chkraemer13@gmail.com

Ph.D. 2008, Boston University, Religion & Literature
      "The Erotic Fringe: Sexual Minorities and Religion in Contemporary American Literature and Film" (abstract)
B.A. 2000, University of Texas at Austin, English / Plan II (liberal arts honors)

Media, Religion, and Culture Fellowship, School of Journalism and Mass Communication,
      University of Colorado at Boulder, 2006-2007
Graduate Writing Fellowship, Boston University, 2006
Dean’s Fellowship, Boston University, 2002-2006
Special Honors in English from the University of Texas at Austin, 2000
High honors from the University of Texas at Austin, 2000
Phi Beta Kappa, 1998
Sigma Tau Delta, 1998

Areas of Specialization: Religion & Literature, Contemporary Pagan Studies, Graphic Novels, Religion & Film, Religion & Sexuality since 1800 (US & UK)

Areas of Competence: Gender & Queer Studies, Body Theology, American Literature & Religious History, First-year Writing, The Bible, World Religions & Literature

Instructor, Graduate
T5940 -- Research & Writing for Pagan Scholarship, Cherry Hill Seminary [online, with Grant Potts] (Spring 2011)

C5141 -- Introduction to Pagan Theology, Cherry Hill Seminary [online] (Spring 2010, 2011)

N6650 -- Paganism and the Body, Cherry Hill Seminary [online] (Fall 2010)

C5121 -- Contemporary Global Paganisms, Cherry Hill Seminary [online] (Fall 2009, 2010)

Instructor, Undergraduate
WR 100-D2 -- Writing Seminar: Religion, Gender, and Sexuality in Literature, Boston University (Fall 2006) (syllabus)

Teaching Fellow
RN 101 -- The Bible with Prof. Peter Hawkins, Boston University (Fall 2005)
      Selected presentations: "Women in Luke," "Jesus in Film," "The Gospels of John and Thomas"

RN 103 -- World Religions: East with Prof. Daniel Lusthaus, Boston University (Spring 2005)
      Selected presentations: "Definitions of Religion," "A Brief History of Indian Religion," "Tat Tvam Asi"

RN 103 -- World Religions: East with Prof. M. David Eckel, Boston University (Fall 2004)
      Selected presentations: "Translation," "Buddhist Parables"

RN 106 -- Death & Immortality with Prof. Stephen Prothero, Boston University (Spring 2004)
      Selected presentations: "Flatliners," "Death and Afterlife in Poetry," "The American Way of Death in BTVS’s 'The Body'"

RN 104 -- World Religions: West with Prof. Merlin Swartz, Boston University (Fall 2003)
      Selected presentations: "Jewish Festivals," "Jewish Rites of Passage"

Invited Guest Lectures
"Contemporary Paganism and Promethea" for EXP-0004-F: Religion and the Graphic Novel,
      taught by Instructor A. Davis Lewis at Tufts University Experimental College, Somerville (22 Nov 2010)

"Recent Trends in Literary Studies" for Junior Seminar in English,
      taught by Assistant Professor Emily Merriman at San Francisco State University, San Francisco (13 Sept 2007)

"History and Rhetoric of Contemporary Paganism" for Rhetoric B: The Rhetoric of Religion,
      taught by instructor Emily Merriman at Babson College, Wellesley (12 Feb 2007)

"History of the Goddess Movement" for WR 100-BA: Women and Religion,
      taught by instructor Kate Holbrook at Boston University (16 Nov 2005)

"Film as Religion." The Encyclopedia of Religion and Film. Ed. Eric Mazur. Westport, CT: ABC-CLIO, 2011. 187-92.

Graven Images: Religion in Comics and Graphic Novels. Eds. A. David Lewis and Christine Hoff Kraemer. New York: Continuum, 2010.

"'The Magic Circus of the Mind': Alan Moore’s Promethea and the Transformation of Consciousness through Comics" with J. Lawton Winslade. Graven Images: Religion in Comics and Graphic Novels. Eds. A. David Lewis and Christine Hoff Kraemer. New York: Continuum, 2010. 274-91.

"Gender Essentialism in Matriarchalist Utopian Fantasies: Are popular novels vehicles of sacred stories, or purely propaganda?" The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies 11:2 (2009): 240-59. (abstract)

"Culture jamming," "Kushner, Tony," and "New Age Movement." Encyclopedia of the Culture Wars: Issues, Voices, and Viewpoints. Ed. Roger Chapman. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 2009.

"Cultural Borrowing/Cultural Appropriation: A Relationship Model for Respectful Borrowing." Thorn Magazine 2 (Mar 2009). (link)

Review of Gospel of the Living Dead: George Romero’s Visions of Hell on Earth, by Kim Paffenroth. Religious Studies Review 34:4 (Dec 2008): 284.

Review of Henry Miller and Religion, by Thomas Nesbit. Religious Studies Review 34:4 (Dec 2008): 284.

Review of Reframing Theology and Film: New Focus for an Emerging Discipline, edited by Robert K. Johnston. Religious Studies Review 34:4 (Dec 2008): 284.

