J. Agustín Pastén B.

J. Agustín Pastén B. is a Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at North Carolina State University (NC State), specializing in Latin American Literature and Culture. Previously, he taught at the University of Nebraska for 15 years before joining NC State in 2008. His research bridges literary analysis with socio-political contexts, focusing on contemporary narratives, postmodernism, and cultural studies.

• Education:
  • B.A. in History and German (Berea College)
  • M.Div. in Religion (Duke University)
  • M.A. in Latin American and Peninsular Literature (University of Kentucky)
  • Ph.D. in Latin American Literature (University of Pennsylvania)

His research interests center on Latin American literature’s engagement with history, politics, and identity. Notable publications include Postmodernism of Resistance in Roberto Bolaño’s Fiction and Poetry (2020) and analyses of contemporary authors like Nona Fernández and Camila Sosa Villada. He explores themes such as gender, spatial politics, and economic critique in narratives from Chile and beyond.

Recent presentations include discussions on trans identity in Alana S. Portero’s La mala costumbre (2025) and gender/class dynamics in Camila Sosa Villada’s Las malas. His work often intersects with interdisciplinary themes like queer theory and postcolonial studies.

Currently, he serves on NC State’s Awards Committee and Post Tenure Review Committee, contributing to academic governance. His office hours emphasize accessibility, with sessions scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays.