A joint publication between English majors and faculty, the journal embodies the interdisciplinary nature of the Department of English at Samford University. It provides a venue for all Samford students, faculty, and alumni to publish their best critical and creative work.
Literature and film continually reimagine an ever-changing world, and through our research we discover our relationships to those art forms and the cultures they manifest. Publishing one issue per year, Wide Angle serves as a conduit for the expression and critique of that imagination. The journal provides a venue for undergraduate research and an opportunity for students to gain experience in editing and publishing. As a wide-angle lens captures a broad field of vision, this journal expands its focus to include critical and creative works, namely academic essays, book and film reviews, and commentaries, as well as original poetry, short fiction and non-fiction, and screenplays.
Current Issue
Literature
Essay
“‘I cannot live without my soul’: Evangelicalism, Soul Talk, and Eternity in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights”
Rebekah Crozier - Page 5
Commentary
“The BACHE Visiting Writers Series: Katy Simpson Smith”
Corrie Parks - Page 26
“Shakespeare’s Theology”
Dr. Julianne Sandberg - Page 30
Film
Essay
“Consider My Servant Larry: Fideism and Nihilism in the Book of Job and A Serious Man”
Preston S. Blakeley - Page 41
“‘. . . women mean trouble’: How the Representation of Women and Children in Two Neorealist Films Calls for the Restoration of Patriarchy in Postwar Italy”
Corrie Parks - Page 63
Screenplay
“Land of the Living”
Connor Loyd - Page 77
“DragonTamer”
Donovahn Wyatt - Page 78
Creative Writing
“I Wish I Could Fly”
Maddie Athearn - Page 79
“Patience”
Clay Birchfield - Page 81
“August Under the Glass”
Abi Doremus - Page 82
From the Editors’ Desks - Special Series: Religion and Philosophy in Literature and Film
“Ontology in the Medium of Sight: On Women Seeing and Being Seen in Middle English Literature”
Sarah Chew - Page 84
“Revolution and Resurrection: Enjolras as a Christ Figure in Les Misérables”
Megan Crowe - Page 94
“‘pay[ing] attention’: Patience, Prayer, and a Posture of Humility in the Poetry of Mary Oliver”
Ellen Kesler - Page 102
“‘Why have you forsaken me?’: Divine Silence in Religious Cinema and Literature”
Juliana Mink - Page 106
“‘Seeing is believing. . . . Am I right?’: Hero Boy’s Journey of Sight and Sound in The Polar Express”
Edie Smith - Page 114
Contributors
Maddie Athearn is a junior Musical Theatre major from Niceville, Florida. She has been writing in one way or another ever since she was little. She is excited to finally share a piece of that here. John 15:9-17.
Clay Birchfield, a recent Samford graduate and Alabama native, is getting ready to begin an MA in English at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He thanks you for taking the time to engage with him in some of life's greatest exercises in empathy: reading and writing.
Preston S. Blakeley is a Samford alumnus from the small town of Argyle, Texas. In the fall, he will pursue an MA in English at the University of Mississippi. He recently published “Out of the Whirlwind: Adaptation and Absurdism in King Lear and the Book of Job” in the Sigma Tau Delta Review.
Sarah Chew is a junior English and Philosophy double major from Albuquerque, NM. When not competing on the debate team or reading for class, she enjoys debating with friends or reading for fun, along with taking long walks and playing music. After graduation, she hopes to pursue graduate work in the lucrative field of the humanities.
Megan Crowe is a senior English major from Gardendale, AL. When she is not writing a paper or working on her novel, she is most likely reading, thinking about Les Misérables, or re-watching Doctor Who. After graduation, she will begin graduate school at the University of Alabama’s Library & Information Studies program.
Rebekah Crozier is a senior from Braselton, Georgia, with a double major in English and Journalism & Mass Communication. She enjoys long hikes, good coffee, and time spent contemplating life on the third floor of Ingalls Hall. She plans to write and travel for the rest of her life.
Abi Doremus is a first-year student from a little town on the bluffs over Mobile Bay, AL. She loves C.S. Lewis and strawberry jam on toast, her flower garden and the word penultimate, and bringing thoughts from her mind to the page.
Ellen Kesler is a senior English major from Franklin, TN. If she is not editing for Wide Angle, she is probably running, playing pickleball, writing, or trying out subpar stand-up material on her friends. She has a multitude of ambiguous plans for her life after graduating.
Connor Loyd is a senior Journalism and Mass Communication major and Film Production minor from Hartselle, AL. In his free time, he enjoys the simple things in life like writing, reading, drawing, watching movies, and hiking.
Juliana Mink is a senior English major from Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not in class or working at Seeds Coffee, she is contemplating her existential angst, writing songs about her existential angst, or sipping mint tea. After graduation, she will be applying to graduate programs and praying that someone lets her into another classroom.
Natalie Myers is a senior Studio Art major at Samford University. She is a painter and a maker. She is passionate about creating art that touches the depth of humanity and spirit.
Corrie Parks is a senior Secondary Education and English double-major from Hoover, AL. Aside from teaching English Language Arts to youths, she enjoys curating Spotify playlists, serving up lattes, and developing half-baked screenplay ideas. In the fall, she will teach high school ELA in Malaysia.
Dr. Julianne Sandberg is an Associate Professor of English at Samford University, where she teaches a wide assortment of literature and writing courses. She especially loves teaching curious students about soul-stirring writers, ranging from Shakespeare and C.S. Lewis to Mary Oliver and Fannie Lou Hamer. When she’s not in the classroom or office, you can find her on a neighborhood walk, a hiking trail, or a reading couch.
