I’m Associate Professor and Director of the MA Program in New York University’s Department of English, where I’ve taught undergraduate and graduate courses in American literature and culture since 2001.
From 2012 to 2022 I was Global Network Associate Professor of Literature at NYU Abu Dhabi, where I also served as program head for Literature and Creative Writing and then, from 2015-2022, as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Development and Director of the Core Curriculum. For some OG Core VibesTM, see the 2021-2022 NYUAD Core Curriculum User Guide. As Vice Provost, I also oversaw the directors of the Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning, the Academic Resource Center, and the Writing Program and Writing Center.
I have a Ph.D. in American and New England Studies from Boston University (2000) and am a literary and cultural historian. My academic work has long moved between two broad areas: early American literature (mostly before 1850) and New York City writing and culture, especially music and art in the late 20th-century Downtown Scene. In the former area, I’m completing a book about seduction fiction in the early US, focusing primarily on the backstory for the 1797 novel The Coquette, which I co-edited for Norton Criticals. In the latter area, I wrote the 33 1/3 volume on Television’s album Marquee Moon and am working on another book about New York in the age of Warhol (1962-87, more or less).
This site exists primarily to archive information about my teaching, research, and professional writing. For several years I blogged regularly about New York literature, culture, and history at A History of New York (a.k.a. PWHNY) and about miscellaneous topics at The Great Whatsit, though both of those sites are currently moribund. I used to tweet at @_waterman and @pwhny but I hate what that platform has become. You’re more likely to find me now on Bluesky: @waterman.bsky.social or on the comments boards at wfmu.org. I have an old Tumblr too, kind of quiet. I’m proud to say I’ve never used Facebook. I do use Instagram but I had it before Meta bought it. At NYUAD I hosted, for seven years, a weekly show called Research Paper Radio. Find its archives here. My favorite defunct social media are letters and mixtapes. Let me know if you’d like to be a guest at Record Club sometime?
Contact information:
Bryan Waterman
Department of English
244 Greene St. room 611
New York, NY 10012
bryan.waterman@nyu.edu