The Southern Gothic Literature Series held a speaking event hosted by Teresa A. Goddu, an English professor at Vanderbilt University, on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the Pat Peterson Museum Education Room located in Russell Library. 

Goddu spoke about the Ecogothic literature of Jesmyn Ward and analyzed the author’s 2017 novel, “Sing, Unburied, Sing”. 

Ward is a contemporary American gothic author who utilized themes of nature and the environment in her stories to create unique narratives. 

The book “Sing, Unburied, Sing” follows the story of an interracial family whose life is fractured by the ecological disaster of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The book follows the family through their struggles in a world that does not fully accept interracial relationships and the constant mistreatment of African-American people.

The oil spill and the rig explosion set the backdrop for the book and caused the characters’ lives to unravel. 

The mother, son and young daughter journey through Mississippi to pick up the father after he is released from prison.

Michael, the husband in the story, turns to drugs as a means of income after losing his job on the oil rig and is incarcerated for three years. 

The environment, as seen in the Gulf of Mexico and the pine forests of Mississippi, acts as the foundation for the introduction and building of other themes discussed in the book, including drug use, incarceration and race. 

Goddu highlighted the meaning of American Gothic literature and the importance of grief and the haunting of the past as the main subject matters. 

In comparison to the Gothic literature of Europe, American gothic mixes historical and cultural contexts with the horror genre. 

Goddu spoke about how she interprets ecogothic literature as the merging of the environment and dark elements of the past and history. 

A main theme from the gothic narrative of “Sing, Unburied, Sing” is the interrelation of slavery in the south to the modern day, whether through the advancements in technology contributed largely to the use of slave labor, or the everlasting social implications. 

During her analysis, Goddu references how a car can be tied back to the efforts of slaves, through the cotton in the seats, the plastic and the rubber.

“Sing, Unburied, Sing” also focuses on the modern lens of racial disparity, especially in the south where the story takes place. 

The overarching theme of ecology throughout the narrative ties into the importance of understanding the history of the south. 

Goddu drew the point of understanding these two points to fulfill the message within the book. 

In order to heal the earth’s landscape, people must heal and understand American history and black history. 

The speaking event highlighted an intriguing take on American Gothic literature and showed its importance not only within the south but for the whole country. 

After the analysis of the book, Goddu held a question and answer session and elaborated more on specific topics. 

Jacob Gonzalez-Labra, a sophomore English, Spanish and Liberal Studies major, attended the event and thought the analysis of the text was compelling. 

“Black violence and black trauma is at the root of much of American history,” Gonzalez-Labra said. “Their suffering is ultimately something that contributes to a lot of things that we take for granted.”

Khiya Williams, a sophomore English major, appreciated the speaker’s in-depth answers following the analysis. 

“I really enjoyed the Q&A portion,” Williams said. “I thought that Goddu was really responsive.”

Regardless of major, all GCSU students and faculty are welcome to attend.jesmyn ward

“I think it’s a really good chance to see how the English degree mobilizes itself,” Williams said.

Engaging with different genres of literature is an important way of learning and understanding more about the past, present and future. 

“(The topics) are really relevant today,” Gonzalez-Labra said.“I think people could learn some really cool things that they may have not known.”

Students interested in related topics can attend the Flannery O’Connor Institute for the Humanities speaking event on March 14 where author Carol Leob Shloss will speak about her book regarding Flannery O’Connor’s relationship with her mother.