Dr. Vance Byrd

Biography

Vance Byrd is an Associate Professor of German Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also holds a secondary appointment in History of Art. His teaching and research primarily focus on German literature and visual culture, particularly in the context of the nineteenth century. Byrd has authored the monograph 'Pedagogy Observation: Nineteenth-Century Panoramas, German Literature, Reading Culture,' published in the New Studies in Age Goethe series by Bucknell University Press. He is currently completing another monograph titled 'Listening Panoramas: Sonic Visual Cultures of Commemoration' and has co-edited the collection 'Queer Print Cultures,' set for publication in January 2026 by the University of Toronto Press. His scholarly work explores various aspects of commemorative art and the narratives constructed around historical events, notably the American Civil War. Byrd's research has received support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Fulbright Commission, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He is an active member of several academic boards and editorial teams in the field of German Studies.

Research Interests