Texas Tech University

Spanish Faculty

Dr. George Cole

Associate Professor of Spanish
Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2005

george.cole@ttu.edu

Biographical Info

Dr. George Cole is of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and holds a B.A. degree in French Language and Literature from the University of Puerto Rico, a M.A. from Washington State University and a Ph.D. from Arizona State University.

Dr. Cole specializes in: Contemporary Latin American literature and culture, with an emphasis on Cuba and Puerto Rico; in Afro-Cuban literature, culture, and religions; in Contemporary Spanish American drama and poetry; and Hispanic cinema. His other areas or research are Caribbean ritual theater, Cuban and Puerto Rican cinema, Hispanic detective fiction, historical novel, science fiction, horror and fantasy, graphic novel, and anthropological approaches to literature.

He has over 30 years of experience working in the theater as an actor, producer, director, and playwright. He has been nominated for an AriZoni Theatre Award twice for his work as an actor in the plays The Mission (2002) and Romeo y Julieta (2004), and is the author of Y el director, dónde está? (2007) and La indocumentada (2008). Since coming to Texas Tech, he has directed six plays.

Dr. Cole's professional papers and presentations treat themes ranging from the artistic production of various Spanish American playwrights, the portrayal of Yoruba religious practices in popular culture and literature, supernatural detective fiction, and Hispanic Holmesian pastiches. He is the author of the poetry books Círculos concéntricos (2014) and Hojas sueltas (2015),  and the collection of cyberpunk noir short stories Cadáveres en la oscura ciudad y otros relatos (2023).

He is the Associate Editor of Dura, Revista de literatura criminal hispana, and Associate Director of CILDE (Congreso Internacional de Literatura Detectivesca en Español).

Administrative Duties

  •  Director of Spanish and Portuguese Graduate Studies, Texas Tech University, 2023-Present
  • Interim Director of Spanish and Portuguese Graduate Studies, Texas Tech University, Summer 2022
  • Co-Director of the Hispanic Studies Collection and the Janet Pérez Library, Texas Tech University, 2015-Present
  • Director of Spanish and Portuguese Graduate Studies, Texas Tech University, 2018-2021
  • Director of the Spanish and Portuguese Division, Texas Tech University, 2014-2015
  • Spanish Graduate Program Recruiter & Admissions Officer, Texas Tech University, 2011-2014
  • Faculty Advisor, Céfiro, Spanish Graduate Students Organization, Texas Tech University, 2008-2010

Offices Held

  • Associate Director, CILDE (Congreso Internacional de Literatura Detectivesca en Español), 2018-Present
  • Graduate Student Liaison and member of the Executive Board, SCOLAS, 2018-2021.
  • Vice-President of the Llano Estacado Chapter of AATSP, 2007-2008

Editorial

  • Associate Editor, Dura, Revista de Estudios de Literatura Criminal Hispana, 2018-Present
  • Editorial Board, Revista Temas Americanistas, 2018-Present
  • Editorial Board, Revista Hogueras, 2012-2015

Courses Commonly Taught

  • Afro-Cuban Literature and Culture
  • Hispanic Caribbean Literature
  • Hispanic Cinema
  • Hispanic Historical Fiction
  • Hispanic Poetry
  • Hispanic Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy
  • Hispanic Theatre
  • Hispanic Crime Fiction
  • The Play in Spanish

Areas of Research

  • Afro-Cuban Literature and Culture, Latin American Literature, Hispanic Caribbean Literature and Culture (emphasis in Cuba and Puerto Rico)
  • Hispanic Drama, Hispanic Literary Sub-Genres (Historical Fiction, Sherlock Holmes, Crime Fiction, Comic Books & Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Horror, Dystopian & Fantasy Literature)
  • Hispanic Cinema, Theatre, Freemasonry, African Mythology, Oral Tradition, Yoruba Culture, Anthropological approaches to Literature, Cultural Studies

