Travis Smith

Since 2007, Travis Ian Smith has taught at Tulane, having found his niche creating courses that use contemporary films, novels, and award-winning television shows as a springboard for imaginative analysis. His favorite recently-taught courses at SoPA include Mad Men: An Analysis, Wes Anderson in Film + Lit, and Coming of Age Movies: the 80s. In addition to teaching at Tulane, Travis Ian Smith has published two books: The Salt Flowers, a book of poetry, and Indie Darling, a short novel. A competitive tennis player since the days of very, very short shorts and Wilson's T2000 tennis racquet, Mr. Smith is also a USPTA-certified tennis pro, teaching tennis to competitive juniors at City Park Tennis Center in New Orleans.
 
Without saying what the category is, what are your top five?
U2's The Joshua Tree
Camper Van Beethoven's Key Lime Pie
Beirut's The Rip Tide
Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Arcade Fire's Neon Bible
 
What's the first career you dreamed of having as a child?
I wanted, and still want, to play shortstop for the Houston Astros.
 
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Spain: in search of great food, architecture, sun, beaches, siestas, mountains, and my ancestry.