Patrick S. Lawrence
@Pat_S_Lawrence
Studying censorship, nationalism, political rhetoric. Books: Out of the Gutters (UT Press 2025), Obscene Gestures (Fordham UP 2022). http://patslawrence.bsky.social
Prepping for #SHEAR2025 and noticing that when people use moralist rhetoric for exclusive ends, it's aggressively forward-focused. They angrily dismiss the idea of reparative justice for past wrongs, even when those wrongs are admitted, which is not always.
UT Press is offering a discount on my new book, so get it now?
OUT OF THE GUTTERS, one of UTP's newest releases, takes a closer look at the panels we read and explores what happens between them. 🧵
"Out of the Gutters: Obscenity, Censorship, and Transgression in American Comics" serves as an important historical document as well as a guidebook. biffbampop.com/2025/06/22/her…
Today is release day for OotG! Here is the book half in the dirt. Metaphors! Thanks to all the people who made the book possible, especially my co-editor Jorge Santos and @UTexasPress utpress.utexas.edu/9781477331804/
In fall, I'm running for an MLA Delegate Assembly seat representing Academic Freedom. Most of you know these issues are close to my heart + research. I hope you'll consider clicking next to my name in Dec, and if you want to connect over these issues in the meantime, let's do it.
I'm always out here talking about censorship, it seems. Here's a cool event in about 2 weeks if you're in the Boston area (it's also on Zoom). They've got me in the opening panel, talking about Thomas Morton's hilarious New English Canaan. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…
My latest book, co-edited with Jorge Santos, is about comics: what makes their censorship uniquely interesting and how their suppression rhymes with that affecting other forms. It's coming out this year, and it's available for pre-order now. @UTexasPress utpress.utexas.edu/9781477331804/
Just got back-cover copy for Out of the Gutters, an essay collection I co-edited w/ Jorge Santos about comics, censorship, kink, + violence. Looks like this thing is for real coming out in '25. Watch out for a string of shameful self-promotion in the coming months. @UTexasPress
Hiring a postdoc @CornellBPP to work w/me to engage w/communities & policy processes. This is a great position for anyone (1) still looking for a position for next year (2) who cares about making research relevant to real people & communities. Apply! academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/27543
It is happening! We got final editorial board approval for Out of the Gutters, our collection on comics, obscenity, politics, and all the things. Hopefully coming to you in spring '25.
Reader reports are in for the full manuscript of _Out of the Gutters_, and they are positive! Hopefully that means getting this collection's essays on taboo, transgression, identity, sexuality, power, politics, censorship, and markets in the world soon.
I feel pretty cool about this. Read it for spicy Ed Meese takes and how Bonfire and A.Psycho don't achieve what they wanted (@amlitjournal): read.dukeupress.edu/american-liter…
