Melanie (Hyo-In) Han
Academic and research departments
Mobilities in Literature and Culture Research Centre, School of Literature and Languages.About
My research project
Modern Sojourners and Multicultural Poets: A Critical and Creative Exploration of Postcolonial Transnationalism, Trauma, and Identity Reflected in Fragmented Form and Multilingual PoetryThis project critically and creatively examines the intersectionality of postcolonial transnationalism, trauma, and identity, and how these concepts are reflected in fragmented form and multilingual poetry. Korean-American poets Don Mee Choi, Cathy Park Hong, and Emily Jungmin Yoon are the three poets whose works I'm researching while writing my own collection of poems based on my life of having been born in Korea and raised in East Africa, and my family's experiences as postcolonial transnationals. Each chapter of the critical investigation dives into the three main topics of the study: theme, form, and language. In my own collection of poems, I showcase my concerns with my heritage by utilizing formally inventive techniques such as narrative poems, prose, erasure, and others. By thinking through the concept of postcolonial transnationalism as defined by Bahri, Ramazani, and others, this research brings out the importance of Choi, Hong, and Yoon's works, as well as my own, in the context of our current, ever-global society.
Biography
Born in Korea and raised in East Africa, Melanie Hyo-In Han (she/her) recently moved from the US to the UK. She is the author of My Dear Yeast (Milk & Cake Press, 2023) and Sandpaper Tongue, Parchment Lips (Finishing Line Press, 2021), as well as the translator of several collections of Spanish poetry (Hebel Ediciones). Nominated for Pushcart Prizes, Han has received awards from “Boston in 100 Words,” Valiant Scribe, The Lyric Magazine, and elsewhere.
As a TCK (Third Culture Kid), the inspiration behind her poetry comes from her own childhood experiences and an exploration of identity, belonging, and culture through the use of fragmented form and inclusion of multiple languages. She also writes nonfiction and does translation work between English, Spanish, and Korean.
Currently, Han is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Flora Fiction and the Two Languages Prize Editor at Gasher Press.
Supervisors
This project critically and creatively examines the intersectionality of postcolonial transnationalism, trauma, and identity, and how these concepts are reflected in fragmented form and multilingual poetry. Korean-American poets Don Mee Choi, Cathy Park Hong, and Emily Jungmin Yoon are the three poets whose works I'm researching while writing my own collection of poems based on my life of having been born in Korea and raised in East Africa, and my family's experiences as postcolonial transnationals. Each chapter of the critical investigation dives into the three main topics of the study: theme, form, and language. In my own collection of poems, I showcase my concerns with my heritage by utilizing formally inventive techniques such as narrative poems, prose, erasure, and others. By thinking through the concept of postcolonial transnationalism as defined by Bahri, Ramazani, and others, this research brings out the importance of Choi, Hong, and Yoon's works, as well as my own, in the context of our current, ever-global society.
Biography
Born in Korea and raised in East Africa, Melanie Hyo-In Han (she/her) recently moved from the US to the UK. She is the author of My Dear Yeast (Milk & Cake Press, 2023) and Sandpaper Tongue, Parchment Lips (Finishing Line Press, 2021), as well as the translator of several collections of Spanish poetry (Hebel Ediciones). Nominated for Pushcart Prizes, Han has received awards from “Boston in 100 Words,” Valiant Scribe, The Lyric Magazine, and elsewhere.
As a TCK (Third Culture Kid), the inspiration behind her poetry comes from her own childhood experiences and an exploration of identity, belonging, and culture through the use of fragmented form and inclusion of multiple languages. She also writes nonfiction and does translation work between English, Spanish, and Korean.
Currently, Han is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Flora Fiction and the Two Languages Prize Editor at Gasher Press.
My qualifications
(Summa Cum Laude, Departmental Honors)
(Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement)
(English 8-12 and Spanish 5-12)
(TEFL Certificate)
(Bill Knott Thesis Award)
ResearchResearch interests
- Postcolonialism
- Transnationalism
- Innovative and experimental poetry
- Multilingual poetry
- World literature
Conferences
- Narratives of Transnational Korea: Migration, Identity, and Cultural Resilience in Cathy Park Hong’s Poetry
International Society for the Study of Narrative
Newcastle University, UK
April 2024
- Fragmented Form and Spatiotemporal Experiences in Transnational Women's Poetry
European Narratology Network
Monopoli, Italy
September 2023
- Han in Physical and Literary Spaces: Korea’s Statue of Peace and Emily Jungmin Yoon’s Poetry
The Place of Memory and the Memory of Place
Oxford University, UK
June 2023
Research interests
- Postcolonialism
- Transnationalism
- Innovative and experimental poetry
- Multilingual poetry
- World literature
Conferences
- Narratives of Transnational Korea: Migration, Identity, and Cultural Resilience in Cathy Park Hong’s Poetry
International Society for the Study of Narrative
Newcastle University, UK
April 2024
- Fragmented Form and Spatiotemporal Experiences in Transnational Women's Poetry
European Narratology Network
Monopoli, Italy
September 2023
- Han in Physical and Literary Spaces: Korea’s Statue of Peace and Emily Jungmin Yoon’s Poetry
The Place of Memory and the Memory of Place
Oxford University, UK
June 2023
Teaching
At the University of Surrey, Han is a seminar leader for ELI 1034: Thinking Like a Critic II.
