معرفی
Dr. Richard van Oort is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Victoria (UVic), where he has been since 2007. He specializes in Shakespeare studies, literary theory, generative anthropology, and the intersection of literature with anthropology and cognitive science. His academic career includes prior teaching at the University of British Columbia and a Ph.D. from UC Irvine (2002), where he studied under Wolfgang Iser. His research bridges cognitive science, evolutionary anthropology, and literary analysis, particularly focusing on the origins of fiction and symbolic representation.
Education: BA (Victoria), MA (Victoria), MA (Western Ontario), PhD (UC Irvine).
Research interests emphasize Shakespearean drama, the application of generative anthropology to literary criticism, and the exploration of mimetic desire in tragedy. He has authored four books, including Shakespeare’s Mad Men (2023) and Shakespeare’s Exiles (2025), and numerous articles on topics ranging from Renaissance literature to interdisciplinary theory. His work often addresses how literature reflects and constructs human cultural and cognitive evolution.
Teaching focuses on Shakespeare and Renaissance drama, with courses such as Shakespeare’s Comedies and Romances and Payback: Revenge, Debt, Money. Though no awards are explicitly listed, his prolific publications and role as a faculty member highlight his scholarly contributions. No specific grants or labs are mentioned, but his research aligns with UVic’s humanities initiatives.
