Adam Fales

Adam Fales is a Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Chicago, part of the 2018 cohort. His research explores the interconnections between family structures, property law, and 19th-century US fiction, with a focus on race, gender, and sexuality. He employs queer theory, Black studies, and Marxist feminist frameworks to analyze literary and legal histories. Fales teaches courses such as Literature and Law and Moby-Dick, blending legal concepts with literary analysis. Beyond academia, he writes for public platforms like Los Angeles Review of Books and Avidly, examining cultural objects—from TV shows to music—that challenge norms of 'ridiculousness.' As an editor of Chicago Review, he contributes to one of the nation’s oldest student-run literary magazines.

His research interests include legal studies, Black studies, and the disciplinary histories of literature. Fales’ work often bridges academic and public engagement, using literature to interrogate societal structures. Upcoming courses (2025–2026) include advanced studies in 19th-century fiction and Melville’s Moby-Dick, emphasizing themes like racial prejudice, environmental ethics, and democratic threats.