Judaic Studies Program at Syracuse University

Syracuse University

Erella Brown

Erella Brown has been with the Judaic Studies Program at Syracuse University since 2004, teaching courses in modern Israeli literature and culture. Previously held positions at Haifa University in Israel and Penn State. Brown is trained in comparative literature and theater, with particular interests in modern and postmodern theory, with special emphasis on psychoanalysis and feminist theater.

When asked what she believes students, Jewish and non-Jewish, should gain from her classes, Brown answered “to shed their prejudice.” That is, students should come to realize the diversity of voices expressed in Israeli literature on a variety of issues, as opposed to the generalization that the works of Israeli writers and theorists reflect attitudes of the extreme left and right. Unfortunately, Brown added, much of the recent Israeli resources in literature, theater and film remain, as of yet, not translated in English, a situation that she hopes will improve soon. Perhaps with a greater variety of translated literature, she adds, a greater appreciation for the diverse Israeli culture will be realized in the United States.

Brown publishes extensively on authors and playwrights such as Antonin Artaud, Hanoch Levin, S.Y. Agnon and Hélène Cixious. Most recently, the following two articles just appeared in print: “The Lake of Seduction: Body, Acting and Voice in Helene Cixious’s Portrait de Dora” in Literature and Psychoanalysis; and “When Humor Turns Uncanny: Kliest’s Marionettes and Hoffman’s Mechanical Dolls” in Essays on Performance and Pedagogy.