Edie Smith is a senior English major from Homewood, AL. If she is not out running in circles, she is likely brainstorming new ideas for a screenplay, watching Gossip Girl for the sixth time, or working on page fifteen of a three-page paper. When she graduates, she’ll go right back to school to hopefully graduate again.
Donovahn Wyatt is a senior from Birmingham. He is a Journalism and Mass Communication major with minors in Film Production and Biology.
Guidelines
Submissions will be accepted from all Samford students, faculty, alumni,and staff. Authors are limited to submitting two pieces per category. All submissions must be anonymous; please do not include identifying information in the submission document. Upon acceptance of submission, the contributor will be required to sign a copyright waiver prior to publication. All accepted submissions must follow current MLA style guidelines and be free of any grammatical errors.
Critical Essays
Reviews and Commentaries
- Reviews of recently released novels, short stories, poetry collections, scholarly works, and anthologies. Reviews should be around 1,000 words.
- Commentaries on recent literature-related events or other topics in print culture. Commentaries should be around 1,000 words.
- Reviews of recently released films, DVDs/BluRays, and scholarly works pertaining to cinema. Reviews should be around 1,000 words.
- Commentaries on such subjects as: local film-related events/topics, national/international film-related events, or other topics in film culture. Commentaries should be around 1,000 words.
Short Film
- Short films must be original and should not exceed 10 minutes in length.
- Short films should be submitted as .mov or as another format compressed into a .zip file.
Poetry
- Submissions may consist of a single poem or a collection of 2-3 related poems.
- All poems must be contained in one Word document. Each poem must be formatted on its own page with a title for each poem. Include explanatory or contextualizing comments if necessary.
Prose
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Prose may be short fiction or creative non-fiction.
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Submissions should not exceed twenty pages.
Screenplays
Submissions should be between 5-15 pages. For longer works, please submit an excerpt with an introduction describing the context. Follow standard screenplay formatting guidelines.
Staff
Managing Editor: Sarah Chew
Sarah is a junior English and Philosophy double major from Albuquerque, NM. When not competing on the debate team or reading for class, she enjoys debating with friends or reading for fun, along with taking long walks and playing music. After graduation, she hopes to pursue graduate work in the lucrative field of the humanities.
Assistant Managing Editor: Alaina Boyer
Alaina is a junior English and Philosophy major from Madison, AL. When she’s not absorbed in her class readings, chasing answers to another philosophical quandary, she’s likely pursuing the same goal with a barbell in hand or while savoring a cup of pour over in the company of her closest friends. After graduation, she plans to apply to graduate programs with hopes of becoming a teacher of great books.
Literature Editor: Ana Wright
Ana Wright is a junior English major with minors in Music and Biblical Studies. She thinks that the human experience is intricate and baffling and wonderful, and things like music and writing allow us to experience this beautiful complexity together. Ana loves making music with friends, drinking tea and chatting about poetry, and watching the stars come out right after the sun sets. After graduation, she hopes to continue to do such things
Film Editor: Cooper Pitts
Cooper is a sophomore English and Global Studies double major from Hoover, AL. When not writing poetry or furiously taking notes in class, he enjoys going on a hike to melancholically look out over a cliff and attempting to make latte art. His filmic interests include the work of John Waters and the intersection of theology and film. After graduation, he will go watch a sunset and ponder what to eat for dinner (and maybe get a Christianity and the Arts MA).
Creative Writing Editor: Maddie Benton
Maddie is a junior English major with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in history, which she hopes will magically translate into a career as a historical fiction writer. She is from Baton Rouge, LA. In the rare moments she’s not reading for school or for fun she can be found laughing with her friends and family.
Creative Writing Editor: Reese Doner
Reese is a senior English major from The Woodlands, TX. Her literary interests lie predominantly in fantasy genres and vying to one day edit novels in said genres. Beyond the pages, she enjoys listening to punk rock, watching YouTube, and drawing on her iPad.
General Editor: Jennifer Ellis West
Past Issues
Cover Art Gallery
Volume 13
The Anointing
Artist: Natalie Myers
Natalie Myers is a senior Studio Art major at Samford University. She is a painter and a maker. She is passionate about creating art that touches the depth of humanity and spirit.
Volume 12
Enjoy the Show
Artist: Kyle Bowman
Kyle Bowman is a senior Advertising major and Accounting minor from deep in the heart of Texas. In addition to studying, he takes photos and runs regularly.
Volume 11
Chaotic Collection of Shapes
Artist: Kyle Bowman
Kyle Bowman is a senior Advertising major and Accounting minor from deep in the heart of Texas. In addition to studying, he takes photos and runs regularly.
Volume 10
Ten Years of Excellence
Artist: Will Carlisle
Will Carlisle is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. Following his graduation from Samford University in May 2021, he will be moving to Atlanta, Georgia, where he will work as a worship leader and songwriter for a local church.
Volume 9
Heart with Strings of Steel
Artist: Abby Olive
Abby Olive is a senior from Charlotte, NC. In the fall, she will pursue her M.A. in English at UNCC and has accepted a position as a graduate assistant.
Volume 8, Issue 2
Elgol
Artist: Hannah Warrick, Managing Editor, Wide Angle
Hannah Warrick is a senior University Fellow studying English and Fine Arts at Samford University.
Volume 8, Issue 1
The Postman
Artist: Joe Cory, Associate Professor of Art, Samford University
Joe Cory is a visual artist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Design. He also serves as the Director of the School of the Arts new Catalyst Program, and as a Faculty Fellow in Samford's Center for the Worship and the Arts.
