Dr. Andrew J. McKenna

Professor, French Language and Literature

amckenn@luc.edu

Research Interests

• René Girard's Mimetic Theory in all its implications and applications in the Human Sciences
• Eric Gans's Generative Anthropology as a decisively important dimension of Mimetic Theory
• Art history and criticism: French, European, American

Selected Recent Publications 

• "Art and Markets," Anthropoetics:  The Journal of Generative Anthropology: Chronicles of Love and Resentment, No. 418, Jan. 21, 2012
  
• "The Ends of Violence: Girard and Derrida," Lebenswelt: Esthetics and Philosophy of Experience, No 1 (2011), 84-92, http://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/Lebenswelt/issue/view/214/showToc
• "Art and Incarnation: Oscillating Views," Anthropoetics 15, no. 2 (Spring 2010), http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap1502/1502McKenna.htm
• "Bernanos : Polemicist and Prophet of our World", Logos : A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture 12:2: 62-79 (Spring 2009)
• "Mimésis et réciprocité: Montesquieu romancier," in Jean-Pierre Dupuy, ed., Dans L’oeil du cyclone : Colloque de Cerisy (Paris : Carnets nord, 2008), 227-246.
• "Philanthropologie : La Loi du plus faible," Cahiers de l’Herne: 223-228 (Fall 2008)
• "Fellini's Crowds and the Remains of Religion," Contagion: Journal of Mimesis, Violence, and Culture, vols. 12-13: 159-182 (2007)
• "Girard, Rorty, and the Novel," Renascence LV:4: 293-314 (Summer 2003)
• "Scandal, Resentment, Idolatry: The Underground Psychology of Terrorism," Anthropoetics 8:1 (Spring 2002, Internet: 26 pp.)
• "Shakespeare: teoria e pratica," Studi perugini 5:10:123-146 (Spring 2002)

Education

• B.A. French, Holy Cross College, 1964
• Ph.D. Romance Languages [French & Spanish], Johns Hopkins University, 1970

Courses Regularly Taught

• French Literature of 17th, 19th, 20th centuries
• Stylistics
• French culture and civilization
• Masterpieces of European Literature and Comparative Literature (in translation)

Other Activities

• Editor-in-Chief of Contagion: Journal of Violence, Mimesis, and Culture, 1996-2006
• Host of French Club Activities
• Kairos Prison Ministry

Web Links

• [1] http://www.imitatio.org/ This is an authoritative site on Girard's work and the research it has inspired across the human sciences and in neuroscience as well.
• [2] http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/news/accents.shtml Access to live French TV and radio broadcasts, some with texts to read while listening.
• [3] Anthropoetics: The Electronic Journal of Generative Anthropology
  http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/anthropoetics/home.html: This is one of the best social science/humanities research forums available, including chronicles on contemporary events from the perspective of a single, coherent theory.
• [4] http://theol.uibk.ac.at/cover/: This is the research hub for works about the theory of René Girard, one of France's -- and the world's -- most important thinkers.
• [5] The Raven Foundation http://www.ravenfoundation.org/: The best place to start for understanding the value and interest of mimetic theory for the public at large.