 2023, 6 to 8 pm (online via google meet) WiP#5: Ruxandra-Bianca Radu, Adrian Mîţă and Mihaela Tone (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), Gender Struggles and Ethical Issues in U.S. Popular Culture [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Ruxandra-Bianca Radu: Visual Representations of Anne Frank. The Construction and Deconstruction of a Holocaust Icon Figure
Abstract: Many visual representations have been created over time as a means of offering the public a glimpse in the life of Anne Frank. As an icon figure of the Holocaust, her experiences before, as well as during the Second World War, serve for the public as a mirror for that period of time in regard to the Jewish community. As a result, many were interested in the manner in which she viewed the world and how she navigated through it. Do to the investment of several people, several perspectives from which her story is told emerged and thus, various portrayals of Anne Frank have been depicted. The main focus of my paper is to look at certain mediums in which Anne Frank has been represented – namely, cinematography and literature – and analyze the accuracy of such images by also looking at her own diary. A major issue to examine is the elimination of certain aspects that represent one core feature on which her personality is based in one medium representation and why such an approach is favored instead of preserving them.
Adrian Mîţă: The Moral Values of the Spider-Man Universe. Morality's Dual Mask of Spider-Man and Peter Parker
Abstract: My dissertation paper focuses on the adaptations of Spider-Man, along with its main villains and mentor-figures. Although the topic can be rather long and the analysis difficult because of the almost sixty-year-old period of existence, the aspects I have chosen to focus on are from the movie adaptations from 2002 to 2021. Superhero characters have had a fascinating history of being pieces of war propaganda, from Superman to Daredevil. Spider-Man first appeared in 1962 and has offered a deep representation of morality. Morality is seen through the duality of Spider-Man and Peter Parker, different types with different actions about what is considered morally just. The creation of this morality is built around several villains, such as Doctor Octopus or the Lizard. These characters are the opposite of morality, which in turn is represented by characters like Uncle Ben or Tony Stark. It is, of course, interesting to look at how each of them represents the in-betweenness of the moral and the immoral: for example, Tony Stark recruits Spider-Man to be an Avenger, yet his actions, despite their moral righteousness on a larger scale, put in danger the life of a teenager. The core of this paper revolves around the idea that morality also builds a new type of masculinity, as Spider-Man himself is created around the idea of agility rather than extreme physical prowess. The in-between space of the moral and theimmoral will be analyzed through the lenses of Felicia Hardy a comic book character that best highlights how one’s actions are moral from a certain perspective (not always for the greater good, but for one’s own benefit). Felicia is also one of the few villains that is built around femininity. As such, the idea that morality is dual will be brought together with the idea of the feminine-masculine contrast. Overall, this paper will not focus on one single movie, but on multiple characters from multiple movies that create an intricate image of a new, moral masculinity.
Mihaela Tone: Queering the Short Story: Reading the Feminine and the Female Body in Contemporary Short Fiction
Abstract: Originally thought of as exclusively male – as was the case for the entirety of literature –, the female-authored short story was long relegated to the margins, or rather altogether overlooked in the studies of the genre. Throughout the ages, however, in a manner that closely resembles that in which the Gothic and its devices have been appropriated by the ex-centric and the alienated, the short story, too, has been inherently minoritarian, as it “has offered itself to losers and loners, exiles, women, black-writers have not been part of the ruling narrative or epistemological/experiential framework of their society” (Hanson 2-3). Against this historical background, and while ascribing to it this specific function of voicing the experiences of the disenfranchised individual, the focal point of my dissertation lies on contemporary embodiments of the female-authored short story which continue in the vein of what scholars have identified to be one of the major employments of the genre. Focusing, then, on subversive narratives in the form of the short story, my dissertation looks at (but is not limited to) Kathryn Harlan’s Fruiting Bodies: Stories with the purpose of exploring the “reconfiguration” of the female body, as it intersects with its additional status as a queer body; my reading aims to present the body as self-sufficient, as productive in its queerness, thus championing for an interpretation of the eponymous story as proposing that an “abnormal”/abject body (symbolically, that is, the queer body) should be celebrated not in spite of, but because of its singularities. My reading employs a feminist appropriation of Julia Kristeva’s conceptualization of the “abject,” which is used to showcase the process of reclaiming, protecting and employing the functions of the “unnatural” lesbian body’s difference.
