Mattie Roh

As someone with very little knowledge of rhet/comp (I was a theater undergrad), I found that link enlightening. Thanks!

So I haven't seen anyone mention University of Minnesota here yet. Does this mean that most people attending Minnesota aren't GCers? (I'm asking because I was turned down and was curious about the sub fields of the individuals attending). Also, Pittsburgh! Any University of Pittsburgh folks? ...such are the ruminations of someone who has nothing else to occupy their time because they didn't get in anywhere.

It was about how the events that occur offstage affect the narrative. I found it very interesting. And I appreciate that he grounds his theory in physics (as a person who doesn't understand physics very well, but would like to). I picked it up when deciding whether or not to apply to BC. While it isn't something that aligns closely with my own research, I think it's a great resource. You might want to pick up a copy to help with your decision!

hahaha...me too. What are schmucks like us doing in this thread? Living vicariously, I guess. Congrats to all of your deserving scholars out there!

So glad to see more dramatic literature folk here! Though it seems like we're all in different time periods; I'm finding myself more and more drawn to the rise of the professional and the portrayal of occupation, thus finding myself more in the 19th century. However, I'm beginning rehearsals for a community theatre production of Samuel D. Hunter's A Bright New Boise this week and (as always) am looking for ways to incorporate traditional literature into my analysis. For example, one of the texts I suggest the cast read is Stewart O'Nan's Last Night at the Lobster to give them an idea for the feel I'm going for. In my studies I hope to find more scholarly connections between traditional literary texts and dramatic texts. In the meantime, I'm attempting to put my ideas into practice with the small productions I direct by encouraging cast members to make connections like these when developing their character interpretations. I'm interested in the resources everyone is finding useful in their research. I'm working my way through an old copy of Century of Innovation to brush up on my theatre history and have recently read Dark Matter by Andrew Sofer. I hope to read the David Kurnick book suggested above soon (Empty Houses: Theatrical Failure and the Novel).

I completely agree. I think one can strongly disagree with Mamet's politics and still enjoy his plays because they are set up exactly as you say -- as conversations that show both sides to an issue. So nice to have a discussion with another drama scholar! But I've hijacked this thread long enough so I'll stop now.

In honor of Women's History Month: 1. Being overly sexualized is not the same thing as being empowered (I'm looking at you, pop stars!) 2. Just because you're a woman as well does not mean that you can make a sexist comment when I buy candy with my feminine products at the Rite Aid. For your information, I buy Cadbury Eggs WHENEVER I CAN.

Thank you! All of this is incredibly helpful. The school at which I did my graduate work was small (and also an hour away) so I have a hard time taking advantages of the few resources it has.

I'll add my thanks to this. The more I read everyone's comments and think about my own SOP, the more I think I may have made similar mistakes in my effort to seem like I have a polished plan in place for my study. It sometimes feels like I got better results (from professors who read my SOP and the like) the first application cycle when I wasn't so sure of what I wanted to do. It seems that as my focus crystallized my verbage became a tad grandiose.

Ahhh! I'm so jealous. Thanks for the link -- I tend to forget about actual videos when doing research. I, too, agree that the play is misunderstood. I think it is viewed rather simplistically by most people ("Oh, Mamet's just trying to rile us up...").

I'm sure this is going to go over like a lead balloon here but: alcoholic beverages. They don't taste that good (or at least not as good as beverages without alcohol) and I don't like my brain feeling fuzzy (I've never been drunk, but I suspect I'd be a mean one). We're so obsessed with alcohol as culture (wine tours! craft beers!) and honestly I just don't get it.

Though I don't consider myself strictly an Americanist, I'm interesting in American drama as well. Specifically, I'm interested in the rise of the professional and how the portrayal of occupation differs between novelists and playwrights (Mary E. Wilkins's The Portion of Labor vs. Clifford Odets's Waiting for Lefty, for example). Funnily enough, I was gearing up to direct Mamet's Race this spring for a community theatre but was unable to cast it (I live in an area with few minorities). Do you consider Race to involve a type of con game?

^ Thanks for the suggestion! I think this may be just what I need right now!

Thanks. I think I may just be over-thinking this a bit.

