We are excited to share that Caroline Guthrie, a Cultural Studies graduate at George Mason University, has recently embarked on a new chapter in her career named an Assistant Professor at the College of Charleston.
Guthrie emphasizes that Cultural Studies' interdisciplinary nature and critical approach were outstanding factors that positively influenced her career. She recalls, “There were times when just how interdisciplinary Cultural Studies is really challenged me - either ideologically or just because some of the authors or fields of theory were outside of my usual interest and thus hard for me to crack into. But some of the materials that I struggled with the most when I was in coursework have been things I’ve ended up using again and again since.” She says, “I know it’s repeated a lot and could be the Cultural Studies program’s (un)official slogan, but being drilled into the habit of always being prepared to answer, ‘Why this, why now?’ was important to my getting this position.”
The Communication Department at the College of Charleston’s search for this position specified they were seeking someone who could teach courses that center the media's role in shaping public discourse and the way people engage with citizenship. According to Guthrie, coming from an interdisciplinary approach like Cultural Studies prepared her for that role in a way that might be difficult in a more traditional disciplinary background. Guthrie explained that Cultural Studies, while challenging at times, honed her ability to think critically and answer key questions.
Beyond the intellectual training Cultural Studies provided, Guthrie also highlights the importance of professional development opportunities that helped shape her academic career. She advises students to attend conferences not only to receive critical evaluations of their work but also to network, which was crucial in shaping her path toward her new position.
She shares, “I didn’t anticipate how much the connections I made at those conferences would help me. I was able to immediately begin developing my dissertation into my book after I defended it because an editor got in touch with me about my presentation at SCMS (Society for Cinema and Media Studies) and encouraged me to submit a proposal when we met. Then, I knew the right potential reviewers to suggest to give feedback on my manuscript in my proposal because we had either been on panels together, or I had seen their presentations at more specialized conferences dedicated to our shared interests. So in addition to the general benefits of getting in the habit of explaining my work to scholars in related disciplines and learning from what they were developing, there is a fairly direct line for me from conferences, to the first book, to this job”
Guthrie’s book The American Historical Imaginary: Contested Narratives of the Past in Mass Culture launched in 2022 interrogates the American relationship to untruth versions of the past and asks why these myths persist. In her new position, beyond teaching, she is excited to dedicate more time to research—an opportunity her new role actively supports—allowing her to work on her next book.
Guthrie also highlighted how the Cultural Students program faculty, staff members, and her cohort made a difference during her time in the program, giving her guidance, insights, and a collaborative environment.
April 14, 2025