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tries hard, but just not interesting--reads his lectures

Interesting lectures that pretty clearly summarize the readings. Seems to be a pretty approachable guy too.

This guy is hot and funny but he reads his lectures and they read like a very difficult to read theory book. The topics are interesting but the way he lectures uses very complex language and is quite difficult to comprehend.

He's the man. Nothing more, nothing less.

The most refreshing teacher I have ever had! Amazing lectures that are witty and have fun with the material. Ahh, young blood! And what better person to be teaching cultural studies (ie American pop.culture) than an American with a wicked sense of humor!

Smart, funny and hot. Lectures make the reading make sense. But a brutal marker.

Wow! He's really good looking. His lectures are somewhat boring to listen to.. hard to get into. lots of reading for the class. don't take it if you have a lot of hard classes or as an elective

He is the cutest guy ever to walk into a classroom. He is interesting and well spoken. His laugh is SO ADORABLE!

Yes, he's definately a cutie but he is really thourough in his lectures too. If you got into them they weren't too hard understand but if you were day-dreamin then you are screwed. Anyway, if you do pay attention you don't have to do all that damn readng!

Really clever prof, and always willing to help. However, lectures are scripted and can tend to get a little overwhelming. Insanely hard readings!! But overall, not a bad class.

Prof. Nystrom is great. His lectures are funny and explain the readings really well. The readings themselves are killer though. His evaluations are very fair, but not easy. He tries his best to help you at all costs. I learned a lot

This class is a fantastic intro to cultural studies, especially if you're more into the theory than the application. Nystrom is progressive and comical - a refreshing change from the usual facists at McGill.

SO so so so cute. His lectures and interesting, and i find myself smiling when he talks...he's just so damn cute

Once you get into one of his classes where the subjet matter interests him (ie. NOT intro to cultural studies) the man lights up inside. He would much rather hear what his students think than blather on himself. He stimulates discussions, while making sure they stay on track. AMAZING PROF! and cute.

Though the readings are hard at first, Nystrom is amazing at going through the main points step by step and gives perfect examples. I could see him being better in a discussion class, but even in this - my favourite class by far - he is great. And beautiful.

Amazing professor. Really enjoys what he is talking about (not so much in intro class) and always wants to know what the students' opinions are. Knows everything about film and pop culture... has a great laugh that you will never forget and can hear a mile away!

my favorite class by far!! prof is interesting, entertaining, clear, extremely knowledgeable, and very helpful! plus he has the cutest laugh! i highly recommend this class!

He's absolutely great! The lectures are really interesting and Nystrom is hilarious! Even when the readings are confusing, he clears things up in the lecture. Attending this class is a real pleasure; my absolute favorite and I recommend it to everyone.

grade A, no question. if you're lazy, don't take the class--

A lot of long and tough readings but he makes everything clear in lecture and always willing to go over it again. Answers when you write to him, interesting lectures and an overall fun class. He's also so adorable that you look right past his sometimes cheesy attempts to entertain

Great prof who is very helpful.He really clarifies the readings which are at times tough and lenghty in his witty and entertaining lectures. His organization of the course really makes the concepts he first introduces more tangible with time.It is a really eye opening course, try to get L.Moth as TA

Prof. Nystrom is fantastic. 489 is a lot different from 275, but it's still fantastic. He's a brutal grader, but I couldn't ask for a better prof. Go to see him at office hours, he's fun! One of the best profs I've ever had, but a lot of work is required!

The class is good but Nystrom marks too hard for a 200 level class. Really interesting material, but A's and A-'s are hard to come by-- TAs have to defend A's given to students to Nystrom and the English dept.

He is one of the best profs I've ever had. Very knowledgeable and has a fun, innovative approach to teaching that is lacking in a lot of profs. Definitely a hard marker, you probably won't get an A in his class, but you'll learn a lot and love actually sitting in class, if you can believe it.

nystrom rocks!! definetly hot and very interesting! This was my favorite class even though I did get a C+ on my last paper and still think that was unfair. (but I got an A- on the first)

just one word. FOX.

he's amazing. i've taken two other classes in cultural studies and his class is the only reason i understand anything. whether you're in cultural studies or just looking for an elective, TAKE THIS CLASS! (it's not hard at all, just thought-provoking)

nystrom is engaging, clear, funny, and has a hilarious laugh. he also makes simpsons and star wars references on a regular basis, which scores him bonus points.

