Samuel Steinberg

Samuel Steinberg is an Associate Professor in Spanish and Portuguese and Comparative Literature at the University of Southern California. His primary affiliations include the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Comparative Literature Program within USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Pennsylvania (2009), an M.A. in Comparative Literature from UC Irvine (2003), and a B.A. in Literature from UC Santa Cruz (2000).

Steinberg's research focuses on Latin American philosophy and letters, critical theory, and political thought. His work uniquely bridges literary analysis with visual culture, particularly through studies of photography's role in historical memory. Key areas include Mexican cultural studies, neoliberalism's impact on literature, and the intersection of psychoanalysis with political theory. His scholarship often examines 20th-century Latin American writers and historical events like the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre, exploring how cultural production engages with trauma and collective memory.

His publications span monographs and essays analyzing topics such as secular duty in contemporary thought, global conflict's influence on literature, and the photopoetics of Mexican history. Steinberg's work demonstrates a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches, integrating philosophy, art history, and political science to interrogate cultural and intellectual histories.