Taryn Tavener-Smith
Taryn Tavener-Smith (1988-) is an academic and researcher in the field of English Studies.
Contents
Biography
Born on 13 January 1988 in Johannesburg, Taryn developed an appreciation for literature and theatre from an early age. These interests in the arts were nurtured by both her parents, who spent countless hours accompanying her to countless productions at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre (now known as the Joburg Theatre).
Taryn relocated to South East England in 2017 where she now lives and continues to appreciate the South African arts from afar.
Taryn is researcher in English Studies in the United Kingdom. Her doctoral project considered the liminality of subjects through the medium of non-fiction life writing focusing on the South African film context.
Taryn's other research interests extend to the Gothic literary genre with a particular focus on contemporary representations of the monstrous-feminine, spectres, madness, and vampires. She also holds an affinity for the multidisciplinary application of Victor Turner's Theory of Liminality.
Early years and training
Taryn completed her Bachelor of Art (Honours) in Psychology and English Literature at the University of Johannesburg in 2011 and 2014, respectively.
While reading towards her Master's degree in English Literature with the University of Johannesburg in 2017, Taryn relocated to South East England where she completed her Master's degree in 2019.
Taryn completed her PhD in English Studies with the University of Stirling in March 2025.
Career
While reading towards her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degrees, Taryn worked as a Tutor for English Studies in the Department of English at the University of Johannesburg between 2011-2014.
In 2014, she started working for ADvTech’s IIE Varsity College as a Lecturer for English Literature.
Taryn joined Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom in 2019, where she currently works as a Senior Lecturer.
Contribution to South African theatre, film, media and performance
Her doctoral dissertation entitled: Life writing the liminal figure: Boundaries of identity and narrative fragmentation explores the life and works of one of the leading actor/directors of the second half of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries.
Taryn is a contributor to ESAT.
Publications & Conference Presentations
Tavener-Smith, T. (2024) "Establishing narrative voice and encountering the 'I' through identity creation in life writing", Life Writing, 21(23), pp. 471-482.
Tavener-Smith, T. (2024) "Biographical memoir and mimicking memory: Blurring narrative boundaries through fragmented vignettes in life writing", In: Fiction vs. Non-Fiction Conference, University of Cambridge.
Tavener-Smith, T. (2024) "Writing about writing: Establishing sustained writing practices for part-time doctoral researchers", Thriving Part-Time, Available at: https://thrivingparttime.com/2024/01/18/writing-about-writing-establishing-sustained-writing-practices-for-part-time-doctoral-researchers/
Tavener-Smith, T. (2024) "Writing a life from fragments: Interweaving fragmented memories to establish identity in life writing", In: Fragmented Lives Conference, University of Iceland.
Tavener-Smith, T. (2022) "Adapting representations of death from page to screen in Susan Hill's The Woman in Black (1983)’, Revenant: Critical and Creative Studies of the Supernatural. ISSN 2397-8791.
Tavener-Smith, T. (2021) "Transmigration, space and time in Slade House", Interdisciplinary Journal of Mobility Studies. 11(2).
Tavener-Smith, T. (2021) "Lacunas, orisons, and attics: David Mitchell’s Slade House (2015) as Gothic locus", In: International Gothic Association presents 50+ Shades of Gothic - PopMec 2021 (Madrid).
Tavener-Smith, T. (2021) Progressive Connexions: Evil Women, In: ‘Evil transgressions and the monstrous female vampire’ (Vienna).
Sources
E-mail submission by Taryn Tavener-Smith, 1 August 2023.
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