Dr Michael Potts

I was born and raised in Berkshire, England. I did my undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy at the University of Bristol, moved to Wales, and then a few years later to New Zealand to do my Phd at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.

My Phd was entitled "Progressive and Reactionary Attitudes to Technology in Twentieth Century Literature: 1937-2013" and looked at how technology in 20th century literature often served as a "marker" for other issues, so as to allow a sublimated discussion of issues that were becoming problematic, such as degeneracy or concerns over population growth and immigration.

My research interests are quite broad, but centre on the intersection of environmentalism and ecology with issues of class, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. I have contributed papers to as Australian Literary Studies as well as the Australasian Journal of Popular Culture and other publications. Most recently, I contributed a chapter to Routledge's Violence Against Black Bodies: An Intersectional Analysis of How Black Lives Continue to Matter. 

Most of all, though, I enjoy teaching and helping to show students that writing is not some arcane art that only a few can master, but a process that can be demystified and made to work for them.

Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment - Australia and New Zealand

Popular Culture Association of Australia and New Zealand

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts in Joint School of English and Philosophy with Second Class Honours University of Brstol