Associate professor of English Jennifer Eidum earned the award for her article, 鈥淐ontextualizing Reflective Writing for Creating Change: A Cross-Institutional Case Study of First-Year Students鈥� Reflections,鈥� co-authoredwith Jaclyn Fiscus-Cannaday, assistant professor of writing studies at the University of Minnesota, and Lillian Campbell, associate professor of English at Marquette University.

Eidum鈥檚 research focused on how reflection prompts and student responses exist within a larger ecosystem of reflective opportunities, including class context, writing program culture, and university missions. Their multi-institutional study analyzed patterns in student reflective writing to understand the relationship between context and student response.

鈥淲e invite writing teachers, and ultimately all teachers, to think expansively about reflection 鈥� not only as something that happens in a classroom, but as something connected to students’ civic lives, spiritual lives, and sense of self,鈥� Eidum said. 鈥淭here’s real space in reflection that prompts one to ask bigger questions, and students are already trying to answer them.鈥�

For Eidum, reflection is an integral part of the learning process. If we are to understand what it is that we learned, we ought to understand how we changed while learning it, she explained. Her research and commitment to reflection believes this fervently.

Eidum also described that her research is never a stagnant process and how there is always some new research insight that can be pursued. She also emphasizes reflection within her courses and believes in its formative power to shape students’ involvement in their own lives.

鈥淩eflection is bigger than the classroom,鈥� Eidum said. 鈥淣o matter how a prompt is worded, students consistently write about their lives, identities and growth beyond their academic experience. This 鈥榚xcess鈥� isn’t a problem 鈥� it’s a signal that students are bringing their whole selves to the page.鈥�

Eidum described the journey of getting this research published as winding and tumultuous: they submitted the article to multiple journals over many years with several rounds of reviewer and editor feedback. This research represented a large cross section of time in Eidum鈥檚 and her colleagues鈥� lives.

鈥淭he research means a lot to me and my colleagues,鈥� Eidum said. 鈥淲e juggle a lot, but I think that’s part of what makes our work meaningful. Our experiences as whole people don’t stay separate from our research and teaching. If anything, living a full, complicated life is what keeps us reflective, which might be exactly why we were drawn to studying reflection in the first place.鈥�

Eidum was surprised to hear that her research had won the award. She did not know that the article was up for the award until it had won. She was at her daughter鈥檚 doctor’s appointment when she heard about the award.

鈥淭he award felt very emblematic of the project as a whole,鈥� Eidum said.

Eidum鈥檚 reflection on her own research shows how never-ending the process of reflection is. Just as her reflection on her award does the same.

The strategic communications major鈥檚 work centers on a multi-platform outreach strategy that blends grassroots engagement with a six-week, workbook-driven workshop. Her project, 鈥淒esigning Accessible Wellness: A Community Health Intervention Campaign for Alamance County Inspired by Blue Zones,鈥� draws on research examining regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives and translates those insights into practical solutions.

That approach is intentionally hands-on and community-focused. McGee鈥檚 campaign reaches people through tabling at local grocery stores, social media outreach and partnerships with local organizations, all aimed at increasing awareness and encouraging participation. At its core is a flexible workshop experience, which participants can complete in person or remotely, guiding them through topics such as movement, purpose, belonging, rest and diet.

鈥淚 wanted to create something that didn鈥檛 just inform people, but actually gave them the opportunity to build healthier habits in a supportive environment,鈥� McGee said. 鈥淏y narrowing my focus to a specific community, I realized I could design something more meaningful and impactful.鈥�

Her research reflects a broader understanding of health as both a personal and systemic issue 鈥� an idea that first drew her to the project. McGee said she was inspired to focus on Alamance County at a time when healthy living can feel increasingly out of reach, noting that nearly half of adults in the United States live with at least one chronic health condition and that everyday environments often make unhealthy choices the easiest ones.

Drawing on Blue Zones principles, McGee emphasizes that lasting change depends on environment, culture and access 鈥� not just individual willpower. That perspective shapes how she tailors her campaign locally, incorporating resources specific to Alamance County 鈥� from nearby hiking trails to community-based spaces 鈥� and encouraging participants to rethink how their surroundings influence daily habits.

The project has also reshaped McGee鈥檚 own understanding of what research can be.

