Robert Matz
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
(703) 993-8720
Positions Held
Campus Dean, Mason Korea, 2019-
Interim Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, George Mason University, 2017-2018
Senior Associate Dean, George Mason University, 2013-2017
Chair, English Department, George Mason University, 2008-2013
Professor, English Department, George Mason University, 2010-
Associate Professor, English Department, George Mason University, 2000-2010
Assistant Professor, English Department, George Mason University, 1993-2000
Education
Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University, English and American Literature, 1993
M.A., The Johns Hopkins University, English, 1988
A.B., Cornell University, summa cum laude, with distinction in all subjects, 1986
Awards and Fellowships
Mason Summer Research Grant, Summer 2011
Choice 2008 Outstanding Academic Title, for The World of Shakespeare’s Sonnets An Introduction.
Faculty Study Leave, Fall 2001
Folger Seminar, “Going to Law,” Cynthia Herrup, Spring 1999
George Mason, College of Arts and Sciences, 1997 Summer Stipend for Junior Faculty Research
Assistant Editor, ELH, 1989-1991
Johns Hopkins Fellowships, 1986-1989
1st Prize, English Honors Thesis on John Donne, Cornell University, 1986
Phi Beta Kappa, Cornell University, 1986.
Publications and Papers
Books
“Two Early Modern Marriage Sermons: Henry Smith’s A Preparative to Marriage (1591) and William Whately’s A Bride-Bush (1623).” Edition. Routledge, 2016.
The World of Shakespeare’s Sonnets: An Introduction, McFarland Publishing, 2008.
Defending Literature in Early Modern England: Renaissance Literary Theory in Social Context, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Articles
“Theories and Philosophies of Poetry,” Blackwell Companion to Renaissance Poetry, ed. Catherine Bates. Blackwell Press, 2018.
“‘Who is Speaking Here?’: Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Modern Authorship and the Contemporary University,” in World-Making in Early Modern Literature, ed. Marcie Frank, Jonathan Goldberg and Karen Newman. Fordham University Press, 2016.
“‘To serve, love and obey’: The Taming of the Shrew and Early Modern Marriage.” Approaches to Teaching Taming of the Shrew. Ed. Margaret Dupuis and Grace Tiffany. MLA, 2013.
“The Scandals of Shakespeare’s Sonnets.” ELH 77 (2010): 477-508.
“A Woman Coloured Ill.” Section 3 of The World of Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Reprint. Poetry Criticism 98. Gale, 2009.
“Slander, Renaissance Discourses of Sodomy, and Othello. ” Reprint. Shakespearean Criticism 113. Gale, 2008.
“Poetry, Politics and Discursive Forms: The Case of Puttenham’s Arte of English Poesie.” Reprint. Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800 116. Gale, 2005.
“Slander, Renaissance Discourses of Sodomy, and Othello,” ELH 66 (1999): 261-76.
“Poetry, Politics and Discursive Forms: The Case of Puttenham’s Arte of English Poesie,” Genre 30 (1997): 195-214.
“The Politics of Pleasure: Sidney’s Defence of Poesie,” English Literary Renaissance 25 (1995): 131-47.
“Speaking What We Feel: Torture and Political Authority in King Lear,” Exemplaria 6 (1994): 223-41.
Reviews
Review of Kasey Evans, Colonial Virtue: The Mobility of Temperance in Renaissance England. Renaissance Quarterly 65 (2012)
Review of Stephen Greenblatt, Shakespeare’s Freedom. Journal of British Studies 51 (2012).
Review of Sean Keilen, Vulgar Eloquence: On the Renaissance Invention of Literature. Shakespeare Quarterly 60 (2009).
Papers Delivered / Conference Papers
“’Get Her Heart’: Romeo and Juliet and Early Modern Ideas of Marriage,” Korean Society of Shakespeare Fall 2019 conference, Asan, South Korea, October 26, 2019.
“Career Paths for Foreign Language Majors: The Data,” ” Modern Language Association Convention, New York, NY, January 4 – 7, 2017.
“Advancing Cross-Unit Collaborations in the University,” Modern Language Association Convention, New York, NY, January 4 – 7, 2017.
“Representing Career Success for English Majors.” Joint Association of Departments of English-Association of Departments of Foreign Languages Conference. Arlington, VA, June 4-7, 2015.
Strengthening the Undergraduate Major in English Studies,” Modern Language Association Convention, Vancouver, BC, January 8 – 12, 2015.
