Josh Hanan
Seeking Ph.D., Rhetoric and Language Studies
Projected graduation date: Spring, 2010
Email: jhanan1982@ mail.utexas.edu
Hometown: San Diego, CA
BA Degree: Speech Communication: Humboldt State University
MA Degree: Communication: San Diego State University
Current research interests: I study rhetoric from a historical materialist perspective. As a result, I am intrigued by how apparatuses of power, existing within capitalism, create and constrict rhetorical agency. I am particularly interested in apparatuses that pertain to health and environmental discourses, especially those that demonstrate to the biopolitical context of contemporary capitalism. To this end, I have written papers discussing the sustainability rhetoric of Wal-Mart, the anti-illicit drug rhetoric of the Department of Health and Human Services, the pop-cultural rhetoric of Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth,” in addition to more theoretical pieces addressing the emergence of a non-state public sphere and a neo-productive (post-hermeneutical) theory of rhetoric.
Outside hobbies & interests: When not reading scholarly texts I enjoy spending time with my fiancée, biking, hiking, swimming, gardening, cooking, and meditating. I also take pleasure in volunteering my time with non-profits such as Amnesty International and The National Resources Defense Council.
What you think makes UT or Austin unique, cool, or "weird": Austin is the best city that I have ever lived in! It merges the tranquility of small town living with all the cultural benefits that can only be attained by living in a big city. Out of everything, however, it is definitely the natural beauty of Austin that I appreciate the most. Austin is full of crystal clear rivers and springs to swim in, lush forests to hike in, and its commitment to sustainability is unsurpassed by most cities.