Robert Hughes

Robert Hughes is an Associate Professor of English at The Ohio State University, specializing in comparative literature, 19th-century American literature, and contemporary continental philosophy. His work bridges aesthetics, ethics, and critical theory, with a focus on the intersection of body, thought, and art. He holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from Emory University and co-directs the International Philosophical Seminar in Italy.

Education:

• PhD in Comparative Literature, Emory University

Research Interests:

His research explores the aesthetic subject’s betweenitude—split between bodily experience and cognitive reflection—through figures like visuality, vulnerability, and ethical obligation. Key themes include:

• Philosophical translations of Peter Sloterdijk and Laurent de Sutter
• Lacanian psychoanalysis and clinical practice
• German Romanticism’s legacy in American literature
• Art’s role in confronting ethical impasses

Publications & Translations:

Recent works include monographs on aesthetic subjectivity and co-edited volumes on Lacanian clinical theory. His translations of Sloterdijk and de Sutter engage contemporary philosophical debates on color, religion, and 21st-century thought. Articles span journals like Philosophies, Modern & Contemporary France, and Angelaki.

Professional Roles:

• Co-director, International Philosophical Seminar (Italy)
• Public lectures and collaborative talks, e.g., on Moby-Dick with Elizabeth Renker

Lab/Team:

Active in Ohio State’s English department and interdisciplinary humanities initiatives, focusing on continental philosophy’s dialogue with literary studies.