I'm always surprised that the class is over so soon, because he makes time go by so quickly! He is super funny and makes really dense readings enjoyable!

Derek Nystrom is the perfect man. He's hot and a Marxist. Kinda looks like Burt Reynolds.

Derek, will you please marry me? he's hot (soooo hot), funny, interesting, and tells you exactly what he thinks is important. Best class i took all year.

How is he doing this? Making Freud and Mrx seem interesting? I love his sense of humour and his hotness (smart, good body) is only minorly distracting. Not looking forward to his papers though. Very dry sense of humour and an overall knowledge of what, everything?

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he's sooooooooo cute! you'll just fall in love with him during lectures!

He is soooo dreamy!Yes there really is a hot teacher at McGill but he's also very interestsing and you will actually learn something from this class. There's a lot of reading, but, come on, it's an English class, that should be expected.

Great guy, but still human despite everyone's awestruck comments. Absolute killer in marking but couldn't do better at making very dense readings crystal clear. You have to take this if you're in C.S., but just know that while you'll learn lots, a high mark is all but impossible. Overrated yet still a really great prof in the truest sense.

I agree, I guess he knows his stuff but if you seriously think he's hot, I would recommend spending less time at the library and going outside a little more.

Derek's the cutest prof in the planet, you'll have to resist the urge to get up from your seat and go hug him... and he's super nice, interesting, clear and funny too. he's just plain wonderful.

yes, derek nystrom is a fox. yes, i would marry him if he asked me. BUT more importantly, he really is a great lecturer with a staggering intellect and is one of the most approachable and student-friendly profs in the department.

i know it's been said, but SO CUTE. more importantly, v. amusing, best in front of a big crowd as in 275 but did a great job with 360 too, really listens to students' comments. Explaining Marxist criticism through star wars wins bonus points for originality. He is the reason I understand Derrida and that's really saying something.

Very interesting class, woke me up in the morning, and was a class I actually enjoyed going to!!!

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Great lecturer, great class. Don't take it thinking that it will be a walk in the park. I learned so much.

Such a good prof. Lectures were dense and there was never a dull moment. Great dry wit. Course felt thorough, and the readings were well tied together and highly applicable.

Very helpful. Excellent lecturer with a great sense of humour, and he selects just the right clips of shows and movies to illustrate his points. The class has a lot of hard readings that you have to stay current with, but it's worth it. Really an all-around wonderful teacher and course.

funny, informative, interesting and dynamic... you almost dont realise you're learning while you do and the in class lecture is always facinating

Nystrom is wonderful! Engaging, insightful, entertaining. Helpful if you ask questions. Unfortunately he says a LOT in class - sometimes hard to follow. There's also a lot of reading, a lot to study, but you are not required to retain THAT much of it. It's worth it for his silly jokes.

This class was always entertaining because he's really funny and gives interesting examples for all of the not-so-interesting readings. I did need to learn how to write really fast though.

Amazing prof. Lectures are clear, thought-provoking, and entertaining... one of the few courses where I've made a priority of attending the lectures. He's also very approachable after class and receptive to students' special needs. ENGL 275 = course is difficult and you must do the readings and attend conferences; however, it's rewarding if you do!

Everybody loves Professor Nystrom, but for good reason- he's really great, either in his massive survey classes (which he deftly handles with capable TA's and well-structured lectures) or in a smaller venue. He's extremely interesting and is great at defining and explaining ideas- a necessity for a survey course!

Great prof, lectures are entertaining and informative. He also has a good sense of humor and makes sure the students are awake. I wouldn't recommend this class as an elective because the readings and subject matter can be dense, but it's a fantastic class for cultural studies majors/minors.

Cultural studies is HARD. the readings are dense. Nystrom manages to make the readings seem easy, and if you haven't been keeping up with them you can still follow along in lectures though it's better if you read them beforehand. He makes good jokes but looks super pissed off when people are whispering/texting etc. Recommend. You learn a lot.