28 March 2023, 6 to 8 pm (online via google meet) WiP#4: Rodica Dumitru and Mirela Lazar (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), “American Views of Romania” [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Rodica Dumitru: Representations of Romanian Post-communism from the American Perspective
Abstract: My dissertation will focus on two important works, In Europe’s Shadow by Robert D Kaplan and The Hole in the Flag - A Romanian Exile’s Story of Return and Revolution by Andrei Codrescu. The aim for this paper is to look at how Romanian post-communism is represented from an American perspective. The two authors have a different approach regarding the problem of the image of post-communism. Robert D Kaplan discusses the problems of communism and the changes that were made after the fall of communism from the American perspective, which can be considered an objective approach, while Andrei Codrescu talks from his own personal experience during his visit in Romania after the fall of communism. In my paper I am interested to observe and analyse how the two authors try to shape the image of Romania after this change in politics. The aspects that the term post-communism refers to are the way people try to continue their activities without the fear that Securitate is following them, the surprise that all those people who left during communism were considered traitors while now at their return they were seen as heroes, a fact which represented a huge change of perspective. The purpose of my final project is to raise awareness to the effects that communism has had on people’s lives and to present the way in which the transition to democracy that took place in our country was perceived by the Americans.
Mirela Lazar: US Perspectives of Romania in Modern Times
Abstract: It is known that there always was a big difference in culture, mentality, education, people's ways of living, and so on between Eastern Europe and the West (Western Europe and the United States). Generally, Eastern Europe was seen as the weaker side of Europe, sometimes even compared with "the third world countries". The people, especially intellectuals, who traveled from Western Europe or the United States to Eastern Europe had many different opinions about it. Some of them were negatively impressed by the whole Eastern European atmosphere (like the cultural differences, the lack of modernity, and the presence of the peasants), which was a feature of a society that was behind compared with the Western part of the world. But the other side of the travelers were fascinated with the Eastern European countries because these countries made them feel like they were traveling back in time in a romanticized atmosphere created by the countryside and the peasants where they could run away from the problems they had in the West. Inspired by these differences between Eastern Europe and Western Europe and the United States, I would like to focus in my dissertation paper on the views of the West on Eastern Europe and particularly Romania in modern times.
7 March 2023, 6 to 8 pm (online via google meet) WiP#3: Teodora Cinca and Andreea Alina Visterneanu (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), “Dealing with Trauma through writing in Asian American literature of refugees” [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Teodora Cinca: Trauma and Anger of Refugees in Eastern Asian-American Literature
Abstract: My dissertation will focus on two important Asian-American works, ReJane by Patricia Park and The Girl with Seven Names by Hyoenseo Lee, which is more of an autobiographical account. Noting the foregrounding and popularity of Eastern Asian literature and of Asian Americans writers winning numerous awards, the interest in Korean and Vietnamese writers and the renewed interest in the link between the two histories have been of great importance in terms of raising awareness and offering help as more and more people discover the realities of a brutal regime, and also of a broken life, torn apart from the constant fear and lack of support and understanding. What these two narratives share is how each character has her own perception of what is like to be or feel like a refugee and manage to overcome this stigma, the latter author actually being one, her story knowing international fame. On the other hand, Re Jane tends to also have a ‘former’ self, which does not belong in the category of the refugee, but more of the orphan and how that traumatic memory keeps affecting her relationships; a change of continents needs to happen for her to realize that. The critical background I will provide throughout my paper is dealing with refugees and displaced people, linked to Eastern Asia decades ago, specifically the Korean War. The purpose of my final project is to raise awareness that even nowadays, refugees are all over the world and struggle either to go back to their country, even if that means risking death, or to search for better living conditions, outside the war zone (see Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan). It is important to mention also more modern events or writers that are constantly shaping the category ‘refugee’, often mixed up with ‘immigrant’. Not only trauma is present in these novels, but we see how the two characters share anger, which may derive from all sorts of situations and experiences, but mostly it comes from the outside society, which sometimes might be unfair to this particular group of people.
Andreea Alina Visterneanu: Transgenerational Trauma in Vietnamese American Literature from a Male Perspective
Abstract: The Vietnam War, which is also called by the Vietnamese the American War, has left many wounds behind. The aim for this paper is to look at how transgenerational trauma manifests itself in literature, respectively in Viet Than Nguyen’s and Ocean Vuong’s works. The two authors have a different relationship with the war and post-war period, since only Nguyen was in born during it. Their relationship with their community and history itself has been shaped by war, so for this study I am interested to observe and analyze how they try to undo the effects. The term transgenerational trauma is being used as an umbrella term, because the topics of discussion under it will follow: diasporic displacement, identity loss and historical amnesia. The topic of imperialism will also be brought up when discussing these issues, due to how much the American Dream has been pushed onto each generation of Vietnamese Americans. The feeling of anger in Asian American writing is expressed differently in the works of these authors, one resorting to short stories and an essay, meanwhile the other to poetry more often than prose. The ways in which Vietnamese Americans had to deal with the aftermath of war was very much influenced by Americans that either tried to silence them or to rewrite history to make themselves look better. In conclusion, these two authors battle with their struggles differently in their writing and I want to discuss and analyze exactly what makes them different and yet also very similar.
17 January 2023, 6 to 8 p.m. (online via google meet) WiP#2: Teodora Florea and Patricia Cătănoiu (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), "Representations of Communism and Undocumented Migration in Contemporary American Culture" [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Teodora Florea: Reconstructing Communism in Memoirs by Romanian American Women Writers (2010-2022)
Abstract: This presentation aims to explore one of the major questions at the heart of my dissertation: what type of memoirs were published by Romanian American women writers in the last decade? To this purpose, I will zoom in on a particularly productive strand of this genre, using as case studies four memoirs by Domnica Rădulescu, Carmen Bugan, Aura Imbarus, and Virginia Prodan, which describe their authors' experience (childhood/ teenage years) of having lived under communism (Romania in the 1970s/1980s) and then having moved to the U.S. (as adults/young persons). The more specific questions to be investigated are the following: why still write about communism 20/30 years after its fall? How do these memoirs reconstruct communist Romania? An answer can be drawn from each of the memoirs, by working with a framework that considers the larger contexts in which the books were published (their explicit/implicit purposes; intended audiences; the diasporic status of the authors etc.).
Patricia Cătănoiu: Representations of Undocumented Migrants in Recent US Theatre and Film
Abstract: Amongst the most prominent mediums of representation, theatre and film have managed to construct nuanced repertoires of depictions and portrayals of undocumentedness. As it pertains to the larger sphere of crisis representation and falls under impactful current socio-political engagement, the undocumented status has gained paramount interest especially during the latest US administration and its treatment of immigration law. Taking a closer look into a handful of TV series, theatre plays, independent shorts and political documentaries targeting the issue of being undocumented, my purpose is to highlight the mission lying at the core of such socially engaged pieces of media, envisioning and transposing experiences of liminality and marginalization, in view of giving a voice to the voiceless. A major topic approached in this presentation is the political discourse in which undocumented immigrants are key actors on a precarious scene framed by “the construction of illegality by law” (Gillot-Assayag 1). Special focus will be laid on the impact of the DACA policy passed by former President Barack Obama. Moreover, I will discuss the issues portrayed by the characters, whether of economic, educational or social background, with an implied two-fold aim of considering both the reason for immigration and the hardships encountered in the US while attempting to pursue the American Dream.
