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The Scholar's Journey: Professor Karen Sullivan on Literature, Learning, and Life

Episode 200: The Scholar's Journey: Professor Karen Sullivan on Literature, Learning, and Life

Norm chats with medieval literature professor Dr. Karen Sullivan about her research on truth in old texts, learning cello, Arctic bears, and academic adventures

Show notes

Norm sits down with Rhinecliff resident Karen Sullivan, the Irma Brandeis Professor of Romance Literature and Culture at Bard College, for a conversation that spans centuries and continents. Karen specializes in medieval studies and is acclaimed for her research on historical and literary truths in medieval French and Occitan literature. She discusses her various interests, from her academic work in medieval and Renaissance studies to learning the cello and conducting bear research in the Arctic Circle for her newest book on the medieval bear. What ties her scholarship together is her exploration of how we know what we know, and the search for truth across history, literature, and personal experience. Follow Karen's academic journey as she reflects on staying humble, embracing the beginner's experience, and finding meaningful connections between literature, history, and culture.

01:00 – Introduction
03:00 – Karen’s academic background and interests
11:00 – The adventure of learning cello
16:00 – Bears in history, literature, and the wild
31:00 – Teaching, research, and the value of humility
46:00 – Irish literature, hidden histories, and poetry
1:11:00 – Why medieval literature matters today

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

Send comments to comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

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Karen Sullivan

Karen Sullivan

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