"La verdad es revolucionaria, como lo es tambien la busqueda de la misma."
                                               Chilean writer Enrique Lihn

Hola todos!

I have been with Elmhurst since 2001, when I finished a doctoral degree at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in Latin American Literature, the Spanish Generación de ‘98 and Latin American Literary Theory. I have enjoyed teaching everything from Spanish 101 to "Expressive Latino Culture in the United States," as well "Contemporary Latin American Literature," "World Literature in Translation" and "Theories and Practice of Literary Translation." My initial interest in teaching Spanish came from growing up in the bilingual culture of New Mexico and then traveling, living and studying in places like Seville (Spain), Valencia (Spain), Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile. I have also traveled through much of Europe and Morocco, and directed study-abroad trips to Valencia (Spain), Costa Rica and Chile.

I have recently finished the manuscript for my forthcoming book Resisting Alienation: The Literary Work of Enrique Lihn. A critical introduction to the multifaceted work of this important Chilean writer, this study is also an inquiry into the dialectics of Lihn's work, and how it relates to that of award-winning writers Nicanor Parra (Chile) and Julio Cortázar (Argentina). Lihn's work can be considered "metapoetic" and critically compared to the philosophical concept of "negative dialectics" (Theodor Adorno). It strives to express a consciousness of the very limits of its own expression. Literary expression can be "limited" by an oppressive military regime, the imposition of North American culture, or the very solemn experience of death. These writers were not afraid to face up to the challenges of the contradictions and hypocrisies that characterize the modern (and postmodern) world.

Other projects include the translation of Enrique Lihn's short stories (to be published in Spring, 2006) and an book of essays on Ecological Approaches to Latin American Literature. In the meantime, I continue to publish articles on Chilean literature while cultivating my interest in Ecological Literature and ecocriticism. As Lance Newman writes: "ideas are determined, shaped by the material social process in much the same way that the forms of life in an ecosystem are determined by its inorganic base [dialectically]"  (Marxism and Ecocriticism 15).

Take a look at Dr. Travis's Curriculum Vita  MSWord (.doc)  Adobe (.pdf)

On campus I can be found preparing or teaching classes, serving on Student Affairs Council, thanking Kathy Willis (Library) for finding me that one rare book for which I always seem to be desperate, or working with issues of diversity and multiculturalism, primarily as advisor to HABLAMOS (Hispanic Americans Building Leadership, Acceptance, Motivation, Opportunity and Support). Check out the organization! http://www.elmhurst.edu/~hablamos/

The last time I took a group of my students to Chile, I was lucky enough to spend time with "Don" Nicanor Parra, the famous Chilean antipoet.  

During our visit, my students and I roamed from the high Andes (some great skiing!) to the beautiful beaches. Here we are at the beach home of Nobel-Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda (Chile, 1900–1973) in Isla Negra, Chile. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet Neruda in person, as he passed away in 1973. However, while a bit reticent, this larger-than-life granite carving of the poet shielded me and a friend from the cold sea winds!

   Pablo Neruda    

Apart from my teaching and research, I am also a published bilingual poet, writing in Spanish and English. My other interests include soccer, basketball, saxophone, skiing, and fishing. My wonderful family (sons Owen and William and wife Tavia) and I are so happy to be a part of the Elmhurst Community! Please drop by my office anytime!

ground cover
(Published in ISLE, Fall, 2005)

tonight I cannot find the story
or was it even here before?

I believed in some words that
in the creases of my wanderings
settled into thick skinned convention
and dried sweat
coughing up dreams
of critical inquiry
that translated my history
and were translated by her story
until they became real.

the kind of canvas
that protects us from the rain
won't hold heavy colors
and will rip open
if the ground is too sharp.

if this line of questioning
repeats and revives
what was lost
then perhaps
we will drip back in.

ani
(Published in River Oak Review, Fall 2005)  

arms draped on her
making the sound

"ani-ani-ma-ma"
flying under ink
between signs
precluding traffic school
dodging pits     of consciousness
                       of venomous syntax
The lion's roar or the barefoot elephant
are the same in Spanish y en Inglés
does he speak his soul, su ánima?

of a kiss
just a bit too early,
before their flesh meets

before the patterns dry 
(Published in River Oak Review, Fall 2005)  

for the avant-garde solo
shivering symbols lay down the rhythm
free-form on the red line, Clark and Division

someone said they had to fix a mile's worth
                        of these rattling rivets
I understand                 man
                        can send music through electricity
                        can destroy or duplicate life
                        can paint over a forest in a day
but replace millions of rivets one-by-one?

I look down                 at liquid brown
flowing over                 a sidewalk down
to the gutter beginning to swirl
into an eddy of bottle cap
and cigarette and double back
                                    upon itself
this pattern, water's embracing appendage
this geometric perfection
                                    of pause
                                    and rejuvenation
was filled with catfish on the Green river when I was 12
with unknown amphibians in Ecuador's Amazon basin
and graced the inlets in La Pedrera, Uruguay.
I can bring it home like a loose rivet, in my pocket
but replace these patterns one-by-one?
I look up, the train moves ahead this time without me
I double back, hoping it falls before the patterns dry

corporeal

in this language
anger and vision,
visible anger,
an escape,
ignites the flight of my flight
willing wheels of contest
occupation
of codified images
            tranquil symphony
                        expected gospel, counted on
                        celebrated movement forward
                                    through modernity

between lips pressed
a return slips
in the back room
of my, your, his, her acquittal ephemeral
                                    the psychosis wanders corporeal.

corpóreo
(antitraducción)

 en otras lenguas
su ira y su ida
mi fuga y mi fuga
ruega una rueda de contestación
o invasión
de imágenes mareadas
            de sinfonía atónita
                        y el proverbio del canto
                        posmoderno y cacofonía
                                                celebrada entre labios apretados
desliza una vuelta
la pieza esa, del fondo
y mi tu su condena eterna
                                    psicosis hasta lo corpóreo

invocación

concebida
            en mí, ingenuo

compartida
            por mí, presumido
devorada
            por mí, ritmo prestado
sencillez encantadora
     visítame en tu siglo de oro
     ampárame entre tus brazos románticos
     vigílame midiéndome el ritmo naturalista del corazón
     condéname en tu modernismo
            y suéltame por fin hacia el lindo desacuerdo
            de un ser íntimo y ajeno. 

luego (aunque no se diga 'luego' como transición en un renglón)
llévame al conocimiento de
la palabra y su propósito confabulador y
comparte conmigo la enajenación glorificada
                        de tu
                        vanguardia
para que vuelva yo
solo, mareado
a mi ser.

invocation
(anti-translation)

conceived
in them, distant and molded
imposed
upon my reluctant ingestion
devoured
            bit by voracious bit
enchanting labyrinthine complex
     abandon me in your dark age
     crack upon me in T. S. Elliot
     or Pound, or mysterious Edgar Allen anti-Quiroga
     measuring me, pushing me through naturalism
to leaves of grass that stain my hip-hop
night swimming
            the alternative rock of Coltrane
           "all praise Coltrane," while you listen
                        to sports radio
                        and drop me off
                        on you way back from
                        the movie
the dress was from Versace
and his suit couldn't have been Armani

as i fell through
their avant-garde with
Ornette and now Greg Osby
now alone, seasick to my
                        very being.