Fruhauff to Present Challenges of Publishing ‘Gritty’ Christian Lit

Brad Fruhauff, Ph.D., assistant professor of English at Trinity International University, will present “Getting Dirty, For Christ’s Sake: The Challenges of Publishing ‘Gritty’ Christian Literature in a Culture of Purity” from 3:30 – 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, in Old Main, Ritz Auditorium, at The University of Findlay.

In addition to teaching at Trinity, Fruhauff manages content for “Relief: A Christian Literary Expression,” an online and print publication.

“While mainstream culture has its rules of political and party correctness, Christian online and print culture has its own rules of doctrinal, attitudinal and moral correctness,” said Fruhauff. “As we at ‘Relief’ try to publish ‘edgy,’ ‘gritty’ or otherwise substantial literature under the category of ‘Christian,’ then, we encounter some unique, often absurd challenges, such as how to talk seriously about abortion when your audience may flinch at the word damn. At the same time, the big Christian bookstores are successful because the money in Christian publishing is in literature marked ‘safe for the whole family.’”

In his talk, Fruhauff will describe some of the ways “Relief: A Christian Literary Expression” attempts to situate itself in print and online in a culture that is liable to label its authors as crude, pornographic or even demonic.

Fruhauff’s presentation is part of the Wilkin Chair series of events this year. Ron Tulley, Ph.D., associate professor of English, is the 2012-13 Richard E. Wilkin Chair for the College of Liberal Arts.
Tulley will devote one year of study to the interdisciplinary exploration of a single topic, The Power of Portrayal — The Social Nature of (Re-)Presenting a “Self:” Role Playing, Social Networking and Identity Formation in the Digital Age. According to Tulley, his theme is designed to create a discourse community at The University of Findlay that investigates, discusses and debates what it means to construct a self-image in the digital age.

For more information, contact Tulley at rtulley@findlay.edu or 419-434-4608, or visit his blog: http://powerofportrayal.blogspot.com/