Amazing prof! great lecturer. makes easy stuff comprehensible. love him! opens up thinking valves, but still: what is cultural studies all about???

Amazing prof, really insightful and intelligent. He's polite, approachable, and very helpful. It's evident that he puts a lot of work into his lectures and course outlines. He's really a very interesting lecturer, and has lots of great ideas.

I liked Nystrom. His teaching was clear and direct. My mind was not blown by this class, which is understandable. It was an intro course and concentrated a lot on basic terms, but it is a good foundation if you want to study film. His marking scheme is a little tough but I would still recommend Nystrom for sure.

really enjoyed his class. very clear, interesting and funny lectures. assignments are super clearly outlined. not sure about his grading because it was all done by TAs who were extremely hard markers, so it depends on who you get. he gives you the final exam questions ahead of time to prepare. i'd recommend taking him!

Such a great prof, also not bad to look at. So interesting and really nice to talk to, was really helpful and gave incredibly interesting lectures with no midterm, such a great class would RECOMMEND HIGHLY!

Truly fantastic prof. Lectures were clear and well thought out, def recommend!!!

had lots of classes w him. sure, i think he's a total babe, but only cause he knows his stuff, and goes out of his way for his students all the time. sometimes a little heavy on the jargony, absurdly esoteric theory, but if you can stomach that bullcrap (and if you're in cultural studies, you should be able to), he's totally worth taking.

Nystrom is one of my favorite profs I've ever had at McGill. He gives great lectures and is always prepared. He is super informed and a hard worker himself. He is very clear in his lectures and in his expectations. He IS a hard marker but if you follow his guidelines and put in effort, you can definitely get an A.

Love him. Attend Classes.

Simply the best

Awesome prof and super cool assignments. I got screwed over by the TA's. But if you go see him he is willing to talk with you (despite the fact that he says to talk to the TA's first). Final exam was doable. Do the readings! Some of them suck, but class will be so much easier to understand.

Prof Nystrom is AMAZING. The man knows how to lecture and teach. Organization is there throughout the course, and it proved to facilitate the learning process greatly. I went to see him for my papers, and he gave the necessary feedback. Show up for class, take solid notes, do most of the reading (I had 12 left) and you'll get an A.

I took 4 classes with Nystrom during my undergrad and I gotta say I kind of miss the guy. Brilliant prof & an all around truly rad person. He is the only Cultural Studies prof that I eeeever witnessed show support, respect and encouragement towards his students. His classes were the reason that I was able to stick with it and graduate. 1010

Great prof. Extremely clear about everything, really helpful during class and office hours, and actually interested in student feedback. Also just a generally cool person.

great lecturer - very passionate. if you email him with any concerns he's super accommodating. he's also insanely attractive.

Professor Nystrom was an amazing prof! Even if you dont do the readings, he is able to describe exactly what the authors are saying and what it is important to understand. Super fun to be in class with, i never found myself staring at my watch. This class is a must take!

Nystrom is inarguably the most respected and eminent professor in the English department and for good reason. If anybody was to take a course from the English department, I highly recommend to take a class with Nystrom. The material is by no means easy, you have to really be engaged and passionate. This prof is a highlight of my career at McGill.

Cool professor for a cool class. For an intro course it was definitely not easy, and there was quite a bit of reading at times, but 100% worth taking if you're interested in the topic. Grading is critical but it helped with my essay writing

My best prof this semester. be ready to read a lot and work, but prof. Nystrom is always available for help which is very much appreciated. He's very funny and make theoretical things clear!

So here's the thing, Derek is an amazing professor and is someone who gives very interesting lectures BUT the actual course material can be inexplicably hard. A lot of it is comprised of convoluted and overly complicated theory. His lectures focus on explaining the dense and long readings, so don't miss any class or you'll be super lost.

GREAT GREAT GREAT prof! The papers are specific in terms of what he's looking for. He doesn't give out As easily, but if you love pop culture, you'll enjoy this class! I never wanted to skip this class because of him! And I'll definitely try to do a higher level course with Derek again.

