James A. Sabata
Curriculum Vitae
Education:
University
of South Dakota, English, Creative Writing, MA
August, 2007
University
of South Dakota, English, Literature, BS
August, 2006
Previous Professional Teaching Experience:
University
of South Dakota, Interdisciplinary Education Program, Associate Instructor,
August 2007 – May 2008
Published Material:
A Distant Rumor – The thesis
for my MA English degree at the University of South Dakota, it is a collection
of six short stories concerning death.
Unpublished Research Completed or In
Progress:
Making a Man of Miles – A new
historicist / Freudian look at Henry James’ classic The Turn of the Screw questioning if Miles truly dies at the end of
the book. It offers the possibility that
there is a far greater monster than any ghost wandering the halls of Bly.
A Slave to Perspective - Offers that Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is actually the story
of Jim and the many masks he must wear in order to survive in the South. It demonstrates many incidents in the book
where Jim is shown to change his personality and displayed intellect level based
on where he is and who is around him.
This fact is not brought to the forefront, as the book is written
through the eyes of Huck Finn, who does not see this transformation in Jim,
even though he unknowingly reports it when it occurs.
A Sense of Humours: The Four Humours in
I Henry IV
– Examines the way in which Shakespeare employed the four humours to instill
characterization in I Henry IV. Each of
the four main characters displays an imbalance of the four humours, providing
an explanation of each of their motives on a level more consistent with the
perspective of an Elizabethan audience.
Head Case: Coming to Grips with the
Medical Phallicy of America – Demonstrates how American drug companies market
erectile dysfunction drugs to millions of individuals who do not need them and
the role that the Myth of Masculinity plays in their ability to do so.
Yellows and Reds: The Portrayal of
Native Americans in “The Simpsons” - Examines the use of racial and
cultural stereotypes throughout The
Simpsons, showing that although all races are satirically represented, most
are shown in a positive light or allowed to disprove stereotypes at times
throughout the series. This is not true
for Native Americans, who do not even have a reoccurring character to represent
them to disprove stereotypes. The Simpsons instead reinforces Native
American stereotypes when there is every opportunity to help displace them from
society.
Unpublished Works Completed or in
Progress:
Kehoe – A creative nonfiction account
of the last few years of Andrew Kehoe’s life.
Hallowed Grounds: Haunted Churches and
Cemeteries of the Midwest – A non-fiction look at supposedly haunted churches
and cemeteries in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and
Minnesota, based on extensive interviews with clergy, caretakers, and
parishioners of these churches.
Channeling Change: M*A*S*H and the social movements of the 1970s – Examines the historical social
changes or the 1970s, particularly women’s rights, civil rights, and homosexual
rights, and how M*A*S*H reported and influenced these changes on the weekly
program.
N.U.C.S. - Never Underestimate Complete
Stupidity
– A graphic novel interpretation of the history of nuclear weapons.
Plagiarizing Self – A novel.
(More in-depth synopses of these works may be available upon request.)
Professional Activities
Memberships:
Phi
Alpha Theta History Honors Society – Member since 2006
Committees:
Interdisciplinary
Education and Action Program Committee (July 2007 – May 2008)
Faculty,
Instructors, and Administration met monthly to discuss any changes necessary to
the Interdisciplinary Education program at the University of South Dakota.
Conference Presentations:
Student
History Conference – April 22, 2008
The
University of South Dakota
Graphic
History – A presentation on the use of graphic novels to recount historical
events, using Art Spiegelman’s Maus I
& II, Marjane Satrapi’s Perspepolis
I & II, and Joe Kubert’s Fax From
Sarajevo.
Consulting Activities:
English
Tutoring, University of South Dakota – August, 2005 – May, 2008
FactVersesFiction.Com
Summer Short Story Contest Judge - July, 2004
South
Dakota Writers Association Short Story Contest Judge – March, 2007 and March
2008.
Personal Activities:
Special
Olympics Coach (2001 – Current)
Coaching
softball, basketball, track, and bowling for persons with developmental
disabilities.
Award:
Coach of the Year – Softball, 2005, Yankton, SD
Relay
For Life (2001 – 2008)
Volunteer
Performer
FactVersesFiction.Com
(2000 – 2005, Coming again in 2010)
First
Incarnation – Conceived of and implemented Fact Verses Fiction, an online
source for writers who could post essays, poetry, and short stories and receive
feedback from other writers. Also offered
a tutoring service for assisting undergrads with writing more effectively.
Second
Incarnation – Launching in May, 2010, Fact Verses Fiction will be a
quarterly e-zine featuring essays and editorials, poetry, and short
stories.
Previous Employment:
January,
2009 – Sept, 2009
LINCOLN
REGIONAL CENTER
2705 S Folsom St Lincoln, NE 68522
Title:
Security Specialist II
May,
2008 – December, 2008
FULL TIME STUDENT - University of South Dakota
Working on finishing my MA History Thesis.
July,
2007 – May 2008
UNIVERSITY
OF SOUTH DAKOTA
414
East Clark, Vermillion SD 57069
Title: Instructor – Interdisciplinary Education and
Action Program
August,
2007 – May, 2008
THE
VOLANTE – UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
414
East Clark, Vermillion SD 57069
Title: Online Technician / Editor
July,
2007 – July, 2008
FULL TIME STUDENT - University of South Dakota.
Working on finishing my MA English Thesis.
October,
2001 – July, 2007
YANKTON
AREA ADJUSTMENT TRAINING CENTER
600
East 10th, Yankton, SD 57078
Title: Direct Support Professional
May,
2004 – August, 2004
SESDAC
1314
E. Cherry Street, Vermillion, SD 57069
Title: Job Coach
January,
2001 – October, 2001
COMMUNITY
ALTERNATIVES OF NEBRASKA
210
Eastridge, Lincoln, NE 68505
Title: Direct Support Professional
March,
1997 – January, 2001
NECO
ALARM SYSTEMS
121 South 13th St, Lincoln, NE 68508
Title: Overnight Supervisor, Central Station
Operator
March,
1994 – October, 2001
J&P
CZECH RECORDS
1301
West S St, Lincoln, NE 68528
Title: Assistant Manager
References, both personal and professional,
are available upon request.