"'Story' Is Only Part of 'History': Re-evaluating the Work of Marija Gimbutas." Thorn Magazine 1 (Dec 2008).

Review of Mel Gibson’s Bible: Religion, Popular Culture, and The Passion of the Christ, edited by Timothy K. Beal and Tod Linafelt. Religious Studies Review 32:4 (Oct 2006): 252. (Blackwell full text)

Review of Mel Gibson’s Passion: The Film, the Controversy, and the Implications, edited by Zev Garber. Religious Studies Review 32:4 (Oct 2006): 251-2. (Blackwell full text)

Review of Cinema and Sentiment: Film’s Challenge to Theology, by Clive Marsh. Religious Studies Review 32:3 (July 2006): 187. (Blackwell full text)

Review of Alien Sex: The Body and Desire in Theology and Cinema, by Gerard Loughlin. The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 9 (Spring 2005). (link)

"From Theological to Cinematic Criticism: Extricating the Study of Religion and Film from Theology." Religious Studies Review 30:4 (October 2004): 243-50. (PDF)

"Wrestling with Flesh, Wrestling with Spirit: The Painful Consequences of Dualism in The Last Temptation of Christ." The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 8 (Fall 2004). (link)

"Between the Worlds: Liminality and Self-Sacrifice in Princess Mononoke." The Journal of Religion and Film 8:1 (April 2004). (link)

"The Brake of Time: Corso's Bomb as Postmodern God(dess)." Rpt. in The Beat Generation: A Gale Critical Companion. Ed. Lynn M. Zott. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 203-213.

"The Brake of Time: Corso's Bomb as Postmodern God(dess)." Texas Studies in Literature and Language 44:2 (Summer 2002): 211-28. (Project MUSE full text)

"Contemporary Paganism, Utopian Reading Communities, and Sacred Nonmonogamy: The Religious Impact of Heinlein and Starhawk’s Fiction." Contemporary Pagan Studies Group. American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 3-7 Nov 2009.

"Angels in America's 'Sentimental' Ending: Can activist art still be great art?" AAR: Religion, Literature, and the Arts. Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, Irving, TX, 7-8 Mar 2009.

"Alan Moore’s Promethea: Comics as Neo-Pagan Primer and Missionary Tool." Northeast Modern Language Association Convention, Baltimore, MD, 1-3 Mar 2007. (abstract)

"The Spectator, Gender Performance, and Gnosis in Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group. American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 18-21 Nov 2006.

"Beyond the Fringe: Alternative Religion and Sexuality in American Media since 1960, with introduction to Craig Thompson’s Blankets." Media, Religion, and Culture Fellows Seminar. Sponsored by the University of Colorado at Boulder’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 16 Nov 2006.

"Alan Moore’s Promethea: Comics as Neo-Pagan Primer and Missionary Tool." Charming and Crafty: Witchcraft and Paganism in Contemporary Media, Harvard University, Cambridge, 18-21 May 2006. (abstract)

"From Het Polarity to Queer Eros: The Development of Ritual Sex in the Twentieth-century Novel." Panel: Erotic ritual in literature and film/Literature and film as erotic ritual. God & Sexuality Conference on Religion and Issues of Sexuality and Gender, New York City, 9-10 Apr 2006. (abstract)

"Gender Essentialism in Matriarchalist Utopian Fantasies: Are popular novels vehicles of sacred stories, or only sacred propaganda?" New Religious Movements Group. American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, 20 Nov 2005. (abstract)

"Most Her Own, Yet Most Taken Away: Sexuality and Desire in Phoebe Gloeckner’s The Diary of a Teenage Girl." Comic Books and Graphic Novels: Feminist Approaches. Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association Annual Convention, Coeur D’Alene, 21 Oct 2005. (abstract)

"Self and (M)other: Apocalypse as Return to the Womb in Neon Genesis Evangelion." Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group. American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Antonio, 22 Nov 2004. (abstract)

"Wrestling with Flesh, Wrestling with Spirit: The Painful Consequences of Dualism in The Last Temptation of Christ." From Jesus to Donnie Darko: Six Critical Inquiries of Religion and Cinema. Luce Program Colloquium on Religion and Film. Boston University, 15 Nov 2003.

"Between the Worlds: Liminality and Self-Sacrifice in Princess Mononoke." Celluloid Saints. Boston Faith & Film Festival, Brattle Theatre/Harvard Divinity School, Boston, 6 Feb 2003.

Department Chair (Theology and Religious History) for Cherry Hill Seminary, providing graduate-level distance education in professional Pagan ministry (2010-present).

Peer Reviewer for The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture (2005, 2009).

Academic Advisor for Cherry Hill Seminary, providing graduate-level distance education in professional Pagan ministry (2008-2010).

Peer Reviewer for Practical Matters: A Transdisciplinary Multimedia Journal of Religious Practices and Practical Theology (2008).

Conference Co-Organizer for Graven Images: Religion in Comics and Graphic Novels. Sponsored by the Luce Program in Scripture and Literary Arts. Boston University, 12-14 Apr 2008. (PDF program)

Discussion Moderator for the American Academy of Religion’s Arts Series. Film: Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Sponsored by the Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Group. American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 20 Nov 2006.

