Justyna Kociatkiewicz, PhD

Born on Jan. 20 1970 in Wrocław. She completed her M.A. in English Philology at the University of Wrocław in 1993. The topic of her research paper: An Individual vs. a Group Relation as Presented in the Selected Works of John Steinbeck.

Between the years 1995 and 2000, she completed her doctoral studies: Bibliology, Linguistics and Literary Doctoral Studies in The Philological Department of The University of Wrocław. The topic of her doctoral thesis was: Saul Bellow’ Theory of the Novel.

Between the years 1993 and 2002, she was an assistant in the English and American Unit in the Institute of English Philology at the University of Wrocław. From 2002, she has been a lecturer at The Philological School of Higher Education.

Stipends: Tempus (1990/91), Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scottland and Junior Fulbright (1998-99), University of California at Berkley, USA.

List of publications:

• "Aspects of Oppression and Decline of Freedom in Saul Bellow's The Dean's December" w Acta Universitas Wratislaviensis No 1862, Anglica Wratislaviensia XXXI, Wrocław 1996 (str 67-74).
• "The Problems of Language and Communication in Don DeLillo's The Names" w New Developments in English and American Studies: Continuity and Change (procceedings of the Seventh International Conference on English and American Literature and Language, Kraków, March 27-29, 1996), ed. Zygmunt Mazur i Teresa Bela, Kraków 1997 (str. 333-46).
• "Modern Visions of Death and Apocalypse: Saul Bellow's Mr Sammler's Planet and Don DeLillo's White Noise" w Acta Universitas Wratislaviensis No 2000, Anglica Wratislaviensia XXXIII, Wrocław 1998 (str. 59-70).
• "Saul Bellow's Early Novels as Antibildungsromane" w Local Colors of the Stars and Stripes, ed. Marta Wiszniowska, Toruń 2001 (str. 381-394).

Conferences and seminars:

1. April Conference Seven, Kraków March 27-29 1996 r. referat: The Problems of Language and Communication in Don DeLillo's The Names.
2. European Literature(s), World Literature(s) and Globalization: International Seminar, Leiden, 19-June 23, 2000 r. paper: Saul Bellow and the Concept of the Antibildungsroman.
3. Local Colors of the Stars and Stipes (konferencja Polskiego Towarzystwa Studiów Amerykanistycznych), Toruń November 19-22 2000r.
4. paper: Saul Bellow's Early Novels as Antibildungsromane American Culture in the Era of Globalization: International Conference, Łódź October 20-23 2001 r.
5. paper: What Do the Americans Do Abroad, or Saul Bellow and Globalization American Portraits and Self-Portraits (konferencja Polskiego Towarzystwa Studiów Amerykanistycznych), Puławy November 11-13 2001 r.
6. paper: Zellig: The Ultimate American (Self) Portrait.

Academic and organizational achievements:

• preparation of classes for courses in the history of the British epic (1993/94), theory of literature (1993/94), history of American literature (1994/2001) and courses in practical English skills.
• coordination of program of history of American literature courses (2nd year undergraduate studies).
• participation in the entrance exams to the English Philology Institute at the University of Wrocław as a secretary (1994) and examiner (1997).
• part of the board of examiners for the regional English language Olympiads (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001) · supervision of students in the English language circle (1994-97).
• organized film club for English Philology students (1995-1996).
• took on responsibilities of tutor for 1st year undergraduate students (2001/02).
• program of supplementary courses for American literature (1st year graduate studies): The Self and the Conditioning Forces (1996/97) and The Bildungsroman in American Literature (2001/02).
• proseminar programs (3rd year undergraduate studies) Americans and Conspiracy (2001/02).
• co-organized conference for the Polish American Studies Society, which took place in Wrocław on Nov. 10-13, 2002.

Research interests:

20th century American novel; connections between literature and film; conspiracy, madness and death in contemporary American culture.