Christopher Vanbeukering is a first-year MA student and a Graduate Research Assistant at the Institute of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies at GSU. In this interview, we talk with Christopher about his research interests and his first semester at GSU.
Please introduce yourself- name, educational background, year/degree from GSU, area of study/interest in WGSS.
Hello! My name is Christopher Vanbeukering. I am a first-year MA student in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Institute here at GSU. I have previously obtained a BA and MA in philosophy from the University of Memphis and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio respectively. My areas of study in WGSS currently include queer theory, feminist theory, affect theory, epistemology, political philosophy, and continental philosophy ranging from the 19th to 21st centuries.
Why did you decide to pursue a degree in WGSS?
I decided to pursue the WGSS MA for two reasons. First, I needed more time to solidify the interests that I want to pursue for the Ph.D. For example, I originally came into the program thinking that I would primarily study asexuality. However, upon reflection, I have now decided to shelf that interest because I am going in a new direction with my research. Second, I felt I needed a more interdisciplinary field as to truly explore my interests because there were topics I wanted to address, but it was sometimes difficult to do so within just one discipline.
What’s something surprising or interesting you’ve learned this semester?
Something I was surprised by was just how much free reign I had in forming my research interests. I knew the WGSS institute was interdisciplinary upon applying, but I did not fully understand what that meant until I started classes.
What courses are you enjoying the most, or what topics in your classes have you found the most engaging?
One class I have really enjoyed so far is feminist theories. It has been a pleasure to learn not only different theories of feminism but also the expansiveness of what we call feminism in general. One of my favorite topics from that class has been on feeling temporality. I especially liked the readings on crip temporality that we read from the South Atlantic Quarterly.
What research projects are you working on this semester?- presentations, publications, thesis, etc.
This semester, I have started to preplan for the thesis. My idea is to develop a concept I call ‘interobjectivity,’ which is roughly defined as the communally shared and accepted recognition of patterns. Ultimately, I plan to argue that interobjectivity highlights 1) a group-based, affective attachment to truth and 2) that truth is always constructed in and by groups. A consequence of my view is that although a person can be personally committed to a truth claim, that claim cannot be generated by one’s own mind for thinking is always done in community. To ground the thesis, I will examine detective fiction and murder mystery stories that I will argue challenge the objectivity of truth. My reason for selecting these types of stories is because both authors and readers are generally committed to uncovering the “objective truth” of the crime. Being effectively enraptured by objectivity, most devotees of these works will often act as though deductive logic is objective all without acknowledging that the premises that compose a deductive argument must also be accepted, which is a practice that involves both community and interobjectivity.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on applying to Ph.D. programs in cultural studies, American studies, and some other interdisciplinary departments. Hopefully, I will be able to attend a Ph.D. program in the fall of 2024.
Any advice for prospective students considering a degree in WGSS?
I have two bits of advice for prospective students. First, do not be afraid to explore all the interests you have. If what you are thinking is starting to fall outside of WGSS, the faculty will gladly help you focus your interests. Second, talk to the faculty about what you are thinking, whatever that may be. They are here to help us to learn. So, it helps to check in with them whenever possible.
Tell us more about yourself- interests, hobbies, etc.
When I am not studying, I like to play video games, particularly turn-based strategy games. My favorite video game series is Persona. I also like to read detective fiction and murder mysteries for fun in my spare time. I am currently aiming to reread this one murder mystery manga series, Umineko no Naku Koro ni, which is possibly my favorite deconstruction of the detective fiction genre ever written. Lastly, I love to listen to rock, metal, indie, and punk music. Currently, I have been listening to the Manic Street Preachers and Smashing Pumpkins.