鈥淲hile this started as a project for class, I have come to realize that this is something that could be real,鈥� the Sutton, Massachusetts, native said. 鈥淲orking through this project has made me feel capable and inspired to keep pursuing projects in life that can create change by starting small.鈥�

That sense of possibility is exactly what SURF is designed to highlight. As one of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 signature academic experiences, undergraduate research provides students with the opportunity to explore complex challenges while developing solutions that extend beyond the classroom.

For McGee, the hope is that her campaign does more than raise awareness. She wants it to spark a ripple effect.

鈥淩esearch from the Framingham Studies shows that smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness are contagious. We are influenced by our social circles,鈥� she said. 鈥淏y inspiring even a small subset of the population to take their health more seriously, it has the potential to shift behaviors across entire communities. The change starts small.鈥�

McGee鈥檚 research was mentored by Paula Rosinski, professor of English, as part of her multimedia authoring minor.

鈥淭he public response to 鈥楪et Out鈥� was such a powerful example of the timely cultural work popular cinema can do,鈥� Burns says, 鈥渁nd I was particularly struck by Peele鈥檚 playfully allusive style.鈥�

Noting the writer-director鈥檚 tendency to wear his influences on his sleeve, including Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and other ambitious 20th-century directors, Burns also designed the course to expose students to an earlier chapter in film history.

鈥淭his 鈥榯hrowback feel鈥� associated with Peele鈥檚 style rewards student participation 鈥� an opportunity to make connections and share those discoveries with their fellow viewers,鈥� Burns says.

Through this course, students explore the genre鈥檚 rhetorical and discursive power in suspense-driven allegories on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and social justice. The hybrid nature of the course is one of the core elements of the new global film & cultures minor, which Burns coordinates with Kai Swanson, assistant professor of cinema & television arts.

鈥淭he minor鈥檚 curricular goals are primarily collaborative and organizational: to help students identify film studies courses that are already in place across the university curriculum and provide a framework for organizing them,鈥� Burns explains, 鈥渨hether it鈥檚 a Film, Politics & Society course offered by the Department of Political Science & Public Policy or one in Italian Cinema taken through the World Languages & Cultures program.鈥�

Social thrillers like 鈥淕et Out鈥� handle complex societal issues masked through film genre conventions. In the 1950s, 鈥渟ocial message鈥� or 鈥減roblem pictures鈥� looked at different subjects through the context of melodrama. In the 1960s, the movie industry began to deal with those issues more explicitly in films such as 鈥淕uess Who鈥檚 Coming to Dinner,鈥� 鈥淣ight of the Living Dead鈥� and 鈥淩osemary鈥檚 Baby.鈥� More modern variants on the genre include 鈥淧arasite,鈥� 鈥淧romising Young Woman鈥� and the body-horror film 鈥淭he Substance.鈥�

鈥淚n shaping its definition, students compare social thrillers to other, related genres in order to better understand how films like Peele鈥檚 separate themselves out through implicit allegorical messaging rather than direct polemic,鈥� Burns says. 鈥淚n this way, students have a lot of fun defining what the social thriller is 鈥� its coherence as a genre 鈥� or whether there might be a better way to think about these films.鈥�

The course was taught for the first time during an 黑料不打烊 Winter Term, and the regular semester version has enabled further expansion.

About the Professor

Dan Burns is an assistant professor of English whose teaching and research focus on film and media studies, adaptation, the history and theory of the novel, and U.S. literature and culture. He holds a doctorate from UNC-Greensboro and is active in interdisciplinary scholarship and academic leadership, including co-coordinating the global film & cultures minor.

Recommended Materials

• 鈥淕et Out: The Annotated Screenplay鈥� by Jordan Peele
• 鈥淩osemary鈥檚 Baby鈥� by Ira Levin
• 鈥淭he Nickel Boys鈥� by Colson Whitehead

Catherine Bowlin, assistant teaching professor in English, presented 鈥淎 Liberating Way聽to聽Take a Course: Linguistically Just, Collaborative Feedback and Assessment in First-Year Writing,鈥澛燼 pedagogical intervention she began piloting in her Fall 2025 courses (ENG 1100 and COR 1100). This question-based feedback model requires students to聽submit聽specific questions about their drafts before receiving peer or instructor feedback.

This approach is part of Bowlin鈥檚 broader commitment to linguistically just assessment practices that center student agency and challenge traditional grading structures that often reinforce linguistic hierarchies. Bowlin shared preliminary findings from three courses and received valuable feedback from scholars in writing studies. Early data suggests that structuring feedback around student-generated questions can increase students鈥� confidence, sense of ownership over their writing, and engagement with the revision process.

