Sharon Kirsch
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Phone: 602-543-6049
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FAB N230K PHOENIX, AZ 85069-3251
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Mail code: 2151Campus: West
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Sharon J. Kirsch is an associate professor of English and rhetorical studies in the New College at Arizona State University. She also serves as faculty honors advisor for Barrett, The Honors College.
Kirsch is author of "Gertrude Stein and the Reinvention of Rhetoric" (University of Alabama Press 2014), which reinterprets an iconic literary figure as a major 20th-century rhetorician who helps us rethink what is possible with language, and co-editor of "Primary Stein: Returning to the Writing of Gertrude Stein" (Lexington Books 2014), a collection of essays that draws on recent cultural, historical, and biographical work and returns Stein studies to Stein’s primary writing. Her critical essays have appeared in Rhetoric Review, Rhetoric Society Quarterly, The Feminist Wire, Present Tense: A Journal of Rhetoric in Society, and Trivia: Voices of Feminism.
She teaches courses in modern and contemporary American literature and poetry, rhetorical history and theory, critical theory, and women’s writing. Her teaching can best be described as critical and collaborative. In her courses, she works to cultivate a sense of intellectual independence in her students and to motivate them to articulate their own ideas and to become self-reliant thinkers and life-long learners, even when their professional goals lead them away from academic life.
Before earning her doctorate at the University of Buffalo where her areas of inquiry included poetics, 19th- and early 20th-century American literature and culture, the history of rhetoric, and literary and feminist theory, Kirsch spent four years at the National Endowment for the Humanities in Higher Education Programs.
- Ph.D. English, State University of New York-Buffalo 2004
- M.A. English; minor: Philosophy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1989
- B.A. Philosophy and English, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1988
Modern and contemporary American literature; poetics; rhetorical history and theory; critical theory; and women’s writing
Publications
Kirsch, Sharon J. and Michael Stancliff, “‘How Do You Not Understand a Word?’ Language as Contagion and Cure in Pontypool,” Journal of Narrative Theory, Summer 2018.
Kirsch, Sharon J., “Democracy and Disclosure: Edward Bernays and the Manipulation of the Masses,” Propaganda and the Rhetorical of Managed Democracy, editors Gae Lyn Henderson and M.J. Braun, Southern Illinois University Press, 2016.
Kirsch, Sharon J., “The Bothersome Pleasures of Teaching Stein,” Approaches to Teaching the Works of Gertrude Stein, MLA Series: Approaches to Teaching World Literature, in press, 2017.
Kirsch, Sharon J. Gertrude Stein and the Reinvention of Rhetoric. University of Alabama Press, 2014.
Kirsch, Sharon J. “Gertrude Stein Delivers.” Rhetoric Review. 31.3 (2012): 254-270.
Boyd, Janet and Sharon J. Kirsch, coeditors. Primary Stein: Returning to the Writing of Gertrude Stein.. Lexington Books, 2014.
Kirsch, Sharon J. “PR Guns for Hire: The Specter of Edward Bernays in Gadhafi's Libya.” Present Tense: A Journal of Rhetoric in Society. 2.1 (2011): n. pag. Web. 14 September 2011.
Kirsch, Sharon J. “‘Suppose a grammar uses invention’: Gertrude Stein’s Theory of Rhetorical Grammar.” Rhetoric Society Quarterly. 38.3 (2008): 283-310.
Kirsch, Sharon J. and Janet Boyd, “A Primer for Primary Stein,” Primary Stein, edited by Janet Boyd and Sharon J. Kirsch, Lexington Books, 2014.
Kirsch, Sharon J., “How to Read How to Write: Bothering with Gertrude Stein,” Primary Stein, edited by Janet Boyd and Sharon J. Kirsch, Lexington Books, 2014.
Kirsch, Sharon J., “It Has Become Our Will: Onward with Adrienne Rich (1929-2012),” Trivia: Voices of Feminism 12.1 (Spring 2012): n.pag. Web. 1 April 2012. Reprinted: Rain & Thunder: A Radical Feminist Journal of Discussion and Activism, Summer 2012.
Kirsch, Sharon J., “Two Exhibits, One Film, and the Pleasures of Gertrude Stein,” The Feminist Wire, July 10, 2011.
Kirsch, Sharon J., “Doing Language: Word-work and the Stories that Save Our Lives,” Canyon Voices, Fall 2010.
