Congratulations to Brian McShane, PhD!
In March, faculty member Brian McShane completed his PhD studies in Rhetoric/Composition at Texas A & M Commerce. Brian completed both his B.A. in English and his M.A. in Multicultural English Literature and Language at Heritage. Brian's description of his dissertation is below. Congratulations Brian on this amazing accomplishment and we can't wait to hear what's next!
"My dissertation is a rhetorical historiography of a compilation of hardcore and punk music that was produced in two volumes entitled Rock Against Bush—an example of protest music that emerged as a direct response to the pro-war, anti-Muslim rhetoric that emerged in first decade following 9/11. In doing so, I approach the protest music included in this compilation, as well as the associated performances and embodied rhetorical spaces, as counterstories designed to disrupt the dominant narrative of almost McCarthy-Era patriotism in of the period. By examining these artifacts through the Counterstory lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT), the movement against George W. Bush by punk and hardcore bands and fans will present an alternative story to the dominant narrative of the time: namely that the pro-war, anti-dissent, freedom-fry America of the early 2000s was not supported by everyone. This literacy campaign produced the author of this dissertation, and connections to this music is made through anecdotes from the author."
If you have questions for Brian on his education story or his dissertation, feel free to email him: mcshane_b@heritage.edu