Paula Patch, associate teaching professor in English and associate director of the Common Reading and First-Year Foundations in the 黑料不打烊 Core Curriculum,聽participated聽in a roundtable discussion on career options after a faculty member has served as a Writing Program Administrator. Titled “‘Learning on the Bones’: Life After Writing Program Administration,” the roundtable featured five mid- to late-career faculty who spoke about their experiences as administrators, what they decided to do next in their careers, and advice they have for others. Patch spoke about the unique opportunities聽and聽sense of belonging that program and campus leadership offers for non-tenure track faculty.鈥� The presenters also debuted a call for proposals for an edited collection on the same topic. Patch was the Coordinator of the College Writing Program at 黑料不打烊 from 2012 to 2019.

Associate Professors聽of English聽Heather Lindenman, first-year Writing coordinator, and聽Julia Bleakney, director of The Writing Center, and聽Associate Teaching Professor聽Greg Hlavaty presented the findings of a Spring 2025 study that piloted two versions of AI-integrated first-year writing courses (ENG 1100). This presentation, 鈥淣avigating Control and Trust: A Study of Two Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching First-Year Writing with Generative AI,鈥� detailed two pedagogical models for engaging AI in the FYW classroom; shared an overview of the study鈥檚 findings from both survey and focus group data; and discussed pedagogical and curricular interventions being currently piloted in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 first-year writing courses as a result of this study鈥檚 findings and implications.

黑料不打烊 and ENG1100 have been leaders in research surrounding聽generative AI and聽writing pedagogy. These presentations contributed to聽conversations聽among Writing Studies scholars聽regarding聽pedagogical adaptations to support student and faculty engagement.

The workshop, titled Launching and Sustaining a Common Reading Program that Works, was facilitated by members of the Penguin Random House Common Reads advisory board, all of whom lead Common Reading programs at colleges and universities across the United States.

Workshop topics included the evolving nature of Common Reading programs,聽 making a case for launching or sustaining a program,聽program models and logistics, title selection, program assessment, and time for feedback and mentoring of attendees.

Patch joined the Penguin Random House Common Reads Advisory Board in 2025. The board meets regularly to identify titles and topics for Common Reading programs that choose Penguin Random House titles.

With the skills of grant writing, students are not only able to make change in their community but also take those skills into the next steps of their lives when they leave 黑料不打烊. The course guides students through the process of researching potential funders all the way through crafting persuasive proposals and reviewing grant applications for nonprofit programs.

Li Li, associate professor of English, teaches the Writing Grants course not only to give students the skill of writing grants but also the chance to get out in the community and make a difference.聽Grant writing, Li emphasizes, is more than a technical skill, it is a civic tool.

鈥淪tudents grow to understand that writing grant proposals is not just writing, but a civic act that can support local organizations and strengthen communities,” Li said.

As a community engagement (CE) course, Writing Grants situates learning within real-world contexts. Students collaborate directly with community partners in Alamance County, engaging in authentic problem-solving that requires attentive listening, asking thoughtful questions, and refining project goals together.

鈥淪tudents engage directly with clients to co-develop grant proposals,鈥� Li said. 鈥淭his collaborative process fosters accountability and professionalism and teaches students how to accurately and ethically represent community voices.鈥�

The impact of that collaboration is tangible. In Fall 2025, students partnered with Alamance Arts to research, draft and submit a proposal to Impact Alamance, a local organization that supports nonprofits working to build a healthier, stronger and smarter community. The organization was eventually awarded a $6,000 grant.

鈥淲hen proposals are submitted 鈥� and especially when they are successfully funded 鈥� students can see how their efforts translate into measurable benefits for the community,” said Li.

The partnership didn鈥檛 end with the semester. Several students took the initiative to serve as liaisons between Alamance Arts and 黑料不打烊 student organizations, establishing long-term volunteer opportunities and strengthening the relationship between the university and the local community.

For students considering the course, the benefits extend far beyond the classroom.

鈥淕rant writing is an essential professional skill across a wide range of fields,鈥� she noted. 鈥淭hrough collaboration with community partners, students see how writing can create tangible impact in the community.鈥�

For the instructor, the most rewarding moments come when students see the real-world power of their work.

