About
Stephen Shapiro is Professor of English Literature at the University of Warwick, specializing in American literature, cultural studies, and Marxist theory. His academic journey began with a chemistry degree in New York State before shifting to English literature, with studies at Birmingham University's Department of Cultural Studies and research at the Gramsci Institute in Rome. Prior to Warwick, he taught at Harvard University, the New School, and John Jay College for Criminal Justice (CUNY), and has held prestigious fellowships including a Fulbright at Saarland University (1997-98), a Royal Shakespeare Company/Capital Fellowship (2008-09), and fellowships at UC Irvine, Heidelberg University, and Babeș-Bolyai University.
- First degree in Chemistry (New York State)
- Graduate studies in English
- Department of Cultural Studies (Birmingham University, England)
- Research at Gramsci Institute in Rome
Shapiro's research spans American literature, cultural studies, Marxism, world-systems analysis, urban studies, spatial theory, and television studies. His current book projects include The Cultural Fix: Marx and the Organic Composition of Capital, which bridges French and English editions of Marx's Capital, and The Twist: Capital, Data, and Cultures of the Intersectional Left, analyzing contemporary capitalist temporalities. He is also working on a critical edition of Charles Brockden Brown's Memories of Stephen Calvert, examining early American literature's treatment of male-male sexuality. His scholarship consistently connects literary analysis with political economy, exploring how cultural forms engage with capitalist structures.
Shapiro's recent publications reveal a trajectory from traditional literary studies toward increasingly interdisciplinary work that integrates world-systems theory, digital capitalism, and intersectional politics. His scholarship demonstrates a consistent engagement with Marxist theory while expanding into analyses of algorithmic governance, zombie studies, and the cultural politics of horror. The 2020-2025 publications show particular focus on how literary and cultural forms interact with contemporary crises of capitalism, including data-driven neoliberalism, resurgent fascism, and intersectional left movements.
- Best Collection Award 2019, British Association for Contemporary Literary Studies (BACLS)
- Honorable Mention, BAAS prize for best book in American Studies published during 2008
Shapiro has been actively involved in collaborative scholarly projects, particularly through his work with Philip Barnard on Charles Brockden Brown editions and with the Warwick Research Collective (WReC). He co-founded the Warwick Centre for Global Jewish Studies and has contributed to institutional initiatives including the successful application for Warwick's Race Equality Charter Mark (Bronze). His editorial work spans numerous collections that bridge literary studies with political economy, cultural theory, and world-systems analysis.
Shapiro is a founding member of the Warwick Research Collective (WReC), which has produced influential work on combined and uneven development in world literature. He serves on the university's Race Equality Taskforce and was instrumental in securing Warwick's Race Equality Charter Mark. His involvement with the WReC demonstrates his commitment to moving beyond traditional literary and cultural studies frameworks toward more globally oriented, politically engaged scholarship that connects literary analysis with economic and ecological concerns.
