Laurie Elizabeth Hilburn

6th February 2024

Rejecting, Reclaiming, Revitalizing the Mary Sue Trope

When barred from male-dominated spaces of fandom for popular media such as Star Trek and Lord of the Rings, women writers developed their own space to publish fanfiction and spun-off stories, developing the power of the self-insert known as Mary Sue to finally put women as the heroic leads

6th February 2024

Able Bodies: Disability Romance Press

Explore my publishing entity proposal, where if had unlimited time and resources, I would establish Able Bodies — an independent romance press dedicated to illustrating love stories where all bodies, no matter ability, can see themselves in a happily ever after

6th February 2024

Publisher Profile: Virago Press

During the second wave of feminism in Europe, Virago Press emerged as a feminist publishing house that was also commercially successful, spitfire Carmen Callil leading the charge to prove women's literature belongs in canon and should not be forgotten

3rd November 2022

Publisher Profile: The Feminist Press

Discover the history and development of the nonprofit Feminist Press, founded by the "mother of women's studies" Florence Howe and flourishing today as an opportunity for the underrepresented to share their words

15th June 2023

Case Study: Emily Dickinson

I have always been a fan of Emily Dickinson, but it is critical to remember: her writing was published without her consent. Yet, the only way to know her is to look into her private life. See Emily's development as a poet, her personal correspondence, and question the matter of ownership now that she no longer has control of what she created.

15th June 2023

The Lady Detective: Detective Fiction Written by Women Starring Women

What would my dream anthology look like if I had full freedom to publish one? Peruse this what-if mockup of a whodunit idea, exploring some feminist historical context, creative book design, and the overall method to my madness.

10th November 2020

Female Identity and Romance in Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca"

A study of the nameless main character of Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca" and how she perceives her identity through the titular woman (definitely recommend viewing Hitchcock's film of the book as well!)

10th November 2020

The Individuation of Isabella in "Measure for Measure" by William Shakespeare

Take a psychological dive into William Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" and the character Isabella as she grapples for autonomy in a play dominated by men, utilizing Jungian analysis to really make your head spin (but in a fun way!)

10th November 2020

The Myth of the Irish Woman: Identity in Traditional and Modern Irish Folklore

Examining the myth of the Irish woman in historical Irish literature, from fanciful tales of folklore to grim depictions of Ireland's struggle for identity

10th December 2021

"Where No Woman Had Swum Before": Queer Feminism in Kate Chopin's "The Awakening"

Spoiler alert: Kate Chopin's heroine commits suicide, but before her tragic demise, Edna Pontellier rebels against the stagnation of the 19th century by discovering her true self through the bonds of womanhood, so follow her awakening and see if you have one of your own

29th April 2022

In Life and Death: Behind the Movement of the Modern Chinese Woman

Take a look at the modern Chinese woman, her rise to prominence in the 1920s, and the unfortunate lengths gone to for feminism to take root throughout Chinese history

11th November 2021

A Woman's Nature: Ecofeminism in Carl Hiaasen's "Skinny Dip"

Plunge into this unconventional murder mystery and how our leading lady survives and is revived by the power of water and feminine identity, untangling where these two themes meet and discovering the newfound strengths behind ecofeminism (it sounds like it can't be pulled off, but it totally does!)

10th December 2021

Harry Potter and Redefining Normal: Disability in the Magical World

Although I no longer support the author due to her transmisogyny, I was lucky enough to take a class on Harry Potter and its literary merits, tackling the underrepresentation of characters with disabilities and just how the magical world of Harry Potter treats those not even considered "normal" by wizarding standards

10th November 2020

Nancy Drew and the Case of Literary Canonization

A reflection on Nancy Drew, the classic female detective of literature who also evades concrete literary canonization: Detective Fiction? Young Adult Fiction? Children's Fiction? All of the above?

11th November 2021

"The Shield of Achilles" by W. H. Auden: Art as a Tool of War

We all know Achilles was hot for Patroclus, but did you know his fabled shield was as much of a representation of war as it was a declaration of art? Take a glance at the analysis of "The Shield of Achilles" to see how love blossomed into bloodshed

11th October 2020

Disabled but Able: Assisting Students with Disabilities in the Writing Center

An analysis of and proposal to improve the relations between the Office of Disability Services (ODS) and the Writing Center (WC) at Winthrop University, including results from an anonymous survey of students with disabilities and the tutors who wish to accommodate them

10th November 2020

Profanity's Impact on Linguistic Development

A historical but NSFW study into how profanity has influenced linguistic development, from Old English sailing curses to modern day rebellion against censorship in the United States

11th October 2020

Book Review of Bryn Chancellor's "When Are You Coming Home?"

A literary look into the emotional prose and pieces of the stories found in "When Are You Coming Home?" by Bryn Chancellor

10th November 2020

Educational Applications of Sarah Dessen's "Dreamland" in Young Adult Fiction

A report on "Dreamland" by Sarah Dessen and its educational applications in studying Young Adult Fiction, including a book summary and review, literary analysis of the key themes, and recommendations for similar works

11th October 2020

LGBTQ+ Themes in Young Adult Fiction

Take a dive into the overarching LGBTQ+ themes found in Young Adult fiction, reviewing several impressive literary examples

11th October 2020

Women in Video Games

An academic exploration into the portrayal of women in video games and the desensitization of gender politics in video game media—and how modern-day feedback and commentary are changing the heroine narrative (for the better!)