Dr. Emily Dial-Driver, English professor at Rogers State University, will talk about the book “The Truth of Buffy: Essays on Fiction Illuminating Reality,” on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the RSU Stratton Taylor Library.
The talk, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 2 p.m. in room 207 of the library. The event is part of the RSU Literary Review Series.
“The Truth of Buffy” published this summer by McFarland Publishers is a collaborative effort including RSU faculty and one RSU graduate. The book is a collection of 15 critical essays about the popular television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
Essay topics include the series’ complicated portrayals of the relationship between soul, morality, and identity; whether Buffy can truly be described as a feminist icon; stereotypes of Native Americans in the episode “Pangs;” the role of signs in the interaction between Buffy’s aesthetics and audience; and the problem of power and underhanded politics in the Buffy universe.
In addition to Dial-Driver, the book is edited by Dr. Sally Emmons-Featherston, RSU associate professor of English; Dr. Jim Ford, RSU associate professor of philosophy and director of the Honors Program and Dr. Carolyn Taylor, RSU associate professor of political science and coordinator of the RSU President’s Leadership Class.
In addition to the four editors, book contributors include Renee Cox, Jacqueline Bach, Dr. Kenneth Hicks, Frances Morris, Gary Moeller, Dr. David Blakely, Lori Butler, Dr. Michael McKeon, Jesse Stallings, Dr. Gregory Thompson, and Dr. Juliet Evusa.
The RSU Bookstore will be selling copies of the book after the talk for the list price of $35.
Dial-Driver teaches composition, technical writing and literature courses at RSU. She received a doctoral degree in higher education curriculum, a master’s degree in English and a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Oklahoma State University. She has authored textbooks and articles, and has had poetry published in local and national publications.
For more information, call the Stratton Taylor Library at 343-7716.