Elyce Rae Helford, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Director of Women's Studies
Middle Tennessee State University
Office: JUB 308
Office Phone: 615/898-5961
Email: ehelford@mtsu.edu
Teaching and Research Areas:
Twentieth-Century American Literature, Film, and Television
Women's / Gender Studies
Courses:
ENGL 1010, 1020, and 2030
ENGL 2020 (Jewish American Identity in Literature and Culture): Course Information
ENGL 3880 (Women and Film)
ENGL 3885 (Gender and Film)
ENGL 6/7310 (Studies in Popular Culture)
ENGL 6/7450 (Contemporary Women's Literature)
ENGL 6/7500 (Feminist Literary and Film Theory)
WMST 2100 (Introduction to Women's Studies)
WMST 3500 (Women in the Media)
Why I Teach: A Brief Statement
Current Research Project:
Gender in the Films of George Cukor: I am currently writing a book on the films of Hollywood's only "out" gay studio director, with emphasis on gender performance. The book as a whole focuses on representations of masculinity and femininity, sexuality and desire, heteronormativity and queerness. Chapter themes include the alcoholic male, bisexuality and romantic comedy, images in "blackface" and racial difference, and excess and the musical genre.
More About Me:
Blog (cultural commentary): http://elyceelucidates.blogspot.com/
Hobbies: I perform with various local community theater groups as time allows. Recent shows/roles range from Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire to Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate. I have also recently joined the Center Players Board, working to support the Center for the Arts (www.myspace.com/centerplayers and www.boroarts.org).
Family: My husband, Chad Crouse, is a licensed professional counselor with Barkley and Associates in Murfreesboro. We have an eight-year-old son, Lane, who enjoys acting, videogames, soccer, and drawing comics. We also have two dogs, three cats, and some fish.
most recent update: November 2007