t1racyjacks

you know the answer will inevitably be 'tragi-comedy'

Baudrillard. Hyperreal blah blah blah. Not just obvious, but boringly obvious -- and not very helpful I think, when it comes to the big issues of writing. Judith Butler: nothing to do with what's in her work. it's her writing. Homi Bhaba: also his writing. I think he's boring too. So you plough through all that shit, to get something boring in the end Kenneth Goldsmith is on my hatelist after someone introduced him in chat. Pretentious wanker, can't even write poetry. I think a 4 year old's attempts at spelling are more interesting. Any other smart ass 'performative' attempts at literature which involve farting, tracing the shape of one's fingernail clippings and writing an essay about them -- or something of the sort. Quit it already. The 'concepts' behind such art don't impress me. Ayn Rand: JUST DISAGREE with her. Not too commonly studied however. Italo Calvino: and the rest of the ostensibly 'metafiction' gang. Eco is sometimes ok, but I thought Foucault's Pendulum was too much. However Name of the Rose was fine. Charles Dickens: I'm sorry, I just find him very boring. All the cheap sentimentalism etc. I'll probably add as I think of more

of course. I was trying to get people to calm down, since it seemed that the arguments were getting heated. But apparently being angry produces endorphins so I shall leave people to their kicks.

I don't think that talking about class vaguely, in general on a forum, would really get us anywhere. We need a sustained analysis with evidence and the like if we are to say anything remotely helpful or original instead of saying the obvious, which is what is happening ie people from lower classes tend to go to less prestigious unis, people are sensitive about the top-ranked programs, etc. I just don't feel that the discussion has been very helpful in terms of production of ideas with regard to the discourse about admissions and the like. Sure, many have made valid points, but these are generally not anything that people don't know and thus far I don't see any sustained interesting thinking on this point With respect to tone, I think that we have been, to an extent, spoiled by emoticons. If the best users of language can get across tone without them, we should aim to reach that standard as well.

come on guys, when this topic was started you knew it would eventually lead to this (that's why I didn't post initially). What happens happens. At this point many of us have already sent our applications in and 'betting' only makes people more critical of others -- without reason. Save the fight for a journal paper. [if it matters I come from an Asian university. A top-ranked one, yes, but not anywhere near Ivy in reputation. I'm not even going to bother saying that I am 'no worse off' or even 'better off' than anyone here though. What's the point? So much of admissions is a toss-up. That said, class does tend to affect where one graduated from, and if that plays a part, it's a structural problem. So what can we do about it save protest on the streets? Or write more journal papers about it -- those who are more interested in 'culture' or 'politics' or the like. Even if I were really worse off (why wouldn't I be?) what does it matter right now? If we don't get it, we don't get it... http://samuel-beckett.net/Waiting_for_Godot_Part1.html'>Nothing to be done... the essential doesn't change.] I think what you do in your program matters -- and also how your program ranks in your area. Some programs are particularly famous for 1 area of English as opposed to another. Probably better to get a theory-related PhD from CUNY for example, than Northwestern, even though both are excellent unis -- if you're merely talking about reputation for literary theory alone. That said, if the fit is really good, go for it. I think it's best to aim for the program you think you can do the best work in. Ultimately trying to be too 'streetwise' might end up exploding in one's face -- I don't think it's wise to aim for and get into Harvard and end up writing a mediocore thesis simply because the fit isn't good and POIs aren't ideal. If we were all so 'streetwise' anyway would any of us be applying for a Humanities PhD? Remember that DH started this, probably in an 'ironic' mood to liven up things here. Fighting might beat waiting in agony (it would kill the time?) if so then fight on. But it actually doesn't matter much, I think

I am dying my programs don't inform till at least feb. not taking it well. spent whole day hiding under blanket and have work tomorrow (which I dread). asthma attack then panic attack

more or less non stop right now: Radiohead's Kid A

http://www.bartleby.com/201/1.html'>it calms me down. sigh. I am even nerdily nervous

I think mine will come in early feb -- EARLIEST still a long way to go

I'm in english but at first glance your SOP is missing something important: exactly why your field needs you -- how you are going to contribute to it. That is paramount -- phrasing can be changed later

It's my birthday.... and I'm checking GC and worrying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTWOpMN_95U'>I'll stand by all this drinking if it helps me through these days... it takes a long time just to get this all straight

thanks!

lots of love

I had a nightmare about this FML

Doro Unger-Lee, grad administrator of English at Berkeley, has resigned. Berkeley English currently has no grad administrator. Info from POI: 'you'll hear in mid feb or the end of that month I imagine' :unsure: that seems a bit late given the board timings -- but POI is not involved in admissions. Anyhow I think Unger-Lee's resignation probably is slowing down the process a bit, as Berkeley searches for someone to replace her

I say, I feel that DFW is a great writer. I don't think he's pretentious at all. I get the sense that he comes across like that because he's overly self-conscious and that leads to reflexivity that can get annoying. It's a struggle. But there are times where I think he feels free and that is where his prose really shines. I don't think that he's doing whatever he's doing to 'act clever'. I think that M.H. Abrams does an admirable job as a critic. Derrida's reading skills I think, are often overlooked in favor of his philosophy -- but he is an incredible reader as well. I.A. Richards had some good stuff too. Call me old skool. Unfortunately? I don't have a theorist/ scholar Mt Rushmore. I was a biology undergrad for one semester... my admiration, sadly, is mainly reserved for the writers who touch my heart. It is not too difficult to be clever, I think. But it is difficult to express something complicated in a very concise and touching manner -- http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15401'>like so or http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-lemon/'>like so. I am quite sick of cleverness and am not very clever myself. I just know that I'm in this because I feel that literary studies have become some sort of desperate search for 'clever' and 'original' ideas. If it were a matter of having 'good ideas' I wouldn't even be doing this. But I do want to remind people of the power of great literature. All the scholarship in the world could not have persuaded me to drop a lifetime of science studies and do my degree in something that I had no guarantee of passing. The only reason why I took that huge risk is because I felt that it was worth it, worth the exposure, worth the time talking about things I loved -- no matter if I failed the degree -- I was willing to take the risk. And ditto with my phd studies. I can't really be bothered to be too clever and come out with wonderful ideas. But I do want to try and make a difference to the way people understand the experience of reading. As my POI told me, if you don't fight for what you believe in, who will? someone's gotta do the job

I don't regret because applications seem to take more energy for me. It's not the SOP and whatever, it's filling up the website and the boring red tape. And the money -- I'm paying in US dollars -- ouch. But if I had to apply to other unis I would pick Stanford -- didn't because I figured it was tough to get in and I am already applying to Berkeley. Also JHU -- but their acceptance rate is really crazy, with 5 being accepted per year or so so I figured there was no point wasting my money.

OT but I am freaking out because my friends in the STEM fields are already getting emails for interviews and all

I'm already working and I'll just continue to work. That said, I'm already going nuts waiting. Whee

eh if you're an international student you can't fly over just for an interview?!