OSL / NICA Masterclass: The Cultural Study of New Orleans

/in /by

Date: 7 November 2025
Time: 9.30-17.00
Venue: University of Groningen, exact location t.b.c.
Main organizers: Prof. Bryan Wagner (UC Berkeley) and Danielle van den Brink (University of Groningen)
ECTS: 1 EC. (assignment instructions will follow closer to the date of the event).  NB: Credits can only be awarded to humanities ReMA and PhD students from Dutch universities.
Open to: PhDs and ReMA students; OSL and NICA members have first access.

Registration will open on 4 September 2025, VIA THIS LINK.

This masterclass, organized by Bryan Wagner (UC Berkeley) and Danielle van den Brink (RUG), brings together scholars and artists from the US and Europe through the UC Berkeley and NEH-funded initiative titled ‘An Open Classroom on New Orleans Culture’. Using the materials from this collaborative project, we will bring an expansive and diverse study of the cultural narratives of New Orleans to Groningen. A team of scholars will be engaging with students through a series of interactive sessions that range from geographical and historical narratives of place-making to the literary and musical traditions of New Orleans, ranging from folklore to modernist writings and from jazz to hip-hop. Our programme also prominently features native artists and scholars from New Orleans, who will lend their expertise to these sessions.

Confirmed speakers:

  • Professor Bryan Wagner (UC Berkeley – English Department, Professor of American Studies)
  • Freddi Willaims Evans (New Orleans-based author, independent scholar and arts educator)
  • Brenda Marie Obsey (Former Poet Laureate of Louisiana, Essayist and Author)
  • Anne Gisleson (Author and Teacher at New Orleans Centre for Creative Arts)
  • Dr Amy Mohr (LMU München – American Institute, Lecturer of American Studies)
  • Professor Julia Leyda (NTNU Trondheim – Department of Art and Media Studies, Professor of Film Studies)
  • Dr Jessie Morgan-Owens (Leiden University – Arts in Society, Assistant Professor)

Schedule & Assigned Preparation

[9.30 – 11.00] Welcome & Opening Provocations
Individual Talks by Prof. Bryan Wagner, Brenda Marie Osbey, Anne Gisleson & Dr Freddi Williams Evans

[11.00 – 11.30] Coffee Break

Series of interactive sessions:

[11.30 – 12.45] Session 1. History, Geography and Architecture
Session leaders: Dr Mark Thompson & Dr Maarten Zwiers

[12.45 – 13.30] Lunch Break

[13.30 – 14.45] Session 2. Music
Session leaders: Prof. Bryan Wagner & Dr Chris Tonelli

[14.45 – 15.15] Coffee Break

[15.15 – 16.30] Session 3. Literature, Language and Folklore
Session leaders: Dr Jessie Morgan-Owens, Dr Spencer Morrison, Dr Pauline McGonagle & Dr Amy Mohr

[16.30 – 17.00] Closing Remarks & Panel with Guest Speakers

Accredited Assignment [1 EC – 600 words]

ReMA and PhD students that are following this masterclass and would like to receive credit for their attendance and participation will need to complete a further assignment. Write an overall reflection of your critical insights of the masterclass, delving further into (at least) one of the interactive sessions. Refer explicitly to the assigned materials and consider its place and engagement with New Orleans’ cultural heritage and dialogue(s).
Please submit your reflection of 1000 words (+/- 10%) before 11:59 PM on the 21st of November, 2025 to Danielle van den Brink at d.e.van.den.brink[at]rug.nl.

Required readings and podcasts will be send to participants after registering.