Karin Wurst

wurst@msu.edu
(517) 884-4391

B469 Wells Hall
619 Red Cedar Rd
East Lansing, MI 48824

FacultyLinguistics, Languages, and Cultures

Professor
German

Biography

Ph.D., German Literature, Ohio State University

Karin A. Wurst’s books have focused on representations of the family, women’s drama, cultural consumption in 18th Century-Germany, and J.M.R. Lenz: Das Schlaraffenland verwilderter Ideen. Narrative Strategien in den Prosaerzählungen von J. M. R. Lenz (Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann, 2014); Fabricating Pleasure: Fashion, Entertainment, and Consumption in Germany (1780-1830), German Literary Theory and Cultural Studies (Wayne State University Press, 2005). Karin A. Wurst and Alan Leidner, Unpopular Virtues: J. M. R. Lenz and the Critics. A Reception History (Columbia, S.C.: Camden House, 1999). Edited and introduced Eleonore Thon’s “Adelheit von Rastenberg.” Texts and Translation Series. (New York: MLA, 1996). Edited and introduced J.M.R. Lenz als Alternative? Positionsanalysen zum 200. Todestag (Köln, Wien, Weimar: Böhlau, 1992). Frau und Drama im achtzehnten Jahrhundert (Köln, Wien: Böhlau, 1991). “Familiale Liebe ist die wahre Gewalt.” Zur Repräsentation der Familie in Lessings dramatischem Werk”(Amsterdam: Rodopi, 1988). Her articles focus on 17th and 18th century Germany and issues of gender, cultural and aesthetic representation. The have appeared in German Quarterly, Daphnis, German Studies Review, Lessing Yearbook, Text + Kritik, Seminar, Women in German Yearbook, Goethe Yearbook, Lenz Jahrbuch. Her teaching interests include literary and cultural theories, feminist theory, women’s literature and material culture. From 2006 to 2014 she served as Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at MSU; she currently serves as Special Advisor to the Provost on Intercultural Learning and Student Engagement.

University News

Janet Swenson Retires After 23 Years at MSU
Published September 4, 2015 in College of Arts & Letters
a woman with short blonde hair wearing a green shirt leaning on a rock
Over the course of her career, including 23 years at Michigan State University, Janet Swenson has witnessed and accomplished a great deal while positively impacting a generation of students,…Read now »
$100,000 Gift Fosters Creativity and Learning for Students
Published May 12, 2015 in College of Arts & Letters
man presenting in front of projection
Peter Stougaard, former Hollywood studio executive May 12, 2015 – As part of the MSU Empower Extraordinary campaign, the College of Arts & Letters (CAL) at Michigan State…Read now »