Dr. Frank Usbeck

Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter

Name

Dr. Frank Usbeck

Forschung

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Address work

Besucheradresse:

Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik Wiener Straße 48

01219 Dresden

work Tel.

+49 351 463-32878

fax Fax

+49 351 463-37733

frank.usbeck@​tu-dresden.de

Office Hours:

Sprechzeiten nach Vereinbarung

Curriculum Vitae

Specialties in research and Teaching
 

• American Indian Studies: history and (self-)representation of indigenous peoples, history of US-Indian relations, Indian imagery in Germany, Native American visitors in Germany
• organized violence: war experience, war narratives, and military psychology. Wars between states and within societies, tribal wars, asymmetric warfare, and civil unrest
• narration, narrativity, (inter-)textuality, intercultural oral traditions
• cultural history, media history

Honors and awards
 

• Rolf Kentner Dissertation Prize, Heidelberg Center for American Studies (2011)
• Fulbright American Studies Institute in San Francisco, 15-29 September, 2007.
   

Publications (selected)
 

Monograph and Edited Volumes

• Fellow Tribesmen:' The German Image of Indians, the Emergence of National Identity, and Nazi Ideology in German Periodicals. New York: Berghahn, 2015.
• With A. Grob, M. Lippold, and G. Pisarz-Ramirez, eds. Selling Ethnicity and Race: Consumerism and Representation in 21st-Century America. Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Trier, 2015.
• With S. Herrmann, A. Hoffmann, K. Kanzler, and S. Schubert, eds. Poetics of Politics: Textuality and Social Relevance in Contemporary American Culture. Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2015.
• With Sebastian M. Herrmann, Carolin Alice Hofmann, and Katja Kanzler: Participating Audiences and Imagined Public Spheres: The Cultural Work of Contemporary American(ized) Narratives. Leipziger Universitätsverlag, 2012.
• Guest editor of issue no. 12 (2011) of COPAS (Current Objectives in Postgraduate American Studies).

Essays and Articles:

• With Gabriele Pisarz-Ramirez, Anne Grob, und Maria Lippold: "Selling Ethnicity and Race. Consumerism and Representation in Twenty-First-Century America," in: Selling Ethnicity and Race. Consumerism and Representation in Twenty-First-Century America. Ed. Gabriele Pisarz-Ramirez, Frank Usbeck, Anne Grob, and Maria Lippold. Trier: WVT, 2015. Print. 1-25.
• "'Taking Chance Home.' Die Rückführung eines Gefallenen und das Verhältnis von Militär und Zivilgesellschaft in US-Soldatenblogs," in:Krieg, Militär und Mobilität. Ed. Christoph Rass. Paderborn: Schöningh, 2016. 347-67. (in Print)
• "Selling the 'Natural-Born Warrior.' Representations of Nativeness in the U.S. Military and Law Enforcement," in: Selling Ethnicity and Race. Consumerism and Representation in Twenty-First-Century America. Ed. Gabriele Pisarz-Ramirez, Frank Usbeck, Anne Grob, and Maria Lippold. Trier: WVT, 2015. Print. 175-93.
• "'The Power of the Story': 'Popular Narratology' in Pentagon Reports on Social Media Use in the Military," in: Poetics of Politics. Textuality and Social Relevance in Contemporary American Literature and Culture. Ed. Sebastian M. Herrmann, Carolin Alice Hofmann, Katja Kanzler, Stefan Schubert, and Frank Usbeck. Heidelberg: Winter, 2015. Print. 313-333.
• "'Keep that Fan Mail Coming.' Ceremonial Storytelling and Audience Interaction in a US Soldier's Milblog." Zeitschrift für Anglistik/Amerikanistik. Vol. 62.2. 2014. Print. 149-63.
• With Frank Engel: “Die Tipis der alten Nordamerika-Sammlungen im Leipziger Museum für Völkerkunde.” Jahrbuch der Staatlichen Ethnographischen Sammlungen Sachsen. Ed. Claus Deimel.Vol. XLVI. VWB, 2014. Print. 109-34.
• With Iris Edenheiser: “Alles Aberglaube? – Zum Umgang mit kultureller Differenz im Museum am Beispiel der Rezeption der Sonderausstellung 'Kallawaya – Heilkunst in den Anden' am Grassi Museum für Völkerkunde Leipzig.” Jahrbuch der Staatlichen Ethnographischen Sammlungen Sachsen. Ed. Claus Deimel. Vol. XLVI. Berlin: VWB, 2014. Print. 171-92.
• "Learning from 'Tribal Ancestors:' How the Nazis Used Indian Imagery to Promote a Holistic Understanding of Nature among Germans." Elohi. Peuples Indigènes et Environnement, Vol. 4. 2014. Print. 45-60.
• "Clash of Cultures? 'Noble Savages' in Germany and America," in: Iris Edenheiser and Astrid Nielsen (eds.): Tecumseh, Keokuk, Black Hawk. Portrayals of Native Americans in Times of Treaties and Removal. Stuttgart, Dresden: Arnoldsche, 2013. Print. 177-84.
• "Representing the Indian, Imagining the Volksgemeinschaft. Indianthusiasm and Nazi Propaganda in German Print Media." Ethnoscripts. Vol. 15.1. 2013. Print. 46-61.
• “'My Blog Is My Therapy.' The Sense of Community and Ritual in American Military Blogs.”  Journal of Military Experience, Vol. 2. 2012. 271-86.
• “'We Are Indigenous.' National Socialist Constructions of German Indigeneity and the American Image During the Third Reich”, in Matthias Middell,  Ulf Engel and Stefan Troebst (eds.): Erinnerungskulturen in transkultureller und transnationaler Perspektive.Transnationalisierung und Regionalisierung vom 18. Jh. bis zur Gegenwart. Vol. 5. Leipziger Universitätsverlag, 2012. 23-36.
• “Fighting Like Indians. The 'Indian Scout Syndrome' in American and German War Reports of World War II”, in Karsten Fitz (ed.): Visual Representations of Native Americans: Transnational Contexts and Perspectives, Heidelberg: Winter, 2012. 125-143.
• “'Don't Forget about Us, Because We Can't Forget You.' A Narrative Approach to the Concept of 'Community' in American Soldier Blogs”, in Herrmann, Sebastian M., Carolin Alice Hofmann, Katja Kanzler und Frank Usbeck (eds.): Participating Audiences, Imagined Public Spheres: The Cultural Work of Contemporary American(ized) Narratives. Leipziger Universitätsverlag, 2012. 91-114.
   

