Dr. Richard Van Oort

Biography

Richard van Oort is a Professor at the University of Victoria, where he has been since 2007, primarily teaching courses on Shakespeare and Renaissance drama. He holds a PhD from the University of California, Irvine, awarded in 2002, where he focused on the work of Wolfgang Iser. His dissertation, titled "The Origin Function Aesthetic Sign," investigates new developments in cognitive science and evolutionary anthropology, particularly the work of Terrence Deacon. Before joining the University of Victoria, he taught at the University of British Columbia for five years. His research interests include Shakespeare, literary theory, generative anthropology, and literature anthropology, demonstrating a keen engagement with cognitive and evolutionary perspectives on literature. He is recognized for his contributions to the field through various publications exploring these interdisciplinary connections.

Research Interests