Research Assistant for the Luce Program in Scripture and Literary Arts at Boston University. Organized graduate student symposia on professional topics, including conference presentations, academic job searches, and entering life as a new faculty member. (Fall 2005-Spring 2006)

Panel Moderator for the God & Sexuality Conference on Religion and Issues of Gender and Sexuality in New York City, 9-10 Apr 2006. Organized and presented as part of a panel entitled "Erotic ritual in literature and film/Literature and film as erotic ritual."

Festival Co-Organizer for the Fourth Annual Boston Faith & Film Festival, Images of Evil. Brattle Theatre/Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, 10-11 Feb 2006. Assisted Prof. Bryan Stone and committee with film selection, panelist selection, publicity, panel moderation, and paper selection for the Scholar’s Symposium. (2005-2006)

Colloquium Organizer for the first Luce Program Colloquium on Religion and Film, entitled From Jesus to Donnie Darko: Six Critical Inquiries of Religion and Cinema. The colloquium showcased the work of Boston University Religion and Literature graduate students and was sponsored by the Luce Program in Scripture and Literary Arts at Boston University. (Fall 2003)

Adult Education Instructor Presented an evening class on Religion & Comics for Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. (2008)

Event Facilitator Co-facilitated community seasonal rituals for Austin area earth-based religious collective Tejasweb. (2008-present)

Event Organizer Consulted on community events for the Boston area earth-based religious collective Viriditas. (2003, 2006-2007)

Financial Manager Handled finances for T. Thorn Coyle’s New England Apprenticeship in earth-based spirituality. (2005-2007)

Grant Writer Co-wrote a successful application for Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas to receive funding from the Lilly Foundation for the 2002 National Clergy Renewal Program. $28,279 was received to fund a sabbatical for the senior pastor and to provide special programming for the church in his absence. (Summer 2002)

Liturgist/Celebration Team Co-Leader Wrote original prayers and liturgies, helped plan weekly worship services, organized women’s spirituality fellowship group (the Red Tent), and served as lay leader for Pentecost services at Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. (2001-2002)

Retreat Team Assisted with planning 60-person weekend retreat on prayer and meditation in different religious traditions for Trinity UMC. (2001)

Discussion Facilitator Led informal discussion and fellowship groups on Christian spirituality and women's spirituality at Trinity United Methodist Church (2000-2002).

Youth Counselor Assisted with junior/senior high youth group for Trinity UMC. (2000-2001)

Editor/Proofreader Edited various materials by Brandon Wiley for publication and performance, including a full-length play ("Kamooka") and a chapter for Peer to Peer: Harnessing the Power of Disruptive Technologies (ed. Andy Oram, 2001) (2000-2001).

Lecturer Lectured and led discussion on Neo-Paganism and feminist spirituality for the Brownflower Lecture Series and for Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas (2000).

Short Story Reader Served on short story reader's board for Analecta, the literary journal of the University of Texas at Austin. (1996-1998, 2000)

Interim Youth Director Will provide religious education for high school youth at Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. (upcoming, Aug-Oct 2008)

Editor/Proofreader Freelance editing, proofreading, and formatting of book manuscripts for both academic and general audiences. (2008-present)

Office Administrator for Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. Performed all administrative functions for a church with a membership of approximately 400, including mailings, maintaining databases, basic accounting, and preparing worship materials. Supervisor: Rev. Susan Sprague. (2001-2002; 2007-present)

Copyeditor Copyedited academic and general audience materials on Greek language usage in the New Testament for the New Testament Language Project in Cambridge, MA. Freelance. Supervisor: Richard Harley. (June 2007-present)

World Religions Instructor Co-taught a World Religions curriculum to high school students as part of the Genesis Program at Brandeis University. Supervisor: Bradley Solmsen. (July 2007)

Editor/Proofreader Freelance editing, proofreading, and formatting of dissertation chapters. (Spring 2007)

Workshop Facilitator Team-taught workshops in earth-based spirituality for the Boston area religious collective Viriditas. (2006-2007)

Research Assistant for Prof. Gauvin Bailey, Department of Religious and Theological Studies, Boston University. Scanned slides, made PDFs of course materials, and updated the course websites for RN 204: Western Art and Its Relationship with Christianity and RN 504: Impact of Sacred European Art in a Global Context. (Spring 2006)

Research Assistant for Prof. Peter Hawkins, Department of Religious and Theological Studies, Boston University. Performed fact-checking on manuscripts in the publication process. (Fall 2005-Spring 2006)

Library Assistant for Pappas Law Library Technical Services at Boston University. Supervisor: Margery Ehrlich. (Summer 2003)

Notetaker for Paradigm Books in Austin, Texas. Composed study aids for physiology and psychology classes. (Fall 2000)

Writer for Kamico Instructional Media in Austin, Texas. Wrote stories and essays with accompanying questions for first- and second-grade level TAAS (standardized test) practice booklets. Supervisor: Kathy Miller. (1996-97)

A printable copy of this document can be found here.