Richard Bodek

Richard Bodek is a Professor of History and Director of the History MA Program at the College of Charleston, specializing in interdisciplinary historical research spanning German studies, cultural anthropology, and political history.

His educational background:

• Ph.D. in History, University of Michigan, 1990
• B.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1982

Bodek's research traverses Labor History, Intellectual History, Cultural Anthropology, Crime, Working-class and Popular Culture, Science Fiction, Weimar Culture, and Radical Politics. His work interrogates intersections of violence, cultural production, and political movements in 20th-century Europe, particularly Germany.

His scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with Weimar/Nazi-era Germany, Jewish intellectual history, and cross-disciplinary cultural analysis. Articles examine Berlin crime historiography, Frankfurt School philosophy, Yiddish literature, and political theater, demonstrating methodological range from archival research to literary criticism.

Key recognitions include:

• Fulbright Fellowship
• National Endowment for the Humanities grant
• Social Science Research Council grant
• German Academic Exchange Service grant

As MA Program Director, Bodek oversees graduate mentorship while researching murder in Occupied Germany, reflecting his enduring focus on violence and societal transformation.