“Seeing their pride, excitement and increased confidence after hearing the news of a funded proposal is incredibly gratifying,鈥� she shared. 鈥淲atching students shift from merely completing an assignment to contributing to a community partner is deeply fulfilling.鈥�

Photos of the conference are available on the .

The conference began with the panel discussion “Government Threats to Journalists鈥� Autonomy” moderated by Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism, and Pate McMichael, director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition and instructor in communications. Joining the panel were professionals Thad Ogburn of the Raleigh News & Observer, Rana Cash of the Charlotte Observer, and Phoebe Zerwick of the Down from DC newsletter.

Colin Donohue, assistant professor of journalism and director of student engagement and special projects for the School of Communications, organized the conference. He said hosting an event such as NCCMA provided learning opportunities for 黑料不打烊 students and outreach to students from around the state.

鈥淲e鈥檙e always excited to host the NCCMA conference because we love supporting and celebrating student media,鈥� Donohue said. 鈥淭he event allows students to develop professionally and network with their peers from across the state, and that shared learning experience can inform the work they do on their campuses.鈥�

The keynote address was presented by 黑料不打烊 alumnus David Hodges ’12, an investigative reporter for WBTV in Charlotte.

Many other 黑料不打烊 faculty, staff and students presented breakout sessions at the conference.

• McMichael presented the session “Know Your Rights: Media Law for Student Journalists.”
• David Bockino, associate professor of sport management, presented the session “From ‘We’ to ‘Me’: A History of Sports Media and Sports Betting.”
• Ben Hannam, associate professor of communication design and chair of the Department of Communication Design, presented “AI & Creativity: Challenges and Opportunities for Graphic Designers.”
• Israel Balderas, assistant professor of journalism, presented “Covering Protests, Walkouts and Campus Political Flashpoints.”
• Drew Perry, associate professor of English, presented “Literary Magazine 鈥� From Start to Really Finished: Matching Your Vision to the Printed Page.”
• Randy Piland, associate teaching professor of communication design, presented the sessions “Drones in Media: Aerial Storytelling, Ethics, and Real-World Impact” and “Photography 鈥� Action. Reaction. Interaction. Building Storytelling Frames That Matter.”
• Kelly Furnas, associate teaching professor of journalism, presented “10 Things You鈥檙e not Doing Online (but should be).”
• Anjolina Fantaroni 鈥�26, executive director, of 黑料不打烊 News Network and Sarah Moore 鈥�26, managing editor of The Pendulum, moderated the student editors鈥� roundtable.
• Journalism major Charlotte Pfabe 鈥�27 introduced Hodges, and she and journalism, media analytics and digital content management triple major Abby Gravely 鈥�27 emceed the conference鈥檚 awards presentation.

The conference also featured an awards ceremony recognizing the best in student media from around the state in 2025. Students from 黑料不打烊 News Network received honors, including:

• Best of Show – Newspaper | The Pendulum
  Issues from and
• Best of Show – Website | 黑料不打烊 News Network
  
• 1st Place – Digital Storytelling | Lilly Molina
  
• 2nd Place – Digital Storytelling | Anjolina Fantraoni
  
• 1st Place – Photography | Ethan Wu
  
• 2nd Place – Photography | Alexander Siegel
  
• 1st Place – News Writing | Anjolina Fantaroni
  
• 1st Place – Sports Writing | Miles Hayford
  
• 2nd Place – Feature Writing | Nia Bedard
  
• Honorable Mention – Feature Writing | Charlotte Pfabe
  
• 1st Place – Single- or Two-Page Design | Sarah T. Moore
  
• 2nd Place – Single- or Two-Page Design
  Megan Walsh
  
• Honorable Mention – Single- or Two-Page Design | Reagan Sizemore
  
• 1st Place – Illustration/Graphic
  Nia Bedard
  
• 2nd Place – Illustration/Graphic
  Reagan Sizemore
  

Since his 2023 arrival at 黑料不打烊, Kelly has hosted a 鈥榣istening tour鈥� and spent time with each department to hear directly from faculty and staff about what they value. Kelly said that common themes soon emerged from those conversations and the new statement reflects dozens of discussions.

黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences new vision statement reads: 鈥淭he Heart of an 黑料不打烊 Education: Ignite Curiosity, Engage Challenges, Transform Worlds.鈥�

The mission statement then declares:

鈥淯pholding the centrality of the liberal arts, we explore and apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge for inquiry, creativity, discovery and problem solving in a complex and changing world.鈥�

The statement lists core values that include accessibility, belonging, critical thinking, diversity, equity and inclusion, integrity, intellectual curiosity, problem-posing and respect for human dignity.