She also teaches Introduction to Creative Writing through Accent Society.
The 6-week Introduction to Creative Writing Workshop focuses on the robust genre of creative writing as students consider what its varied forms can do. Students explore writing as a flexible, adaptive mode of communication that addresses diverse audiences and rhetorical purposes, building connections between writing for school and for broader traditions of lyrical, personal, and public writing. Through discussions and peer workshops, students learn to think of intellectual and creative writing, as well as the broader world of ideas they engage in, as a conversation in which they take part using critical engagement of thoughts and texts.
By exploring fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama, students are be able to understand the principle of discourse variation by examining how different forms of creative writing enable writers to take authorial stances, position themselves in relation to texts, readers, and the wider culture, and come to terms with significant issues through reading and, of course, writing.
Publications
Books
- My Dear Yeast (Milk and Cake Press, 2023)
- Sandpaper Tongue, Parchment Lips (Finishing Line Press, 2021)
Poetry
- "Roots" in Eclectica Magazine
- “엄마 grew up by the water“ in Hanok Review
- “Windy Hill“ in Lacuna Festivals
- “The Release“ in The MockingOwl Roost
- “Again and Again“ in Nevermore Journal
- “April 2, 2015“ in Stripes Magazine
- “My ex came to me in a dream last night“ in Lacuna Festivals
- “Abecedarian in 한글 (Hangul)“ in Feral: A Journal of Poetry and Art
- “Tumaini“ in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Korean Survivors of the Japanese “Comfort Women” System“ in Valiant Scribe
- “please don't refuse me“ in Peach Velvet Mag
- “Happy Bi(rth)day“ in Serpentine Lit Zine
- “9“ in Mason Street Review
- “A Necessary Choice“ in Constellations
- “traditions“ in Constellations
- “and you told me“ in The Lake
- “Unrealistic“ in Anti-Heroin Chic
- “Tell Me 사랑해“ in Vita Poetica
- “there were reasons“ in Flora Fiction
- “Morogoro, Tanzania“ in Fathom Mag
- “About Acacias“ in Thimble Magazine
- “To Miss Tranquist“ in And So Yeah
- “Ukombozi Hospital“ in The Blue Nib
- “My Childhood Alphabet“ in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Can I Roll, Slice, Stack Memories“ in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Holding On“ in Anti-Heroin Chic
- “Goodbye, Raven, Goodbye“ in Chachalaca Review
- “You had spent your entire life in one home“ in Red Planet Magazine
- “But this is a pain I enjoy“ in Flora Fiction
- “Onslaught“ in Valiant Scribe
- “Language Miracle“ in Culture Miks
- “Dar es Salaam Delicacies“ in Noggy Bloggy
- “Fertilized Love Giggles“ in Noggy Bloggy
- “Exponential“ in Global Poemic
Fiction & Nonfiction
- “Tumaini La Maisha“ in Marrow Magazine
- “Dispatch from the Morning Calm“ in Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo
- “My Dear Yeast: Embracing and Appreciating Language as Identity“ in Tint Journal
- “Letters to You“ in Ruminate Magazine
- “Corona, Corona: In the Cycle of Grief“ in Erraticus
- “One Liners Abound“ in Ponder Savant
- “Finding Home in Chinatown“ in Boston in 100 Words
Reviews & Interviews
- “Pier-Glass Spotlight“ in Pier-Glass Poetry
- “Fragments of Inspiration: Interview with Melanie Hyo-In Han“ in MockingOwl Roost
- “Explorations in Identity and Belonging“ in Gordon College
- “On Global Anti-Asian Sentiment and Hate-Crimes“ in Valiant Scribe
- “Destinations and Directions to Two Worlds: A Review of Moisés Park’s Y el verso cae al aula“ in EcoTheo
- “Review of Shrapnel Maps by Philip Metres“ in Entropy Mag
- “Featured Poet Interview“ in The Blue Nib
- “My Dear Yeast: Q&A“ in Tint Journal
Translations
- “Hasta marearme de su aroma a paraíso“ in Hebel Ediciones
from Spanish to English and Korean - “Sabios delitos“ in Hebel Ediciones from Spanish to English