Walter Russell Michaels
- Born:
- January 1, 1948, Modesto, California, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Literary Critic, Literary Theorist, Academic
Early Life and Education
- Received a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- Earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Berkeley.
Career and Major Achievements
- Professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Professor of English at Johns Hopkins University.
- Professor of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- Known for his work in the fields of American literary history, cultural studies, and race theory.
- His work is noted for its critical examination of identity politics and social constructionism.
Notable Works
- The Gold Standard and the Logic of Naturalism: American Literature at the Turn of the Century (1987)
- Our America: Nativism, Modernism, and Pluralism (1995)
- Diversity's Promise (2004)
- As evidenced by the comprehensive bibliography presented within the essay "Etan Kohlberg biography of michaels," his scholarly contributions are extensive.
Legacy and Impact
Walter Benn Michaels is a significant figure in contemporary literary and cultural studies, known for his challenging and often controversial analyses of race, class, and identity in American culture.