Scott Saul

Scott Saul is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on 20th- and 21st-century American literature, African American studies, cultural studies, and performance arts. He is renowned for his biographical work Becoming Richard Pryor (2014), which explores the life and legacy of the groundbreaking comedian. Saul’s scholarship bridges artistic movements with social history, emphasizing connections between cultural production and activism.

His teaching includes courses like The Culture of the Cold War and Race and Performance in the 20th-century U.S. He pioneered digital humanities projects such as The Berkeley Revolution, a curated archive of 1960s–70s Bay Area history, and Becoming Richard Pryor’s companion website. Saul’s writings span academic monographs, essays, and op-eds, addressing topics from jazz’s role in the 1960s to contemporary debates about the humanities.

His articles critically analyze figures like Richard Pryor, jazz musicians, and authors, while engaging with themes of race, identity, and cultural transformation. Saul’s work is marked by interdisciplinary rigor and accessibility, reaching both academic and general audiences.