Kirsch, Sharon J., “A Place of Storytelling and Sustenance: Molly Sutton Kiefer's Nestuary, review of Molly Sutton Keifer, Nestuary. (Ricochet Press 2014) in Trivia: Voices of Feminism. 15.1 (Spring 2014): n.pag. Web.
Kirsch, Sharon J., review of Wanda Corn and Tirza True Latimer, Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011) in Visual Resources: An International Journal of Documentation. Volume 28.2 (June 2012): 194-199.
Kirsch, Sharon J., review of Kathryn Flannery, Feminist Literacies, 1968-1975 (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2005), in Women and Language, 29.1 (Spring 2006): 55-56.
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 582 | Pedagogy |
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ENG 454 | Gender and Literature |
| WST 454 | Gender and Literature |
| ENG 598 | Special Topics |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 591 | Seminar |
| ENG 597 | Graduate Capstone Seminar |
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 582 | Pedagogy |
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ENG 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ENG 454 | Gender and Literature |
| WST 454 | Gender and Literature |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 591 | Seminar |
| ENG 597 | Graduate Capstone Seminar |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 582 | Pedagogy |
| ENG 242 | Literature of US Post 1860 |
| ENG 494 | Special Topics |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 200 | Critical Reading & Writing/Lit |
| ENG 364 | Women and Literature |
| ENG 493 | Honors Thesis |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 242 | Literature of US Post 1860 |
| ENG 324 | Horror: Films & Short Stories |
| ENG 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 494 | Special Topics |
| ENG 551 | Rhetorical Traditions |
| ENG 364 | Women and Literature |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 324 | Horror: Films & Short Stories |
| ENG 324 | Horror: Films & Short Stories |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 242 | Literature of US Post 1860 |
| ENG 324 | Horror: Films & Short Stories |
| ENG 493 | Honors Thesis |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 364 | Women and Literature |
| ENG 494 | Special Topics |
| ENG 551 | Rhetorical Traditions |
| ENG 493 | Honors Thesis |
| ENG 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG 242 | Literature of US Post 1860 |
| ENG 364 | Women and Literature |
| ENG 364 | Women and Literature |
| ENG 492 | Honors Directed Study |
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Poetry is Not a Luxury: On Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde". The Whole Life Center (Mar 2104).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Standing Outside Oneself: Anne Carson, Autobiography, Ethos". PAMLA (Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association), University of California, Riverside (Nov 2014).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "The Bothersome Pleasure of Gertrude Stein". American Genius: The Case of Gertrude Stein" Lecture Series, University of Oklahoma (Oct 2014).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Composing Steinian Selfies". American Genius: The Case of Gertrude Stein" Seminar (Oct 2014).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "‘Does he mind forensics if it is edited’: Gertrude Stein’s Grammarian and the Composition of ‘Forensics’". "A Valentine to Gertrude Stein," University of Copenhagen Gertrude Stein Conference (May 2014).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "On Interdisciplinarity". Interdisciplinary Student Association Research and Creative Projects Expo (Apr 2014).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "‘suppose a grammar uses invention’: Gertrude Stein and the Reinvention of Rhetoric". Center for Critical Inquiry and Cultural Studies Faculty Presentation (Feb 2014).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "The Third Wave". National Organization for Women, West Valley Chapter (Nov 2013).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "This is a nice story": Stein Remembering Stein’s War Years". Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (Nov 2013).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Honoring Our Foremothers". "I Am She: Women's Retreat" (Oct 2013).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Teaching Available Means: A Kairotic Pedagogy for (Women’s) Rhetorics". Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference (Sep 2013).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Enjoying as Understanding: The Pleasures of Stein’s How to Write". American Literature Association (May 2013).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "The Bothersome Pleasures of Teaching Stein". American Literature Association (May 2013).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. Teaching Ethics through Rhetoric with Poetics. Lincoln Center Ethics Fellows Final Presentation (Dec 2012).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Wars I Remember: Gertrude Stein’s Reconstruction of Clarity and Memory". Gertrude Stein Symposium at Yale University (Oct 2012).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "A Poetics of Invention: Gertrude Stein and the Re-Invention of Rhetoric". MAIS 504: Perspectives in Interdisciplinarity (Oct 2012).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "‘There are different ways of making of, of course’: Inventing Stein’s Style". American Literature Association (May 2012).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Finding Rhetoric in Unlikely Places: Gertrude Stein's Canons". Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference (Oct 2011).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Topoi of Memory: Gertrude Stein’s Geographical History of America". Western States Rhetoric and Literacy Conference (Oct 2011).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Why Has Critical Inquiry Forgotten Rhetoric?". Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association (Oct 2011).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. Reading Aristotle's _Nicomachean Ethics_ through the _Rhetoric_. Lincoln Center Ethics Fellows Presentation (Oct 2011).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Trouble with Theory: Why Critical Inquiry Has Forgotten Rhetoric?". Rhetoric Society of America Research Network (May 2010).
