Evgeny Pavlov

Evgeny Pavlov serves as Associate Professor in both History and Global, Cultural and Language Studies at the University of Canterbury (Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha), Faculty of Arts, where he has maintained appointments since 1999. He currently holds the position of Head of Department for Global, Cultural and Language Studies (LANG), effective January 2025. His academic trajectory demonstrates sustained engagement with Russian literary traditions within broader European contexts.

Professor Pavlov earned his PhD in Comparative Literature from Princeton University (1993-1999), establishing the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach that bridges Western and Eastern European intellectual traditions. His doctoral work informed his first monograph 'Shok pamiati: avtobiograficheskaia poetika Val'tera Beniamina i Osipa Mandel'shtama' (The Shock of Memory: Autobiographical Poetics of Walter Benjamin and Osip Mandelstam, Moscow: NLO, 2005).

His research program focuses on Russian and European Modernism, Postmodernism, literary theory, cultural history, comparative literature, translation, and film. Professor Pavlov has developed particular expertise in Soviet and post-Soviet literary underground movements, avant-garde traditions, and contemporary Russian poetry. His scholarly contributions demonstrate deep engagement with the Leningrad cultural underground, the OBERIU group, and key figures including Arkady Dragomoshchenko, Konstantin Vaginov, and Andrei Sen-Senkov. His work consistently explores how literary aesthetics intersect with political constraints and historical transformations.

Analysis of Professor Pavlov's publication record reveals a trajectory progressing from early Soviet avant-garde to contemporary post-Soviet literature, with increasing sophistication in examining temporal structures, visual poetics, and philosophical dimensions of Russian writing. His recent scholarship shows particular interest in time theory, resistance strategies, and the global dimensions of Russian literary production.

• Invited Professor at Modernitas: Interdisciplinary Collaborative Links between Humanities and Natural Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles (2023-2024)

As an active academic citizen, Professor Pavlov serves as co-editor of the New Zealand Slavonic Journal and holds leadership positions including vice-president of the Australia and New Zealand Slavists' Association. He has contributed extensive peer review services for major journals including Slavic Review and Slavic and East European Journal. His supervision of graduate students spans diverse topics from Soviet sports history to Cold War cultural diplomacy, reflecting his commitment to mentoring the next generation of scholars in Russian studies. Professor Pavlov has organized significant academic events including the 'Translations/Transitions' conference in 2011 and panels at major international conferences such as ASEEES, demonstrating his role in fostering scholarly exchange across institutional and national boundaries.