“Back to the Future? A Defense of the Separation of Informational and Literary Texts,” National Conference of Teachers of English Annual Convention, Washington, DC November 20-23, 2014.
“’They Did Make Love to This Employment’: Career-Ready Hamlet,” Teaching Shakespeare, Dartmouth College, October 17 – 18, 201.
Seminar Leader. “Shakespearean Exceptionalism: The Case of the Sonnets.” Shakespeare Association of America Annual Convention, April 2013.
“’Who is Speaking Here?’: The Sources of Shakespeare’s Sonnets.” September, 2012. Jonathan Goldberg: Writing, Sex and Other Matters. Conference in honor of Jonathan Goldberg.
“‘Learning to Read What Silent Love Hath Writ’: Shakespeare’s Sonnets in the Contemporary Secondary Education Classroom.” Shakespeare Association of America Annual Convention, April 2010.
“Dark Lady, Fair Man: Race in Shakespeare’s Sonnets,” Colonialism, Art and Sexuality in Early Modern Europe: Encountering the Other, Conference at American University, May 2005
“The Language of Practice: Literary Studies in the Corporate University,” SAMLA Convention, Atlanta, 1998.
“‘To Be Naked With Her Friend in Bed’: Sodomy and Adultery in Othello,” Shakespeare Association of America, Washington, D.C., 1997.
“The Pastoral of Powerlessness: Sidney’s Arcadia,” MLA Convention, Chicago, 1995.
“‘When I Was a Schollar’: Schooling the Court in Puttenham’s Arte of English Poesie, Folger Evening Colloquium, May 1995.
“The Politics of Pleasure: Sidney’s Defence of Poesie,” Johns Hopkins University Journal Club, September 1992.
“Speaking What We Feel: Torture and Political Authority in King Lear,” The Shakespeare and Renaissance Association of West Virginia, April 1989.
Radio
“Shakespeare’s Sonnets Turn 400.” With Good Reason. First Air Date: August 15, 2009.
Essays
“The Myth of the English Major Barista.” Inside Higher Ed. July 6, 2016.
“”Big-Tent English.” ADE Bulletin 154 (2015).
“Back to the Future?: A Defense of the Separation of Informational and Literary Texts.” ADE Bulletin 154 (2015).
“Bardolatry as Idolatry.” Views.” Inside Higher Ed. May 4, 2015. Reprinted as “Prose by Any Other Name.” Slate. May 7, 2015.
“Dear Garrison.” Views. Inside Higher Ed. February 5, 2012.
“Valentine’s Day Truths About Shakespeare.” Views. Inside Higher Ed. February 14, 2008.
In Progress
Revised edition of Bullough’s Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare, volume on Shakespeare’s poetry.
Courses Taught
At George Mason University
Renaissance Drama, Fall 2017 (English 324), Fall 2004, Spring 1997 (English 440)
Special Topics: Medieval or Renaissance (“Renaissance Makerspaces”), Spring 2017 (English 421)
Shakespeare: Histories, Fall 2015 (English 323/History 388)
English Poetry and Prose of the Sixteenth Century, Fall 2014, Fall 2009, Spring 2006, Fall 2003, Spring 1996 (English 401)
Studies in Early Modern Literature: Renaissance Poetry in Theory and Practice (English 630), Spring 2014
Texts and Contexts: Spring 2013 (“Great Shakespeare Plays”), Fall 2012 (“Marriage Plots”) (ENGH 202).