Lectures and Conference Contributions

• Lecture: "Milblogs and the Tradition of Pop Culture in the US Military," Bamberg, 3 December, 2015.
• Lecture: "The 'Indian Scout Syndrome': Warrior Traditions and Native Participation in the US Military," Leipzig, 27 November, 2015.
• Lecture: "Stories from the Front and Beyond: Online War Narratives and Homecoming Scenarios," Leipzig, 24 November, 2015.
• Lecture: "My Enemy's Victim Is My Friend: (neo-)Nazi Discourses on German Identity," San Francisco State University. 28 October, 2015.
• Presentation: "Native American Imagery in (neo-)Nazi Representations of German Peoplehood." Symposium "Comparative Genocide Studies," ASU, Phoenix. 24 October, 2015.
• Presentation: "Nazi Perspectives on Indian Reservations and US Indian Policy." Symposium "Colonial Conquest in the Nazi East and the American West," NAU, Flagstaff, 12 October, 2015.
• Lecture: "War Narratives and Web 2.0: Community Building and Online Rituals in US Milblogs," Leipzig, 17 June 2015.
• Presentation:"'You Did This in Our Name.' Communalism, Ceremonialism, and Warrior Ethos in Alternative Approaches to PTSD Since Vietnam," GAAS, Bonn. 30 May, 2015.
• Presentation: "Repräsentation von Native Americans vor und nach 1945," Conference "Fremde, Freunde, Feinde? Deutsche Perspektiven auf die USA nach 1945," APB Tutzing, 15-17 May 2015.
• Presentation: “Wounded Warriors: Native Military Tradition and Cultural Knowledge in Contemporary US Veteran (Mental) Health Care," 36th American Indian Workshop. Frankfurt 26 March, 2015.
• "Negotiating War Experience: Ceremonial Storytelling and the Healing Potential of the Virtual Community in American Soldiers' Online Diaries." University of Nebraska, Omaha. 3. Dezember 2014.
• "Indian Imagery in Nazi Ideology – Interweaving Social Darwinism, Cultural Pessimism, and Anti-Americanism." World Affairs Council, Colorado Mesa University. Grand Junction, 1. Dezember 2014.
• "Nazis as 'Indians': Popular Culture, Nazi Ideology, and German Perceptions of Native America." Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff, 20. November 2014.
• "Indian Imagery beyond Karl May. Noble Savages and Fierce Warriors in German National Identity and Nazi Ideology." Arizona State University. Phoenix, 17. November 2014.
• "Defending the 'Homeland': How Nazi Propaganda, Racism, and German Indianthusiasm Went together during the Third Reich." San Francisco State University, 12. November 2014.
• "'Stand Down Soldier, Your Work is Done.' Affect and Civic Engagement in Milblog-Representations of Mourning." Workshop "Fandom and the Public Sphere: Textuality, Affect, and Social Relevance," American Studies Association, Los Angeles, 6. November 2014.
• "Brothers in the Struggle against Imperialism - 'Indianthusiasm' in Socialist East Germany." University of Oklahoma, Themenreihe "25th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall" 3. November 2014.
• "Fellow Tribesmen: Perceptions of Indigeneity in German Nationalism and Nazi Ideology.” University of Oklahoma, Norman, 31. Oktober 2014.
• "'We Owe Them.' US Veteran's Volunteer Projects and Online Civilian Ceremonialism." Symposium "The Reintegration of Veterans in History: A Comparative Perspective." Hamburger Institut für Sozialforschung, 17 Oktober 2014.
• "Pop Stars or Exhibition Objects? Wild West Shows in Europe." Tübingen, 7. Mai 2014.
• Mit Morten Braender: „War Narratives and Web 2.0. Justification, Storytelling, and Public Discourse.” Workshop: European Association of American Studies. Den Haag, 3.-6. April 2014.
• "Two-Spirits: Sexualität und Alternative Geschlechterrollen in Indigenen Gemeinschaften." Presentation: "Queere Filmtage", Frauenkultur e.V. Leipzig, 17. Januar 2014.
• "US Milblogs: 21st-Century Representations of War." Würzburg, 9. Januar 2014.
• Lecture: "The 'Indian Scout Syndrome': Kriegertraditionen und indianische Beteiligung an US-amerikanischen Kriegen." Lecture Series 'Indianerbilder' – Visuelle Repräsentationen von Native Americans. Dresden, 19 November 2013.