Community Reflections

• 鈥淭here were several opportunities for different groups, departments, branches, interdisciplinary programs, to discuss versions on the table. It was in those conversations where we might learn how a word or phrase was heard within and across disciplines; where we found convergence, deeper awareness, and respect. The both-and of this process modeled what we value and genuinely captures our shared identity as 黑料不打烊 College.鈥� – Caroline Ketcham, associate dean of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of exercise science
• 鈥淚t was always important to us that this wasn鈥檛 a process where faculty were just asked to weigh in at the end, after the real decisions had already been made. From start to finish, it was grounded in listening to what faculty across the college say we do well and what values they believe guide our shared work. Our task wasn鈥檛 to invent a mission, vision and values, but to clearly articulate what faculty are already living and leading with. I think that鈥檚 why faculty can so readily see themselves and their departments represented in the final statements.鈥� – David Buck, associate dean of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences and an associate professor of psychology
• 鈥淗aving shared goals and articulated values helps everyone in the college feel connected as a community, value each other鈥檚 work and prioritize our energies on initiatives that matter to us.鈥� – Shannon Duvall, interim associate dean of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of computer science
• 鈥淚 appreciated the collaborative nature of it all, not just between the dean鈥檚 office and department chairs, but also extending to faculty members across 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences. It really did involve all of us. What particularly stood out to me were the conversations in our chairs鈥� meetings with the dean where we came to agreements on core values. It鈥檚 inspiring to see that distinctly different types of disciplines uphold the same core values.鈥� – Joel Karty, chair of the Department of Chemistry and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Sydney F. & Kathleen E. Jackson Professor of chemistry
• 鈥淚 appreciated being part of a process that felt genuinely collaborative. Our participation was not merely symbolic. It felt meaningful, and I experienced the dean鈥檚 office as truly listening. The process itself was also inspirational, and I feel bolstered in leading my own department through similar work. It was powerful to see such a broad, collective effort take shape into something tangible.鈥� – Samantha DiRosa, chair of the Department of Art and a professor of art and environmental studies
• 鈥淭he process of creating a new vision statement, mission statement and core values for 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences was both thoughtful and deeply collaborative. Over many months, department chairs worked together to reflect on what makes us distinctive and how best to express those qualities in guiding statements. The process intentionally sought input from across departments, ensuring that everyone in the college had the opportunity to contribute their perspectives. Personally, the time spent reflecting with fellow chairs on what makes each of our departments special fostered a deeper sense of shared purpose and collective commitment.鈥� – Carrie Eaves, chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Policy and associate professor of political science and public policy

Kelly said he was pleased the final language resonated with the faculty in the college.

鈥淭he true measure of a successful attempt to lead a group or an organization towards a renewed vision, mission and core values is whether the words and sentiments 鈥榮ound like us鈥�,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I heard that some faculty believed my presentation of our vision, mission and core values at our spring faculty meeting 鈥榮ound like us,鈥� I knew that our work together in small and large group settings was a huge success. It means that stakeholders were heard and that the words resonate so much so that the tune or melody is familiar. The vision, mission and core values reflect truly who we are and where we are going with much intention.鈥�

鈥淭error made me cruel; and, finding it useless to attempt shaking the creature off, I pulled its wrist on to the broken pane, and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the bed-clothes; still it wailed 鈥楲et me in!鈥欌��

Thus speaks Mr. Lockwood, a clueless townie and milksop, narrator of Emily Bronte鈥檚 1848 novel Wuthering Heights, about to appear 鈥� again! 鈥� 聽on screen in a Valentine鈥檚 Day release.

This production generates a new burst of interest in a novel that鈥檚 never lost its coolness-cachet. Romance 鈥� doomed, of course聽 鈥� and the lure of Gothic darkness are bestsellers, particularly with a young audience.

Unsuspecting Lockwood, forced by bad weather to stay at remote and rural Wuthering Heights, the house now under the seriously unpleasant domination of brutal Byronic anti-hero Heathcliff, dreams that a child scratches at the window, begging to get in: 鈥淚鈥檓 come home! I鈥檇 lost my way on the moor!鈥� she moans. 聽Overcome with inexplicable cruelty, the otherwise normal Lockwood drags ghostly Catherine鈥檚 wrist across the jagged window glass.

