Jared Gardner

Jared Gardner is the Joseph V Denney Designated Professor of English at The Ohio State University, where he is affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of English. Alongside his academic role, he serves as Secretary of the University Senate, balancing teaching and administrative responsibilities. His primary affiliations include the Department of English and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, where he contributes as a curator.

Prof. Gardner holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University (1994) and a BA from Amherst College (1987). His educational background is rooted in literature and cultural studies, which inform his interdisciplinary research and teaching.

Gardner's research interests span comics studies, periodical studies, and the history of American film and popular culture. He explores how media forms like print, comics, and film shape cultural narratives, with a focus on early American magazine culture and transmedial storytelling. His work often intersects with medical humanities and environmental humanities, examining themes such as race, identity, and the role of media in societal change. Key areas include:

• Comics as a narrative medium and its historical evolution
• Pre- and post-Civil War serial culture
• Medical narratives in graphic novels
• Environmental representations in literature and film
• Interdisciplinary approaches to media studies

In his recent publications, Gardner has emphasized the historical and cultural dimensions of comics and graphic narratives, including works on Will Eisner, Charles Schulz, and the transmedia adaptations of stories. He also engages with the intersections of literature, film, and medical humanities, reflecting his commitment to understanding media as a dynamic cultural force. Recent works highlight his exploration of early American periodical culture and the evolving role of narrative forms in the digital age.

Gardner has directed the Popular Culture Studies minor at Ohio State for over 15 years, overseeing its curricular development and student engagement. While specific grant details are not provided, his collaborations with institutions like the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum suggest involvement in funded projects. He advises students in various capacities, though no formal advisee list is included in the provided texts.

He actively collaborates with the Ohio State Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, curating exhibitions such as "Drawing Blood: Comic & Medicine". This partnership underscores his dedication to bridging academic research with public cultural engagement.