Derek is one of the nicest, best profs at McGill, and definitely the best in the English department. He's definitely a hard marker and likes really academic papers, but is helpful during office hours. He's also incredibly empathetic and kind, and is willing to make jokes and laugh and poke fun at the absurdity of his profession and McGill itself.

Derek is like the best prof at McGill, and is so much more kind, empathetic, and pragmatic than a lot of his colleagues. This class was super hard and he likes a really specific kind of jargon-y, academic writing, so the papers were hard for me to do well on. He is, however, super helpful in office hours. Actually the nicest man i have ever met.

Nystrom is a really kind and lovely man. He cares about his students and puts effort into giving good lectures. Jokes around in class. He gives great feedback on papers and pushes students to the best of their ability. I love this prof!

His lectures are very content heavy, on which the quizzes are based upon. Go to class, for sure if you want to do well. The grades for essays were based on style than content, for a lot of people this year. Conference, participation, pop quizzes(3), essay(2), final exam-essay.

Took him for 277, most important thing is to go see him in office hours. He's very approachable and enjoys talking to students about essays. He'll send you in a certain direction based on your ideas at the time, and if you execute them well, you'll do well in the essays. Quizes are easy marks. Lectures were very well structured.

He brings passion and knowledge to all of his lectures. He is very empathetic and it shows in the way he talks about class material as well as the way he deals with students. Tough grading from my TA, but that pushed me to work harder and get deeper in my essays. I hope to take more classes with him!

Professor Nystrom is one of the best professors I've taken. I took him for Introduction to Film Studies and it became my favorite course in the semester. His lectures were actually really interesting and engaging, he is also a funny guy. I love that he gets specific but still very clear in his explanations. TA was kind of a pain though.

Very passionate about the course material and great at translating it in his teaching style. Super understanding, too - probably the best response I've seen from a professor to the pandemic. I genuinely learned and improved but also enjoyed the course and it didn't fry my nerves.

Course wasn't that hard, and professor was very understanding in light of COVID 19. No deadlines, offers lots of help outside class. But, paper objectives were presented in a weirdly rigid and confusing way. He gives a lot fo information about what he's looking for but it's not very straight forward or open ended.

It's an Arts class so there definitely is a lot of reading and a lot of papers to write. And watching the movies every week takes a lot of time too. But this was one of the best classes I've taken here. The lectures are amazing. Attendance isn't mandatory but you'll actually WANT to go. Never felt like a chore.

Thoroughly enjoyed Prof. Nystrom's class. He really cares about his students, and is super accessible outside of class, even just to chat about movies. I found that the papers were tough, but most of the grade was made up of quizzes, so it was easy to get a decent mark.

Nystrom rocks!! Favourite prof and favourite class in my first year. Absolutely loved every second of it. If you can take this class or have him as your prof do it. The content is interesting, it is not a heavy workload, and the prof is actually so funny and kind. Big fan.

Derek looks out for his students. He organizes very well the presentations in a clear and interesting manner. Amazing class!

Great class. Actually engaging, interesting, and relatable.

amazing professor

He was very helpful and his classes were totally interesting. He also recorded his classes in case students were sick and couldn't attend. One of my favourite teachers thus far.

Lectures were outstanding, Prof Nystrom is so clearly passionate about what he teaches and is quite articulate with his arguments. its very important to attend lectures and honestly really helpful. lectures are recorded too. mid term and final are essays so thats nice but also not because they were quite tough.

One of the most compelling professors at McGill. He offers really engaging and informative lectures about great content and is incredibly considerate of students' needs. Essays were graded fairly, one week grace period for late submissions were awesome as well when the semester gets busy.

Incredible professor - super friendly and approachable, passionate about the course material, and great at explaining concepts / theory. Gives constructive feedback, and allows grace periods for handing in essays. Would definitely recommend taking a class with him!

He's the best professor I've ever had!!! I genuinely looked forward to his classes, and I'm really sad I won't have any classes with him anymore. He's really good at breaking down even the most complex readings and his lectures were so interesting and enjoyable that I still rewatch them for fun