6 December 2022, 6 to 8 p.m. (online via google meet) WiP#1: Alexandra-Diana Ilie and Tudor-Constantin Truță (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), "Contemporary Communication and Visionary Endeavors" [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Alexandra-Diana Ilie: Social Media Platforms and their Impact on Contemporary Reading Practices: An Analysis of the BookTube and BookTok Communities
Abstract: Social-media has always been an important factor in the development of social and cultural spaces and the aim of this presentation is to discuss and analyze how social-media platforms, especially YouTube and TikTok, helped influence teenagers and young adults into reading and trend-setting in the reading community by discussing different books and book series, as well as offering recommendations in order to attract new readers through visual content. In this sense, it is important to discuss the concept of social-media as a whole and its impact on teenagers and young adults and especially what type of content is appealing to them, regarding reading and recommending books. Furthermore, it is also essential to analyze what type of books became popular on social-media platforms and why content creators who focus on this type of content, have become so popular through TikTok, a platform that is tailored for the Gen Z audience for its fast-paced and easy access. Some popular titles that went viral on social-media are also worth analyzing from a social point of view in order to see what literary genres and themes attract new readers and why social-media plays a key role in this phenomenon.
Tudor-Constantin Truță: Russian Cosmism and its Role as a Precursor to Transhumanism: Forging the Posthumanist Ideology of Tomorrow
Abstract: The Russian Cosmism philosophy and movement has received little attention compared to its modern and well-established counterparts of Transhumanism and Posthumanism. Yet the fact remains that Russian Cosmism and the Transhumanist philosophy of the Anglosphere are two very similar schools of thought in practice, differing only when it comes to method. By employing a comparative method, I will attempt to bring these two philosophies together – highlighting their similarities and bridging their differences. This presentation will link together the two cultural paradigms (Western – Anglo-Saxon; Eastern-European / Asian – Russian). Further down the line, the complementary elements of both philosophies will be merged into one clear definition of Transhumanism/Posthumanism, the ultimate goal of which will be to outline an ideal but culturally, scientifically and socially sound ideology of tomorrow, by employing primarily the fundamental tropes of transhumanist theory: human-enhancement technologies as an imperative for the entire species in an attempt to shatter the barriers of binary thought and push humanity into a posthuman future.
Work-in-Progress Series (Academic Year: 2020-2021)
13 May 2021, 6 to 8 p.m. (online via zoom) WiP#5: Monica Matei (2nd year American Studies M.A. student), "Instances of Toxic Masculinity in How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)" [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
23 April 2021, 12 to 2 p.m. (online via zoom) WiP#4: Bianca Kele (2nd year American Studies M.A. student), "Media Representations of Black Crime in American Society" [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
26 March 2021, 12 to 2 p.m. (online via zoom) WiP#3: Oana Ciobanu and Ioana Hingu (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), "Media Representations of Characters that Break the Mold – Kevin Wendell Crumb in Split (2016) and Amy Dunne in Gone Girl (2014)" [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
25 February 2021, 2 p.m. (online via zoom) WiP#2: Valentina Militaru and Diana Alupoae (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), "Female Figures Crossing Borders (Claudia in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Bride in Morrison's God Help the Child & Martha Gellhorn)" [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
16 November 2020, 2 p.m. (online via zoom) WiP#1: Răzvan Bociu (2nd year American Studies student), "Genocide: Extinct or Extant?" [if you want to attend the event, please contact Dana Mihailescu at dana.mihailescu@lls.unibuc.ro]
Work-in-Progress Series (Academic Year: 2019-2020)
19 November 2019, 6 p.m. (Room 4) WiP#1: Cristina Frunză, Bianca Stoian (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), “‘Poets’ from Other Planets: Postwar Trauma in Theodore Roethke's and Kurt Vonnegut's Works”
10 December 2019, 6 p.m. (Room 4) WiP#2: Miruna Cozma, David Dumitriu (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), “Countercultures of Subversion. A Look on how Hardcore Punk and Black Metal Have Attempted to Subvert Mainstream or Popular Beliefs and Idea(l)s”
21 January 2020, 6 p.m. (Room 4) WiP#3: George Guţă, Teodor Panait (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), “American Television: The Cultural Influence of Popular Media on Ethnic and National Stereotypes”
27 February 2020, 6 p.m. (Room 4) WiP#4: Daniel Codrean, Ana-Maria Stan (2nd year American Studies M.A. students), “Vampire Couture - The Performance of Clothing in the Cinematic Discourse of Various Dracula Adaptations”