News Archive - Erika Johnson

The Curious Allure of Gothic Gore and Vampire Lore

Lillian Lu, an assistant professor of literature in the School of Arts and Humanities, has always been drawn to gothic stories. She is currently writing a conference paper on the 2022 television adaptation of Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire,” as well as taking a transhistorical look at how contemporary authors of the Asian diaspora are adapting novels from the 18th century.

UC San Diego Professor Wins 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry

“Tripas: Poems,” chronicles the voices of Brandon Som’s Chicana and Chinese grandmothers.

Musical Documentary Named Finalist for 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Music

UC San Diego alumna Mary Kouyoumdijian developed “Paper Pianos” to highlight the global refugee crisis.

National Medal of Arts Awarded to UC San Diego Alumna Carrie Mae Weems

Carrie Mae Weems, a celebrated American artist and University of California San Diego visual arts alumna, was presented the National Medal of Arts by President Joe Biden at a White House ceremony on Oct. 21. Artist Mark Bradford, whose work is included in the university’s public art collection, the Stuart Collection, was also recognized.

Free Will: A Metaphysical Force or Social Mediator?

Two UC San Diego philosophers in the School of Arts and Humanities are examining a centuries-old debate about the nature of free will from two angles—whether the universe’s makeup allows for the freedom of choice and the way free will functions in society as a method of cooperation.

Cross-campus Exhibit Bridges Art and Science

This fall UC San Diego is among 70 institutions taking part in a five-month-long regional exploration of the intersections between art and science, led by Getty. The sprawling art event—called “PST ART: Art & Science Collide”—extends from Los Angeles to San Diego and Palm Springs.

Dancing Joyously for Justice

Ana María Álvarez calls herself an “artivist.” As head of UC San Diego’s dance area in the Department of Theatre and Dance, she is expanding the notion of dance as a tool for imagining new futures. "Art has the capacity to shift worlds and redefine narratives."

19 Faculty Join the School of Arts and Humanities

They are arts activists and philosophers of language, scholars of avant-garde children's literature and composers of experimental music. The School of Arts and Humanities welcomes 19 new faculty members for the 2024-25 academic year.