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Chris Gortmaker earned his PhD in English at the University of Chicago in 2024, having previously obtained a BA from Wesleyan University. His specialization lies in Anglo-American literature from the late nineteenth century to the present, with a transnational focus on modernism as an expansive artistic movement. His research opens new avenues of inquiry in modernist studies by reframing the concept of aesthetic autonomy, telling a new story of the literary-historical trajectory of modernist fiction, and reassessing philosophical tensions while arguing for the centrality of environmental humanities. Some of his ongoing book projects include 'Market Architecture Modernist Fiction,' which examines a distinct strain of Anglo-American modernist fiction characterized by its market exposure, and 'Host Modernism: Novel Aesthetics and Metabolic Rift,' which explores the ecological implications of aesthetic autonomy in modernist fiction. Gortmaker teaches a variety of courses that intersect modernist aesthetics with psychology, art history, ecology, and politics, including 'Hypnotic Modernism' and 'Climate Fiction, Modernism, Future.' His recent publications, including an article titled “Mary Ellen Solt: Concretizing 1968,” reflect his commitment to bringing critical theory to contemporary literary fiction and discussions on the role of art in understanding social issues like climate change and capitalism.
University of Chicago • Chicago, IL, US
Teaches courses exploring modernist aesthetics and their intersections with various fields.
Department of Philosophy