Selected Publications

  • “El dilema de los próceres: un homenaje borgeano a Sherlock Holmes.” Cuadrivium, núms. 16-17, años 22-23 (2023), 114-120.
  • "La edad cronológica, la edad en santo y el más allá: Varias maneras de envejecer y el concepto de la inmortalidad dentro de la Santería". Revista del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. Serie 3 Núm. 6 (2017), 141-149.
  • "Los 200 No: un choque ideológico entre generaciones y ámbitos políticos" Cuadrivium. Núm. 11, Año 17 (Otoño, 2015-Primavera 2016), 152-157.
  • "Guiado por los orishas: La santería como agente definitorio de la identidad cubana y su representación en el cine y la literatura (1981-2001)". Polifonía. Vol. VI Issue I (2016). 18-34.
  • "Los elementos paralelos entre Los naufragios y La Odisea: otra muestra de la falta de veracidad en la obra de Cabeza de Vaca." Revista de Literaturas Modernas. Vol. 46 N. 22 (Julio-Diciembre 2016). 95-110.
  • “Leyenda de la Tatuana': análisis de su simbología y elementos míticos mayas.” Forum. Vol. XVIII (2010). 85-93.
  • “En búsqueda de Talía y de Melpómene: ¿existe el teatro modernista?” Magazine Modernista 12 (Agosto, 2009). Internet: 08/10/09 (http://magazinemodernista.com/?p=2541)
  • “Transcultureo cubano': la santería, el negrismo y la definición de la identidad cultural cubana a comienzos del siglo XX.” Dissidences. 4/5 (Fall, 2008), 1-25
  • “Los òrìşà se manifiestan sobre las tablas: la presencia de la santería en el teatro cubano de los años sesenta.” Negritud. 2.1 (Verano, 2008), 64-76.
  • “Buscando santo: panorama histórico de la religión yorùbá en Cuba.” Negritud. 1 (Noviembre, 2007), 217-230.
  • "Chau Misterix: la pérdida de la inocencia y el rito de paso." Gestos. 44 (Noviembre, 2007), 43-54.
  • “Creencias principales y la estructura religiosa de la santería.” Hispania. 90.2 (2007), 235-245.
  • “Escuchando la voz de Ecue: la representación de la Sociedad Secreta Abakuá en la obra de Alejo Carpentier.” Revista Monográfica. Vol. XXII (2006), 130-142.

Books Reviews

  • “López-Herrera, Juan. Las aventuras del ingenioso detective Frank Stain.” Dura, Revista de Estudios de Literatura Criminal Hispana. 3 (2021).
  • “Catalá Carrasco, Jorge, Pablo Drinot & James Scorer, Eds. Comics & Memory in Latin America.” Studies in Latin American Popular Culture.  Vol. 39 (2021). 169-171.
  • “Villepastour, Amanda, Ed. The Yorùbá God of Drumming: Transatlantic Perspectives on the Wood that Talks.” Studies in Latin American Popular Culture. Vol. 38 (2020). 197-199.
  • “Cosentino, Donald J. Divine Revolution: The Art of Edouard Duval-Carrié.” Chasqui. 34.2 (Nov. 2005), 155-156.

Awards and Honors

  • College of Arts & Sciences Graduating Seniors Survey named as an Outstanding Faculty Member. Texas Tech University, May 2007.
  • College of Arts & Sciences Graduating Seniors Survey named as an Outstanding Faculty Member. Texas Tech University, August 2006.
  • College of Arts & Sciences Graduating Seniors Survey named as an Outstanding Faculty Member. Texas Tech University, December 2005.
  • Best Supporting Actor, AriZoni Theatre Awards 2004 (Nominated)
  • Best Supporting Actor, AriZoni Theatre Awards 2002 (Nominated)

Creative Writing Interests

Essays

  • “Humilde defensa de la Orden Masónica.” Acacia. Abril-mayo. 1998: 13-14.
  • "Ser o No Ser." Acacia. Abril-mayo. 1998: 15-17.

Poetry

  • Hojas sueltas. Lubbock: Editorial GC, 2015.
    ISBN: 978-1515342892

  • Círculos concéntricos. Lubbock: Editorial GC, 2014.
    ISBN: 978-1515120988

Short Story

  • Caminando con Ifá (Work in progress)
  • Cadáveres en la oscura ciudad y otros relatos. Lubbock: Editorial GC, 2023.

    ISBN: 979-8858289777

Novel

  • Por este signo conquistaréis (Work in progress)

Drama

  • Teatro. Lubbock: Editorial GC, 2014.
    ISBN: 978-1515123187
  • “La indocumentada”(2008)
  • "Y el director... dónde está?"(2007)

Cole

CMLL Spanish Program

  • Address

    CMLL Building, 2906 18th St, Lubbock, TX 79409
  • Phone

    806.742.3145