• Presentation: "Selling the Warrior Image. (Self-)Representations of Nativeness in Military and Law-Enforcement." Symposium "Selling Ethnicity and Race. Consumerism and Representation in 21st-Century America." Leipzig, 6-8 November, 2013.
• Presentation: "Bridging the Gaps: Pop Culture and Ritual in Military Blogs from Afghanistan." Conference "Poetics of Politics: Textuality and Social Relevance in Contemporary American Literature and Culture" University of Leipzig, 20-22 June, 2013.
• Presentation: “Testimony, Coping, and Staying in Touch: Storytelling in American Soldier Blogs from the Perspective of Native American Warrior Ceremonies.” Conference “Digital Testimonies on War and Trauma.” Erasmus University, Rotterdam, 12-14 June, 2013.
• Presentation: “Cultural Work and Bridging the Gaps: Ceremonial Storytelling in US-American Soldier Blogs through the Lens of Native American Warrior Ceremonies.” Conference “Aftershocks: Post-Traumatic Cultures since the Great War.” Universit of Copenhagen, 22-24 May, 2013.
• Presentation: “U.S. Milblogs: Performed Narratives, Community-Building, and Online Rituals.” Graduate Colloquium “Virtual Ethnography/Military Subjects.” University of California, San Diego, 1 May, 2013.
• Presentation: “Storytelling from the Front: American Milblogging as non-Native warrior Ceremonies.” Conference “Fallout. Narrative-Making in the Aftermath of War.” University of California, Santa Barbara, 25-26 April, 2013.
• Presentation: “(Native American) Ceremonial Storytelling: A Cultural Perspective on Civil Reintegration in Milblogging from Afghanistan.” Workshop “Storytelling From the Combat Zone. Military Blogs as Contemporary War Narratives.” Dresden, 9-10 November, 2012.
• Presentation: “'Taking Chance Home.' Die Verhandlung sozialer und räumlicher Distanz in amerikanischen Soldatenblogs.” Annual Meeting of the Arbeitskreis Militärgeschichte e.V. (Working Group on Military History) and the Institut für Migrationsforschung (IMIS), Osnabrück, 20-22 September 2012.
• “War Experience, Trauma, and Ceremonial Storytelling.” Lecture and roundtable discussion with representatives of NGOs in Lebanon at the Forum Civil Peace Service, Beirut, 27 April 2012.
• Presentation: “Representing the Indian, Imagining the Volksgemeinschaft. Indianthusiast Nazi Propaganda in German Print Media 1933-45.” 33rd American Indian Workshop, Zürich, 12 -15 April 2012.
• Presentation: “Learning from 'Tribal Ancestors': How the Nazis Used Indian Imagery to Promote a Holistic Understanding of Nature among Germans,” Symposium "Indigenous Peoples and the Environment," Bordeaux, 8 -10 December 2011.
• Presentation: “Fellow Peoples, Common Enemies. The Myth of the German-Indian Brotherhood in Nazi Ideology and Anti-American Propaganda,” Annual Conference of the New England American Studies Association: “American Mythologies,” Plymouth, MA, 4 -6 November 2011.
• Presentation: “'Alles Aberglaube?' Eine ethnologische Besucherforschung zur Sonderausstellung 'Kallawaya - Heilkunst in den Anden' am Grassi-Museum für Völkerkunde zu Leipzig” ("'Nothing but Superstition?' An Anthropological Visitor Study in the Temporal Exhibition 'Kallawaya - Heilkunst in den Anden'), Annual Meeting of the German Anthropological Association, Vienna, 13 -17 September 2011.
• Presentation: “Deutsche als Indianer. NS-Konstruktionen von Nationaler Identität und der Einfluss des Indianerimage in Deutschland” ("Germans as Indians. Nazi Constructions of National Identity and the Influence of the Indian Image in Germany"), Summer School of the Graduate Centre Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Leipzig, Research Academy Leipzig, 30 September 2009.
• Presentation: “Germans, Indians, and the Forest. The German Oak as Link between Cultures”, Annual Meeting of Historians in the GAAS, Tutzing, 2 -4 February 2009.
• Lecture: “Fellow Peoples. The German Affinity for American Indians”, Lecture Series American Studies in International Perspective, Creighton College, Omaha, Nebraska, October 2007.

