Barry Laga

Barry Laga is Professor of English at Colorado Mesa University, affiliated with the Department of English in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He teaches courses in Composition, Film Studies, Literary Theory, American Literature, and Cultural Studies, emphasizing methodological diversity and critical engagement.

His educational background includes a PhD from Purdue University and MA and BA degrees from Brigham Young University. His pedagogy centers on the 'toolbox metaphor,' empowering students with interpretive and critical strategies rather than fixed knowledge.

Laga's research lies at the intersection of cultural studies, postmodernism, and interdisciplinary literary analysis. He explores topics such as Holocaust representation in graphic novels (e.g., Maus), religious art, Mormon cultural narratives, experimental literature, and postmodern cinema. His work reflects a deep engagement with visual narrative, identity formation, and the politics of memory.

His publications span over two decades, including a 2018 monograph with Routledge and numerous peer-reviewed essays and reviews. The body of his work reveals a consistent focus on how narrative, form, and metaphor shape cultural understanding, especially in marginalized or contested histories.

• Review of The Jewish Graphic Novel, Shofar, 2011
• Review of Comics as Philosophy, MELUS, 2007
• Review of Gerald Vizenor: Writing in the Oral Tradition, Mid-America Folklore, 1997
• Review of Manifest Manners, American Indian Quarterly, 1996
• Review of Shadow Distance, American Indian Quarterly, 1996

Laga has advised no publicly listed students in the provided text and has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards. He maintains an active scholarly presence through publications and conference presentations, though no grants, labs, or research teams are referenced.