Catherine, Heathcliff鈥檚 long-dead childhood and eternal love, is back.

Emily Bront毛鈥檚 novel also is a bit of a cine-revenant: a silent film version in 1920 was followed by five English-language screen adaptations, including 1939鈥檚 version starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon. Foreign directors are not immune, with Indian, Spanish and Filipino films attesting to the pull of Bront毛鈥檚 fiction.

It certainly channels the Gothic horror we all seem to crave. What fictional mode was ever more resilient than the Gothic? Born in eighteenth-century England with Horace Walpole鈥檚 鈥淭he Castle of Otranto鈥� (1764), the Gothic mode powered on, past Mary Shelley鈥檚 1820 classic 鈥淔rankenstein,鈥� through Daphne du Maurier鈥檚 鈥淩ebecca,鈥� up to the very recent 鈥淢exican Gothic鈥� by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

The Gothic closet is stuffed with ghosts, dead bodies, graves, vampires, the living dead, corrupt sexuality, damsels in distress, powerful and dangerous attractive men, 聽gargoyled architecture and locked doors. The list is long.

But Gothic is a fragile literary mode, lurching sometimes into farce: Bront毛 piles it on, ad absurdum: a kitchen with a row of hanged puppies, dead rabbits mistaken for kittens, a knife thrust casually into a servant鈥檚 teeth, and Heathcliff鈥檚 late penchant for grave-digging.

Catherine鈥檚 and Heathcliff鈥檚 declarations of eternal love indeed caught the irreverent eye of satirists in 鈥淢onty Python鈥檚 Flying Circus,鈥� a seventies UK television series: 鈥淪emaphor Wuthering Heights鈥� depicts the supposedly desperate lovers complacently signaling in neat flag formation across the desolate moorland.

But let鈥檚 get serious again. The novel is genuinely disturbing in its depiction of childhood love turned into adult obsession: 鈥淚 am Heathcliff!鈥� declares Catherine. 鈥淗e鈥檚 always, always in my mind not as a pleasure . . . but, as my own being.鈥� 聽And we believe her. 聽Their individual identities are merged forever, even after death, when Heathcliff begs dead Catherine to haunt him: 鈥淏e with me always 鈥� take any form 鈥� drive me mad! . . . I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!鈥�

Heathcliff 鈥� brought as a nameless street urchin into the Wuthering Heights household, mistreated in childhood, and bereft of Catherine 鈥� takes revenge on everyone implicated in his misery. Vampire-like, he sucks the free will, money and property from his victims, turning the landowning gentry system on its head.

The young novelist herself spent most of her life in her clergyman father鈥檚 northern England vicarage and was an unlikely author of such a startling fiction.

鈥淲uthering Heights,鈥� originally published under the man-sounding pseudonym Ellis Bell, was slammed by reviewers, who denounced it as coarse, brutal, and irreligious. After her death at 30, Emily was 鈥渄efended鈥� by her older sister Charlotte, who resorted to claiming that her sister was just a child of nature, living secluded in rural Yorkshire. She really 鈥渄idn鈥檛 get鈥� polite society.

But Emily has had historical payback after those disapproving reviews. 鈥淲uthering Heights鈥� stays reliably in print, thanks to people like me, who teach it, and thanks to the film makers, who periodically boost it lucratively into the headlines.

The new film beckons. But I hope that moviegoers will turn again to the book: a real Gothic shocker, which entertains while inviting us to ponder the dangerous and wonderful strength of human feeling, to consider the possibility that individual human identity is permeable, and that we may really be able to live in each other鈥檚 hearts and minds 鈥� perhaps forever.

The article explores why the novel, long considered both a seminal work of Gothic literature and a complex portrait of passion and revenge, is trending again amid a new film adaptation.聽Haskell is quoted in the piece offering expert insight into how modern readers approach Bront毛鈥檚 work.

鈥淚t appeals to our slightly shameful and subversive desires to experience the terror and horror ourselves and to experience other people undergoing terror and horror,鈥� said Haskell of the interest in the novel.

The article highlights that some modern readers may be struggling with the novel, and Haskell says that this may be due to the changing English language. She encourages people to read the book outloud and pair it with watching adaptations, which can make the work more accessible.

鈥淚n the end, I think you just have to persevere and keep going. It becomes easier,” Haskell said.