In this introduction to the wild, colorful, and (occasionally) questionable world of professional wrestling, Dr. Jess Krenek will discuss how wrestling operates, the ways in which pro wrestling and performance overlap, the ways in which the narratives in professional wrestling reflect the cultural moods of the time, and the ways in which professional wrestling --and wrestlers--operate through the lens of queer studies with bodies on display for consumption.
Dr. Krenek earned her PhD from the University of Maryland from the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. Her dissertation project was an ethnographic study of non-male fans of professional wrestling, examining the ways in which fandom creates and disrupts community, through lenses of gender studies, queer studies, and performance studies.
She has presented on the topic of professional wrestling & fandom studies at a variety of media and theatre conferences, on pro wrestling podcasts, and at multiple conventions in the DC area. She hopes to turn her research into a book project, as she continues to build connections with fellow fans and attend wrestling shows as often as possible. Currently, Dr. Krenek works at the University of Maryland's College of Arts and Humanities.
This event is generously funded by Mass Humanities and Mass Cultural Council.