Organization of conferences, panels, and workshops
 

• Co-Chair, with Axel Jansen. Panel "Contested Science: Biology and Biomedicine in Public Debate since 1945," GAAS, Bonn 30 May, 2015.
• Co-Organizer, with Morten Braender. Workshop "War Narratives and Web 2.0. Justification, Storytelling, and Public Discourse." Biannual Meeting of the European Association of American Studies (EAAS). The Hague, NL, 3-6 April, 2014. 
• Co-Organizer, with Gabriele Pisarz-Ramirez, Anne Grob, and Maria Lippold. Symposium "Selling Ethnicity and Race. Consumerism and Representation in 21st-Century America." Leipzig University, 6-8 November, 2013.
• Expert Service: Temporal exhibition Tecumseh, Keokuk, Black Hawk. Portrayals of Native Americans in Times of Treaties and Removal. Dresden, Albertinum, 1 October 2013-2 March 2014.
• Co-Organizer, with Sebastian M. Herrmann, Carolin Alice Hofmann, and Katja Kanzler. Conference “Poetics of Politics: Textuality and Social Relevance in Contemporary American Literature and Culture” University of Leipzig, 20-22 June, 2013.
• Workshop “Storytelling From the Combat Zone. Military Blogs as Contemporary War Narratives.”  Dresden, 9-10 November, 2012. With Katja Kanzler.
• Workshop “Narrative, Audience, and Transnational Public Spheres”, Annual Meeting of the GAAS, 2011. With Sebastian M. Herrmann, Carolin Alice Hofmann and Katja Kanzler.
• Organizer of a reading tour (spring 2011) and of Leipzig reading and roundtable discussion of “Absolute(ly) Big Lebowski” with Edward Comentale (Indiana University) and Aaron Jaffe (University of Louisville, Kentucky),  3 May 2011.
• Chair: Panel I: “Immigrant Generations Literature,” 2010 Postgraduate Forum  (PGF), Annual Conference of Young Scholars in the GAAS, Leipzig, 5-7 November 2010.
• Co-Organizer, Postgraduate Forum (PGF) Annual Conference, Leipzig, 5 -7 November 2010. With Florian Bast, Anne Grob, Sebastian M. Herrmann and Franziska Kloth.
• Roundtable “Die Powwow-Bewegung in Europa” ("The Powwow-Movement in Europe"), with Dr. Renae Watchman Dearhouse (University of Arizona) and Jörg Diecke (Freunde der Crow Agency e.V.), 18 July 2009, Grimma.