Visiting Research Student

Theatre and Performance Studies

About Me

Wenfei Yi is a third-year PhD candidate at the School of Foreign Studies, Nanjing University, China, currently undertaking a research exchange in Theatre and Performance Studies under the supervision of Dr. Milija Gluhovic

Research Interests

My research primarily engages with modern and contemporary British drama and literature, particularly through the lens of affect studies. During my Master's program, I focused on the melancholia present in Aldous Huxley’s early satirical novel Point Counter Point. My thesis examined how this melancholic atmosphere intersects with the socio-political conditions of interwar Britain. I argued that the intellectuals in Huxley’s narrative, faced with the disillusionments of their time, sought to reconcile their embodied experiences with a melancholic yearning for the past

In my PhD research, I adopt an interdisciplinary approach, blending literary criticism and performance studies to explore the role of affect in the works of contemporary British playwright Tom Stoppard. I argue that affect is intricately woven into character development and is vital to understanding the social dynamics at play within his works. My focus lies on the performance of affect in Stoppard’s ethical, political, and historical theatre. Additionally, I explore themes such as affective economy and national identity

Education

PhD in English Language and Literature: Nanjing University, China

MA in English Language and Literature: Nanjing University, China

BA in English: Northeastern University, China