Steph Lewthwaite, Associate Professor in American History
Steph joined the Department of American and Canadian Studies in 2004.
She teaches modules on histories of immigration and ethnicity in the United States, the US-Mexico border and Latinx cultures.
How did you first discover American Studies?
"My undergraduate degree was in Modern European History, which I did at Warwick. In my second year I took a module on Latin American history, where I discovered the history and culture of the Americas. I was hooked from then on!
I remember we were doing Caribbean literature, and somebody said, ‘This was the place where the world met’. That really inspired me. The idea fascinates me still today.
The flexibility of my undergraduate degree allowed me to study things that I hadn’t discovered before. There was a Comparative American Studies School within the history department, so I could really specialise in my final year. That’s what made me want to carry on and do my MA and PhD."
When did you realise you wanted to work in academia?
There was always something in my heart that wanted to carry on with academia. But at undergraduate level, I don’t think I was aware that I was capable of doing it. I was first in the family to go to university, so it was all very new and a bit overwhelming.
"I actually wanted to do secondary teaching, so I did a PGCE. I found it wasn’t for me, so took a bit of a break then I went back to Warwick to do my MA and PhD. My MA was on The History of Race in the Americas. It was great. It was specifically what I wanted to look at. I was also able to explore debates about religion, revolution and enslavement in the Americas – we pretty much did everything.
I got a lot of skills from doing the PGCE, which really helps in my job today. It taught me about not only planning, but also being more creative in the classroom as well."
What is it that fascinates you about American Studies?
"People encountering one another, there being histories of conflict, but also histories of exchange and collaboration. For me, the Americas really is the place where the world met, whether you’re talking about encounters between Indigenous, African and European peoples during settler colonialism, or more recent migrations to and across the Americas.
I now work on visual culture as well. I think it’s a powerful, alternative form of literacy.
In Latinx studies, sometimes you can’t find the written archive as it’s not there; people weren’t asked about their histories. Artwork can be a way to get closer to those histories.
I’m really committed to looking at visual culture. I think it enables people to tell their stories in a different way and record histories differently."
Who will American Studies suit?
"Whether you’re into popular culture, social movements, political activism, or rights and social justice, all of those things are absolutely vital to American studies.
I think with American studies, and learning these things, it’s about giving students the skills and knowledge to orient themselves in the world today."
The flexibility of American Studies is a massive strength. There’s knowledge here, but also life skills that are really important as well.
How do you help students choose their optional modules?
"I always say, don’t be afraid to experiment. Look for things that you think you might want to try. Mostly I advise students to do what they're passionate about and be led by that. Think about what it is that’s going to really enliven and inspire you."
What’s your current research focus?
"It’s about the relationship between trauma, memory and place.
I’m looking at Caribbean Latinx artists who are working out of New York City. They’re looking back to the Caribbean – sometimes they fled because of political dictatorship, they fled for economic survival, sometimes they’d been born to migrant parents in New York City – and they’re also facing oppression in New York as well, police brutality, racism, social oppression. They’re using their artwork to express and talk about their trauma and to make connections with other people who’ve experienced trauma.
Artwork is a really powerful vehicle for understanding memory and history. Particularly histories that have been erased, denied or repressed."
What do you love most about teaching your subject?
"The idea that I can share knowledge with other people. Discussing real world issues and thinking about how my work can be applicable in a modern-day context is really vital. I love it when students look at the material and think, 'This isn’t anything I’ve learnt before, but this applies to me today'.
Other times I’ve been trying to get students to consider their own identity and how it is really layered. They’ve been able to talk about their own stories of moving, making different connections with people and finding safe spaces in their own everyday lives."
Trying to make it relevant and applicable, I love that. It teaches me things as well. I learn from the students.