Dr Huw Jones

Who am I?

I’m a senior lecturer in English here at MMU. It’s my belief that the study of literature and culture should be pleasurable as well as intellectually engaging. Accordingly, lectures are aimed at providing a broad overview of the subject matter, and seminars are focused upon debate and contextualizing the material.

My main research interests focus upon national identity and contemporary global capitalism, with particular emphasis on the distinctive forms of subjectivity that have emerged alongside these two key aspects of modernity. I am also interested in the relationship between the various literary and cultural avant-garde movements and the concept of political and social revolution. I am currently researching the apparent eclipse of national subjectivity in the contemporary globalized world.

Outside of work my interests are politics, political theory and history. But for relaxation it’s got to be bikes. Mountain biking, a bit of road biking and some mixed terrain single-speeding. Brilliant.

Why do I teach?

I firmly believe that the particular modes of enquiry and analysis that we work with in the study of literature are of a vital and enduring importance. The techniques of close reading, allied with a strong sense of the political, social and cultural contexts of a text have been developed extensively during the last century, and they continue to evolve in response to the rapidly changing world around us.

Words of wisdom

Believe in your own ability to understand ideas that can look opaque and intimidating at first sight. The vocabulary and techniques associated with Critical and Cultural Theory represent a significant departure from the way in which literature is taught in schools, and this can make the subject appear to be extremely difficult. However, as the course develops the combination of background reading, lectures, discussion in seminars and tutorials and feedback from assignments enables students to come to terms with these advanced study techniques.