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In My Student Experience, our Success Connectors speak to subject heads within the School of the Media, Arts and Humanities (MAH) to find out more about their experiences as a student, their opinions on the School, and their advice for students studying in MAH.

This week, our connectors speak to Pam Thurschwell, Head of English Literature.

Pam Thurschwell 

Pam Thurschwell is a Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature and the Head of English Literature. She began teaching at Sussex in 2007 having previously worked and/or studied at University College London, Cambridge, and Cornell University. She has written on a wide variety of writers and artists including George Eliot, Henry James, Sigmund Freud, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Morrissey, and Daniel Clowes.

What was your experience as an undergraduate student?

I was scared when I started University and it took me a long time to find my feet. I had a fantastic time when I went to London for a semester in my third year, fell in love with England and that made a huge difference to the rest of my time at university It is important to remember that most people are as nervous as you are; some people are simply better at pretending. Not being a party animal is not a fault! I did my MA in the English department at Sussex in the early 1990s, spending a little too much time in Brighton pubs, but also reading literary theory. That is where my love of Sussex was born.

What do you think of Media, Arts and Humanities (MAH) as an institution?

Sussex was founded on social change and the English department, especially, has always been a place for radical thinking and questioning. I see those ideas as expanding in MAH.  It is really inspiring when creative practice and critical thinking can come together. I hope that MAH will continue to build on the strength of having so many students and faculty coming from different perspectives; we had a terrific induction event for first years in the autumn around a book called Emergent Strategy by the black feminist writer, Adrienne Maree Brown. It was lovely to hear from students from so many different departments sharing ideas along with faculty and professional services staff.

What do you think makes a successful MAH student?

Plan enough time for reading so that you can read slowly and carefully. I also think it is really valuable, if possible, to print out your readings or get a copy of the book from the library to cut down on screen time (which we all have too much of. I plead guilty!). Learning for the sake of learning without a goal can be the most exciting thing, and can get you to places you didn’t even know you wanted to go. 

What is a fun fact about yourself?

My mastermind specialist subject could be 1980s pop music lyrics. I’ve also reviewed Taylor Swift’s two lockdown albums ( and ) so it’s not all about the 1980s! I was introduced to Phoebe Bridgers’ song “I know the end” by a student last year and I love it. It’s like a brilliant, kind of scary, short story. 

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I would love the ability to fly but I’d also like to bring economic justice to the world. Can I do both at the same time?