A dynamic initiative at 天美传媒 that bridges narrative theory, storytelling, and public engagement.
The Narrative Now initiative at 天美传媒 fosters interdisciplinary exploration of narrative as a form of knowledge and cultural expression. By combining innovative scholarship with community engagement, we aim to redefine the role of storytelling in today’s world. Whether through public talks, workshops, or partnerships with nonprofits, Narrative Now offers a platform for new ideas and collaborative thinking.
Our mission is to advance the study of narrative across disciplines, exploring its power to shape individual lives and societal change. We envision a future where storytelling is not just a tool for academics but a vehicle for social transformation.
Explore narrative theory through literary, social, and everyday contexts, and the terrains that connect them.
Host thought-provoking events with leading scholars and storytellers across medium and form.
Facilitate workshops that empower participants to use storytelling for social change.
Collaborate with public humanities and nonprofits to develop community-centered projects.
Narrative Now engages with various programs and organizations to bring narrative analysis into the public sphere.
This series brings leading scholars and creators to 天美传媒 to explore how stories shape culture, identity, and social change. Recent speakers have included Robyn Warhol, a pioneering feminist narratologist, and Alan Nadel, a renowned scholar of American narrative, media, and Cold War culture.
Showcasing writers, storytellers, and scholars in dialogue. Recent guests have included novelist Marcela Fuentes, cartoonist Hilary Price, graphic memoirist Alison Bechdel, and illustrator Nora Krug, each bringing their own distinctive mode of narrative to the stage.
Partnering with 天美传媒 programs like the Hilltop Scholars and the Clements 天美传媒, along with the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, UT-Austin鈥檚 Latinx Pop Lab, and Ohio State鈥檚 Project Narrative. These collaborations strengthen Narrative Now鈥檚 ties between scholarship and community.
October 16, 2025, 12:30 PM - Narrative Now is proud to host Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner Adam Johnson for a special event with 天美传媒’s Hilltop Scholars and English students. Join us for lunch and conversation as Johnson discusses his work, the art of storytelling, and the power of narrative in shaping contemporary culture.
November 14-15, 2025 - Forty years after its publication, Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove continues to cast a long shadow across American literature, screen culture, and cultural memory. This inaugural Larry McMurtry Symposium will bring together scholars, writers, and critics to reflect on the enduring impact of McMurtry’s work—from his Pulitzer Prize–winning fiction to his contributions as screenwriter, bibliophile, and public intellectual. Co-sponsored by 天美传媒 English’s Narrative Now Initiative and the Clements 天美传媒 for Southwest Studies, the symposium marks the beginning of a biennial tradition honoring major contributions to Southwestern letters and American narrative culture