Biography
Biography
Kerry Soper studied art as an undergraduate at Utah State University. He then attended Emory University where he pursued an MA and PhD in American Studies. His primary research interests include comic strips, comedy, satire, American art history, and popular film. He has published three books with The University Press of Mississippi: Garry Trudeau: The Aesthetics of Satire; We Go Pogo: Walt Kelly, Politics and American Satire, and Gary Larson and The Far Side. In addition to teaching in the Interdisciplinary Humanities and American Studies programs at BYU, he paints landscapes (www.kerrysoper.squarespace.com) and attempts to bridge the gap between theory and practice by contributing humor columns to Utah Life magazine and occasionally publishing cartoons and short satiric pieces in The Chronicle of Higher Education and other venues:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157815029909465&set=pcb.10157815040014465&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157453258269465&set=pcb.10157453278104465&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157630636199465&set=pcb.10157630636274465&type=3&theater
https://www.byuradio.org/episode/f966de4f-316e-43e4-8d15-710424cb3e2f/the-apple-seed-romeo-y-julieta
http://www.chronicle.com/article/Academic-Abroad-A-Cautionary/130614
http://www.chronicle.com/article/The-St-Valentines-Day/34992
http://www.chronicle.com/article/The-Antiprofessor-Speaks-Out/35866
http://www.chronicle.com/article/May-I-Have-Ketchup-With-My/8970 http://www.chronicle.com/article/Mutiny-of-the-Adjunct-Bots/21769
http://www.chronicle.com/article/The-Lipizzaner-Approach-to/29197
http://www.chronicle.com/article/Recent-Post-Tenure-Review/35599
http://www.chronicle.com/article/Things-You-Shouldnt-Say-in-a/20203.
Degrees
PhD, Emory University,1998 MA, Emory University,1998 BFA, Utah State University,1992
Interests
Fly-fishing, soccer, comedy improv
Research Interests
American Studies, Comedy, satire, comics, popular culture (American and British), film, American art history.Teaching Interests
Comedy, satire, comics, popular culture (American and British), film, American art history.Honors and Awards
- American Studies Professor of the Year, American Studies Program, Brigham Young University (2009 - Present)
- Alcuin Fellowship, BYU GE and Honors Program (2019 - 2021)
- American Studies Professor of the Year, 2014, American Studies Program, BYU (2014 - 2015)
- Humanities Center Fellow, BYU Humanities Center (2014 - 2015)
- Charles M. Schulz Award: Outstanding College Cartoonist in the Nation (1990 - 1990)
Administrative Assignments
- Comparative Arts and Letters: Department Chair (2022 - Present)
- : Director (2005 - 2008)
Memberships
- Image/Text (2012 - Present)