Eric Riddle, PhD received his doctorate in 19th Century Gothic Literature, focusing on the ways monsters evolve and their appearances change over time. His secondary area of focus was Composition and Rhetoric with a heavy interest in visual rhetoric.
Dr. Riddle prefers to be called Mr. E by students, so if you reach out via email or see him in the hall, feel free to call him Mr. E.
He teaches composition courses, technical and professional writing courses, and hopes to teach literature courses and maybe even work in a Maverick Milestones class on monsters or serial killers one day.
Mr. E believes students learn best when they are engaged in and out of the classroom; to help students feel engaged, he uses popular culture and media (YouTube, TikTok, may it rest in peace, etc.) as instructional tools in his classroom. Even though the genres and essay lengths are often dictated by the course outcomes, students are generally free to select their own topics.
Outside of the classroom, Mr. E loves to spend time with his wife, three children, and dog Echo. You can often find him in the kitchen. He's also an avid board gamer. He plays Dungeons & Dragons (usually as the Dungeon Master) and miniatures games: Star Wars: Legion, Star Wars: Shatterpoint, and Marvel: Crisis Protocol.
Mr. E is a big soccer fan, rooting for his home team: Real Salt Lake.
Mr. E's hobby is collecting hobbies and learning new things. Recently he picked up miniatures painting (usually small figures for board/war games). He also dabbles in crochet, felting, cooking, and bread-making. If you have a fun/unique hobby you want to share, he's always ready for his next fixation!
Selected Publications
Forthcoming: More Machine than Man: Prosthetics and Posthumanism in the Star Wars Universe. From Lucas to Disney: Star Wars and the Cultural Politics of Failure. Eds. Douglas Brode, Cyrus R. K. Patell, and Jamie Gabrielle Viray Uy.
Narrative-Heavy Games as Neo-Gothic Literature. The Play Versus Story Divide in Game Studies: Critical Essays. Ed. Matthew Wilhelm Kapell. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. 2016. Print.
Creative Work
Editor: Encounters: Shattered Wastes, a 1-4 player Board Game
Editor: Open Your Mouth: Learn How to Sing by Sam Johnson.
Official Member: Mandalorian Mercs Costuming Charity.