February 9, 2016

On February 9, 2016 Larry McCaffery, Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature gave a lecture on “The Aesthetics of the Literary Interview.” His talk focused on his collaborative interview process and included highlights from his most memorable interviews. McCaffery’s interviews have been widely published and recognized as important contributions to the study of postmodern literature and contemporary American fiction. This event was part of the Humanities in Action series sponsored by the Department of English and Comparative Literature and is supported by the College of Arts and Letters. Special thanks to Dr. Clare Colquitt for arranging the lecture.

Special Collections & University Archives houses the Larry McCaffery Papers, which contain McCaffery’s insightful interview files. These files document every phase of his interview process - from the original recorded interview, to the edited drafts, to the final published version. Interviewees include such literary innovators as Samuel Delany, Raymond Federman, Tom Robbins, Joanna Russ, Mark Danielewski, Ursula LeGuin, William Eastlake, and more. The collection serves as an important resource for the study of the literary interview and the history and criticism of postmodern fiction. The collection is currently in process but is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer 2016.

Running time: 1 hour 16 minutes