J. Tirrell

Associate Professor / Rhetoric and Professional Writing

Research Statement

My research draws upon classical and contemporary materialist rhetoric to explore the distributed presence of digital technology in the production of meaning. From this locus, I produce work addressing rhetoric practice, theory, and history. My current active research projects are:

Articles

The Rhetorical Taskscape of Readability Surveys on Amazon Mechanical Turk / Enculturation: Intermezzo (2022)
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A Body of Texts: Memento and Mētis / Screen Bodies 6.1 (2021)
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Tracing the Human in Amazon Mechanical Turk through Rhetorical Text Mining / Enculturation: Intermezzo (2020)
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Crossing Boundaries and Redefining Roles: Humanists as Academic Entrepreneurs / The American Journal of Entrepreneurship 9.2 (2016)
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A Study of a Federally Funded Project between Higher-Ed Institutions in the U.S. and Pakistan: An Intercultural Academic Project Management / The International Journal of Sociotechnology and Knowledge Development 7.2 (2015)
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The Bloodsucking Brady Bunch: The Lost Boys and the Single-Parent Family / Supernatural Studies 1.1 (2013)
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A Geographical History of Online Rhetoric and Composition Journals / Kairos 16.3 (2012)
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Productive Strife: Andy Clark’s Cognitive Science and Rhetorical Agonism / Janus Head 12.1 (2011)
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Chapters

Latourian Memoria / Thinking with Bruno Latour in Rhetoric and Composition (2015)
Abstract | Book link
Meeting Community Needs through Service-Learning in the Online Classroom / Adding to the Conversation on Service-Learning in Composition (2013)
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Bleeding Through, or We Are Living in a Digital World and I Am an Analog Girl / The Scary Screen (2010)
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Digital Projects

Following Mechanical Turks / (2019–present)
Abstract | Project link
Mapping Digital Technology in Rhetoric and Composition History / (2009–present)
Abstract | Project link

Conference Presentations

Ticks, Pigs, and the Consumed Capitalist Body / Association for the Rhetoric of Science, Technology, and Medicine NCA Preconference (2023)
Abstract | Slides | Notes | Manuscript
Impossible Flesh: The Gothic Rhetoric of Lab-grown Meat / UNCW English Department Works-in-Progress Series (2022)
Abstract | Slides | Notes | Video
Ethical Scholarly Production through Open Digital Collaboration / Computers and Writing Conference (2019)
Abstract | Slides | Notes | Video
Soylent and Juicero: Conspicuous and Invisible Consumption / Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference (2017)
Abstract | Slides | Notes | Video
Programmatic and Pedagogical Innovations in Professional Writing / Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication Conference (2017)
Abstract | Slides | Notes
Negotiating Cultural Challenges and Revisioning Academic Entrepreneurship at a Public Regional Comprehensive University in North Carolina / IEEE ProComm (2016)
Abstract | Slides | Notes
Playing with Our Selves: Bodily Agents in Video Gaming / Rhetoric Society of America Conference (2016)
Abstract | Slides with notes | Video
Mechanical Turks in the Era of Technoilliteracy / Computers and Writing Conference (2015)
Abstract | Slides | Notes | Video
Visually Communicating Programmatic Value / Association of Teachers of Technical Writing Conference (2015)
Abstract | Poster | Videos
Pedagogical Strategies for Local Data Mapping / Association of Teachers of Technical Writing Conference (2014)
Abstract | Slides | Notes
A Defense of Digital Waste / Computers and Writing Conference (2013)
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Using Video Games for Writing Education / North Carolina English Teachers’ Association Conference (2013)
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Incorporating the Physical Environment into New Media Design Pedagogy / Computers and Writing Conference (2012)
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Dumb People, Smart Objects: The Sims and the Distributed Self / International Conference on the Philosophy of Computer Games (2012)
Abstract | Slides | Notes | Video | Manuscript
"I’ve Crammed My Head Full of Garbage!": Waste, Forgetting, and Anti-Memoria in Digital Culture / Conference on College Composition and Communication (2011)
Abstract | Slides | Notes
Space’s Time is Now / Computers and Writing Conference (2011)
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Digital Mapping in Computers and Writing Research / Computers and Writing Conference (2010)
Abstract | Notes | Video
Decorum and Emergent Situational Ethics / Conference on College Composition and Communication (2009)
Abstract | Slides | Notes
Writing Local Reality: Katrina and the Digital Emergence of New Orleans / Conference on College Composition and Communication (2008)
Abstract | Slides | Notes
Using Web 2.0 Consumer Voices in the Online Classroom / Association of Teachers of Technical Writing Conference (2008)
Abstract | Slides | Notes
Productive Strife: Andy Clark’s Cognitive Science and Rhetorical Agonism / Humanities and Neuroscience Conference (2007)
Abstract | Slides | Handout
Eddies in the River: Kairos and Complexity / Conference on College Composition and Communication (2007)
Abstract | Slides | Manuscript
A Body of Texts: Memento and Mētis / Midwest Interdisciplinary Graduate Conference (2006)
Abstract | Slides | Video
Sexuality, the Con, and Southern Identity in Some Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs / American Literature Association Conference (2005)
Abstract | Notes | Manuscript
Reflecting Hybrid Pedagogy Through Multiple Classroom Structures / Conference on College Composition and Communication Research Network Forum (2005)
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Challenging the Word Processor Model of Digital Composition / Conference of College Teachers of English (2003)
Abstract | Manuscript

Reviews

Free Software Reviews / Computers and Composition Online (2009)
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Using Drupal in an Academic Environment / Kairos Praxis Wiki (2007)
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Student Wikipedia Contributions in Introductory Composition / ICaP News Online (2006)
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Credentialing Texts

Mapping A Geographical History of Digital Technology in Rhetoric and Composition / Ph. D. dissertation (2009)
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A Hypothetical Writing Tool Better Suited to Long Composition than the Word Processor / MA thesis (2004)
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Miscellaneous Manuscripts

Aristotle's Complex Self: A Response to Fukuyama's Our Posthuman Future
Abstract | Manuscript
Magical Rhetoric as a Political and Social Force in Classical Athens
Abstract | Manuscript