- Sharon J. Kirsch. "Towards a Rhetorical Race History: Ida B. Wells’s Crusade for Justice". Rhetoric Society of America (May 2010).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Theorizing Complexity: Jane Addams and the Rhetorical Work of Defining Community". Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference, Michigan State University (Oct 2009).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Remembering/Recording Communities of Activism: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells". Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference, Michigan State University (Oct 2009).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Towards a History of Rhetorical Action: Ida B. Wells’ _Crusade for Justice_". Coalition of Women Scholars' Writing Workshop, Michigan State University (Oct 2009).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Theory Trouble: Teaching Women and The Rhetorical Tradition". Rhetoric Society of America Conference (Jun 2008).
- Kirsch, Sharon J. "Rendering Public Realities: PR, Spin and Writing for ‘the Masses’". Conference on College Communication and Composition (Apr 2008).
- Kirsch, Sharon. 'I am only a mouthpiece': Ida B. Wells and the Evasion of Authorship. Western States Rhetoric and Literacy Conference
- Kirsch, Sharon. Gertrude Stein Undisciplined. American Literature Association
- Kirsch, Sharon. Within Big Traditions: Nineteenth-Century Reappraisals of the New Rhetoric. Western States Rhetoric and Literacy Conference
- Kirsch, Sharon. Discovering Available Means: Ida B. Wells and the Rhetorical Tradition. National Communication Association
- New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Outstanding Teaching Award, 2013
- Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric & Composition, New Work Showcase nominee for Gertrude Stein and the Reinvention of Rhetoric, 2014
- Faculty Women’s Association Outstanding Faculty Mentor, nominee, 2013
Co-Editor with Janet Boyd, Innovation and Activism in American Women's Writing, Book Series with Lexington Books, 2016-present
Rhetoric Society of America, American Literature Association, Pacific Ancient and Modern Literature Association
Service
- Faculty Lead, English Program, School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies, 2014 – 2016, 2017-present
- Director, Masters Program in Interdisciplinary Studies, 2014 - 2016
- Admissions Committee Member, Masters Program in Interdisciplinary Studies, 2012 - 2016
- Faculty Honors Advisor for Humanities, Barrett, The Honors College, 2014 - 2016
- Faculty Advisor, Interdisciplinary Student Association, 2014 - 2016
- Faculty Ambassador, New College Faculty Ambassador, 2013 - present
- Faculty Writing Mentor, First Year Writing Program, 2012 - 2016
- Advisory Board Member, Center for Critical Inquiry and Cultural Studies, 2010 - 2014
- Speaker, ASU Preparing Future Faculty, “New Faculty Perspectives," 2014
- Co-Facilitator, Institute for Humanities Research Philosophy, Rhetoric and Literature Research Cluster, 2010 – 2014
- Reading Group Leader for Fun Home, Allison Bechdel Campus Visit, 2013
- The Oxford Anthology of American Literature, Manuscript Reviewer, 2013
- Committee Member, New College Committee to Revise Teaching Evaluations, 2013 - 2014
- Rhetoric Society of America Conference, Conference Proposal Reviewer, 2009, 2011, 2014
- Poetry Judge, SHArCS Poetry Contest, 2011 - present
- Search Committee Member, Associate Director, HArCS, 2009
- Ad Hoc English Major Revision Committee, Member (2008 - 2009)
Community Service
- Founding Member, Save Our Schools Arizona, SOSArizona.org, 2017- present
- Member, Civic Engagement Beyond Voting, 2016-present
- Board Member, The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, 2008 - 2014
- Startup Committee Member, Dress for Success, Phoenix Affiliate, 2008 – 2010
- Phoenix Children's Hospital, Yoga and Pranayama teacher, 2004 - 2006
- Literacy Volunteers of America, Phoenix, AZ, Tutor, 1997 - 2003