Mark Williams (writer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Williams MA (Auckland), Ph.D (1983) (British Columbia) is a New Zealand
writer, academic critic and editor of contemporary New Zealand literature. He is Associate Professor of English at Victoria University of Wellington
.
.
Williams has written about his reaction to St Peter's after his Christadelphian background. "To me, on coming from a radically iconoclastic Protestant sect, the holy pictures and statues the Christian Brothers
had crammed on every wall seemed utterly bizarre". "At midday we all knelt for the Angelus
. Mass
involved long periods of kneeling". Although he feels he escaped "the deep imprinting on the psyche of Catholic guilt
", Williams was captivated by "those gothic images and rigid doctrines". "An absolute scale of values and vision is insinuated into one's mind" which may account "for the number of Catholics who become writers or artists". While at St Peter's College, Williams started writing poetry and while there he entered a poetry contest judged by old boy poet Sam Hunt who wrote to him in response to his entry.
(1983) and lectured at Auckland University and Waikato University before moving to the University of Canterbury
where he was a lecturer and associate professor. He became Associate Professor of English at Victoria University of Wellington
in 2008. William's research focuses on New Zealand and modern literature. He is on the editorial boards of numerous scholarly journals, including the Journal of Commonwealth Literature
and Canadian Literature
. In 2009 he was the convenor of the judging panel for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards
. With others, he is currently engaged in the editing of The World Novel to 1950, a volume of Oxford University Press series, The History of the Novel in English.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
writer, academic critic and editor of contemporary New Zealand literature. He is Associate Professor of English at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
.
St Peter's College
He was educated at St Peter's College, AucklandSt Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
.
Williams has written about his reaction to St Peter's after his Christadelphian background. "To me, on coming from a radically iconoclastic Protestant sect, the holy pictures and statues the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
had crammed on every wall seemed utterly bizarre". "At midday we all knelt for the Angelus
Angelus
The Angelus is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The name Angelus is derived from the opening words: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ The Angelus (Latin for "angel") is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The name Angelus is derived from the opening words: Angelus...
. Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
involved long periods of kneeling". Although he feels he escaped "the deep imprinting on the psyche of Catholic guilt
Catholic guilt
Catholic guilt is a term used to identify the supposed excess guilt felt by Catholics and lapsed Catholics. It is a concept that many non-Catholics have, partly based on a strict definition of sacraments by Martin Luther that diminished the role of Confession in many Protestant Churches and on the...
", Williams was captivated by "those gothic images and rigid doctrines". "An absolute scale of values and vision is insinuated into one's mind" which may account "for the number of Catholics who become writers or artists". While at St Peter's College, Williams started writing poetry and while there he entered a poetry contest judged by old boy poet Sam Hunt who wrote to him in response to his entry.
Academic career
Williams returned to New Zealand from his doctoral studies in British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
(1983) and lectured at Auckland University and Waikato University before moving to the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
where he was a lecturer and associate professor. He became Associate Professor of English at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
in 2008. William's research focuses on New Zealand and modern literature. He is on the editorial boards of numerous scholarly journals, including the Journal of Commonwealth Literature
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
and Canadian Literature
Canadian literature
Canadian literature is literature originating from Canada. Collectively it is often called CanLit. Some criticism of Canadian literature has focused on nationalistic and regional themes, although this is only a small portion of Canadian Literary criticism...
. In 2009 he was the convenor of the judging panel for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards
Montana New Zealand Book Awards
The New Zealand Post Book Awards are a series of literary awards to works of New Zealand citizens. They were created in 1996, as a merge of the two previously most relevant awards in New Zealand: the Montana Book Awards and the New Zealand Book Awards...
. With others, he is currently engaged in the editing of The World Novel to 1950, a volume of Oxford University Press series, The History of the Novel in English.