Ugh. Think this may be the worst part of the whole thing. It's so awkward. You're trying not to sound let down and they're trying to sound optimistic. It was especially hard for me this second time around because it's like "Well, I guess your confidence in me was sorely misplaced. Again." But whatever. At least I'm not on an endless waitlist this year -- last year I had to wait until April 15th to officially let people know.

I've been working on an article that came out of my MA work and my adviser and I feel confident that it's ready for submission. Since I'm not a current student, though, I'm obviously not a priority and email communcations between us have been slow. I thought it'd be helpful for me to reach out on GC to answer some basic questions I have. Briefly, my paper examines how the rise of the professional influences the protagonist's career choices in Amy Levy's 1888 novel, The Romance of a Shop. How does one decide which journal to submit to first? I have several in mind (Journal of Victorian Culture, ELH, Nineteenth-Century Contexts, Nineteenth-Century Literature, Victorian Literature and Culture, Victorian Studies), but they all seem to have similar descriptions about the type of work they're looking for. Also, what is the proper format for a cover note? Is it simply my abstract? The examples I've found online don't appear to apply to literary studies and it'd be great if someone had a website to suggest as a resource. This is my first (but hopefully not last) go-around so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I admit I've hidden friends on Facebook because they post way too many cutesy things about their kids. I also have friends who post a picture of their pug. EVERY DAY. Every day a new picture of the dog. Seriously, I'm about ready to scream. And I'm a HUGE dog lover.

hahaha! Yes! I really hate it when people feel the need to push their kid in your face -- cutting you off mid-sentence to comment on something the baby is doing, trying to get you to hold their kid (seriously, why do people do this!?), making a point to mention the kid even when he/she has nothing to do with the topic at hand. Ugh. Give me a break. I know your child is wonderful, but make an effort to contain your enthusiasm for your perfect little snowflake once in a while.

Unfortunately, I'm in a rather dead end job so one way or another I need to make a change. I was hoping it would be PhD program, because it was the first thing that felt right. I keep trying to remind myself that the job market is no picnic and maybe, like ComeBackZinc says, I dodged a bullet. Still undecided on whether or not to apply for a third round next fall. I guess it depends on my work situation and if I've found anything that feels comparable to what I was gunning for in my studies. ETA: I have to admit that this is the first time I've ever felt financially secure -- just finished paying off a load of debt I incurred during MA studies. So it will be nice not to penny pinch for a while, maybe even buy some clothes that aren't torn/stained.

That's encouraging! I also would have been 35 by the time I started a program, had I gotten in this year. I actually didn't mean to bring up the subject of ageism (though I know that's a thing). It was more of a lament: "Should I bother trying for a third time or is this a sign that my work just isn't hot enough?" Also, "Oh my god, can I even fathom working at this awful job for another year!?" Especially because I've already earned my master's (albeit at a small state school), I feel like my rejections may be a sign to pack it in -- my focus/quality of my work isn't going to change much in the interim. Nice to know that I'm not alone, Grizbert and WT!

Sooo...anyone else in their 30s who was shut out for the second year in a row? Was just officially rejected from my last option (Tufts). Also, I second the Pittsburgh question. WTH?

I have to say I really, really appreciate getting Cornell's rejection at the same time as I was seeing stuff pop up on the results board. It's nice not holding out hope and waiting on pins and needles.

Me too. Think this means a shut out for me this season. Just waiting on my rejection from Tufts. :/

Why is it that families on ski vacations are particularly rude? One group let their six kids run in and out the doors of the museum 3 or 4 times before we asked them to stop (it's 5 degrees outside!). Another woman got angry at me because I told her that i didn't think she should touch the art (when she asked me; I was reading on my break) and proceeded to explain that this policy was "crazy" because the paper in the exhibit was "crunchy" and next to the kid gallery. Not *in* the kid gallery, mind you, but next to. FWIW, the exhibit in the kid gallery at this point is also hands off. Also, I realized that people in the generation above me (in their 40s) who say "you'll get in" when I mention something about grad school think about how PhD programs were during a time when it was a lot easier to get in. They must think I'm really dumb for being shut out of so many schools.

hahaha...sorry to steal your thunder. It's been a boring day at work.