Shakespeare: Histories and Comedies, Spring 2012, Spring 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003, 2001, 1995, 1994 and Fall 2006, 2004, 1999 (English 335)
Introduction to Research, Fall 2011 and 2007 (Honors 110)
Shakespeare: Tragedies and Romances, Fall 2008, 2000, and Spring 2008, 2002, 2000 (English 336)
Studies in Early Modern Literature: Masculinity (English 630), Fall 2007
Special Topics in Shakespeare: “Shakespeare’s Sonnets,” Spring 2007 and 2002 (English 473)
Spenser, Fall 2006, 2002, 2000, 1997 and 1994 (English 472)
English Poetry and Prose of the Sixteenth Century, Spring 2006 Fall 2003, Spring1996 (English 401)
Studies in Early Modern Literature: “Sixteenth-Century Poetry (English 630)
Reading and Writing about Texts, Fall 2005, Fall, 2003, Fall 2000, Spring 2000 (English 201)
Renaissance Drama, Fall 2004, Spring 2001, 1997 (English 630)
Renaissance Drama, Fall 2004, Spring 1997 (English 440)
English Poetry and Prose of the Seventeenth Century, Spring 2004 and 2002, 1999 and Fall 1996 (English 402)
Studies in Early Modern Literature: “Shakespeare’s Sonnets,” Fall 2003 (English 630)
Special Topics in Shakespeare: “Gender and Sexuality,” Fall 1999 and 1995 (English 473)
Linked Composition, Fall 1999 (English 101)
Studies in Early Modern Literature: “Ideas of the Renaissance,” Spring 1999 (English 630)
Honors Thesis Seminar, Spring 1998 (English 415)
Dimensions of Literature, Spring 1998 (English 325)
Honors Seminar: “Love Stories,” Spring 1997 (English 415)
Studies in Early Modern Literature: “Cultural Capital?,” Fall 1996 (English 630)
Society and Literature: “Romancing Literature,” Fall 1996 and 1993 (English 207)
Shakespeare: Tragedies and Romances: “Gender and Sexuality,” Spring 1996 (English 631)
Literary Scholarship, Fall 1995 (English 701)
English Literature Survey I, Fall 1995, 1994 and 1993 (English 251)
Shakespeare: Histories and Comedies: “The Theater and Theatricality,” Spring 1995 (English 631)
Major Authors Before 1800: “Sidney and Spenser,” Fall 1994 (English 666)
Studies in Early Modern Literature: “Constructions of Authorship,” Spring 1994 (English 630)
At the Folger Shakespeare Library
Mastering Research at the Folger, Spring 2011
At The Johns Hopkins University
Instructor, English Composition, Fall 1991
Instructor, Shakespeare, Summer 1991
Instructor, English Composition, 1988-1989
Teaching Assistant, Shakespeare, 1987-1988
Independent Study
Jane Buckley, English 514.004: “The Poetry of Queen Elizabeth” (Spring 1996)
Thesis Committees
Camile Mustachio, “Bastardy in Shakespeare and Early Modern England,” (Spring 2005 -Fall 2005)
Eric M. Johnson, ” Open Source Shakespeare: An Online Resource for Scholars and Readers of Shakespeare” (Fall 2003-Spring 2004)
Fran Connor, “The Sociology of Paradise Lost: Dryden, Herringman and Carolean Publishing Convention” (Fall 2002-Spring 2003)
Jennifer McKain, “Pushing the Boundaries: Three Women’s Struggles for Reproductive Rights” (Spring 1997)
Regan M. Avery, “Cirqular Logic: The Subversive Strategies of the Cirque Du Soleil” (Summer 1996)
Jutta Schueler, “Feminist Rewritings of Shakespeare’s Plays: Acts of Sisterhood” (Summer 1996)
Service
National
Member, Executive Committee, Association of Departments of English (ADE), 2014-2017
Folger Institute Central Executive Committee, Fall 2007-Spring 2014
Folger Institute Application Review Committee, Summer, 2007-Spring 2010
At George Mason University
Department Chair, Fall 2008-2013
Undergraduate Committee, Chair, Fall 2002-Spring 2008
Advisory Committee to the Chair, Fall 2002-Spring 2008
Bachelors of Independent Studies (BIS), Executive Committee, Fall 2006-Spring 2007
Ad hoc Committee on Conversion of Term Faculty to Multiyear Contracts, Chair, Spring 2006, 2005, 2004
Salary Committee, Spring 2003-Fall 2004
Ad hoc K-12 Committee, Spring 2003-Summer 2005
Ad hoc Futures of English Committee, Spring 2003
Graduate Committee, Spring 2002
Undergraduate Committee, Fall 2000-Spring 2001, Fall 1994-Spring 1995
Ad-Hoc Committee on Writing Assessment in English, Spring 1999
Faculty Committee, Fall 1997-Spring 1999
CAS ad hoc committee on College Honors, Fall 1997
Advisory committee to the Dean on the Award of Grants for Curriculum Development, March 1997
Ad-Hoc Assessment Committee for the Undergraduate Major, Fall 1996
Outreach Committee, Cultural Studies, Fall 1996-1997
Advisory Committee to the Chairs, Fall 1995-Spring 1997
Honors Program Coordinator, Fall 1994-Spring 1998
Ad Hoc Committee on Revising 200-level Course Sequence, Spring 1994
Library/Media Committee, Fall 1993-Spring 1995
Professional Organizations
Modern Language Association
Shakespeare Association of America