Brian Jansen

Brian Jansen is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maine with a joint appointment in the Department of English and the Department of Communication and Journalism. His research focuses on media studies, literary criticism, and critical cultural studies, particularly examining labor dynamics, neoliberalism, and the intersection of performance art with political ideologies. He holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Calgary (2018), an MA from the University of Windsor (2011), and a BA from the University of Waterloo (2009).

• Education:
• PhD, English Literature, University of Calgary, 2018
• MA, English Literature and Creative Writing, University of Windsor, 2011
• BA (Honours), English Rhetoric and Professional Writing, University of Waterloo, 2009

His work explores how labor intersects with capital and neoliberalism, with a unique focus on American professional wrestling as a lens to analyze cultural tensions. He has published widely on authors like David Foster Wallace, George Saunders, and Vladimir Nabokov, alongside studies on young adult literature and performance studies. His scholarship appears in journals such as Comparative American Studies, Journal of Popular Culture, and ESC: English Studies in Canada.

Publications highlight themes of authenticity in performance, spatial theory in urban narratives, and ethical dilemmas in dystopian fiction. His recent work interrogates how neoliberalism shapes cultural production and labor narratives. While no specific grants or awards are listed, his research demonstrates a commitment to interdisciplinary analysis bridging literary criticism and social theory.