TripWillis

I had been going along at a pretty good clip with my summer reading and other stuff, but this last week has been tough. I've been wanting to watch a lot more TV.

Let me tell you all a story about a little boy who started this thread last year: [insert long story here] ... that little boy was me. Those feelings of helplessness are pretty common, but don't despair! Everyone on here (if they're anything like the crew I had this year) will make you feel more emotionally stable. And they'll cheer you on when you get in and help pick you up when you don't.

Just want to say that Fredric Jameson's The Political Unconscious is REALLY really good. It says everything I always wanted to say about how to read and critique literature.

Also listen to Ms. Harvard over here.

Oh, I don't want to be unclear. I think it's fruitless to guess at a department's overall philosophy, as if many of them even had one! Sure, there are some which have pretty distinct reputations, but you're not going to work with the entire department anyway. What I'm trying to say is that if you're going to talk about a professor, talk about them in the context of your own interests and objectives. It would be a waste of word count to fill up your SoP with a. fawning language; b. summary of their work that you are into; or c. endless description of faculty work. I'm just saying that the SoP is a chance for them to get to know you, not themselves. When I mention "program structure, service opportunities, resources" etc. I'm talking about the following: -Program structure -- does the fellowship or program stipulate that students must receive a wide breadth of literary knowledge? Are there comps? Is there a periodization requirement? Do classes on the course offerings list focus more on special topics or on times and genres? Is there a special focus on literature pedagogy (as there is at UMass Amherst, part of why I applied there)? Much of this is evident from the department's admissions page. Though it is not as important as faculty, I think it's pretty important. -Service opportunities -- what is the teaching situation? Do students serve on ad-coms? Is there are a Graduate Student Organization or union? Does the college hold a conference? Are there interdisciplinarity committees or interdepartmental offerings? Is there an in-house journal at which one can RA? Knowing all the things you are expected to and are able to do at a university besides go to classes is pretty crucial. It'll show you're prepared and able to self-start outside a classroom. You already covered resources.

Hmm, I disagree with one or two points here, although I recognize that you're speaking casually. Theory is literature, especially once some time has gone by and we can reflect on it. Further, there's no way of talking about literature that isn't in relationship to a pre-existing theoretical model, unless you consider certain traditional philological practices as defaults.

Sure is.

Ya gotta read The Corrections. It is top notch stuff.

What did you think of Freedom? I preferred The Corrections, but thought Freedom was pretty intriguing most of the way. The end was very, very melodramatic.

I don't think full/associate/assistant matters as much as whether you feel the person would be a good match for your studies or a good mentor for your dissertation. Let your interests guide you. Thinking about it from the vantage point of superiority/whether or not they are on the ad-comm will mess up the earnestness and flow of your SoP. That said, you should obviously avoid listing adjuncts/visiting professors. And don't let listing professors take up too much of your word count. They are more interested in your profile than they're own. They already know what they do. Plus, it would be refreshing for them to hear you also talk about things like program structure, resources, unique service opportunities, etc. One more thing: it's tough to say who serves on ad-comms period. At CUNY Graduate Center, some students sit on the committees, so obviously it's a bit of a crapshoot.

LOL Poststructuralism is passé now anyway.

LISTS. SO MANY OF THEM.

Is everyone doing their homework in preparation for the fall semester? In addition to my submission goals and my two part-time jobs, I've been putting together and reading my summer book list. It's partially composed of things I should read and partially composed of things I really want to read. Hell, I like it all anyway. Summer Reading List (already read in bold) Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities -- John D'Emlio Shadow and Act -- Ralph Ellison Train Dreams -- Denis Johnson The Practice of Everyday Life -- Michel De Certau The Sportswriter -- Richard Ford The Political Unconscious -- Fredric Jameson Somethin' or other by Terry Eagleton Terrorist Assemblages -- Jasbir Puar Times Square Red, Times Square Blue -- Samuel Delany Some Andre Dubus short stories The Trouble With Normal -- Michael Warner Tropic Death -- Eric Walrond Culture in the Age of Three Worlds -- Michael Denning Any suggestions? Some old school french theory, maybe? More novels and poetry? What are you doing this summer?

Want to second what others said and say this about the GRE Lit test: I got a 43rd percentile score and I got into 1 top 50, 1 top 25 and got waitlisted at a top 20. So do not stress about it. I wasted a lot of time with those flashcards and never improved my score.

Don't even get me started on 3-D.

I think Baz Luhrman was the wrong choice for this story, because The G.G. isn't really about lavish 1920s jazz age blah blah blah (which is pretty empty and shallow to start with) -- it's more of a character driven story. But it doesn't look like Luhrman reeled in any of his more garish impulses (a la Moulin Rouge -- the movie everyone in the world but me fawns over). So I guess it's just going to be tacky CGI, gaudy color schemes (I can't wait to see the green light pffftt), and stilted acting. And Tobey McGuire as Nick Carraway? WTF? He's like a perpetual nice guy and Nick Carraway is a dick.

I think you'll find that most schools are fairly accommodating and have ample opportunity for you to complete the requirement. The CUNY system has a "Reading Language Program," which consists of intensive 6-week summer courses (or 10 week fall/spring, I think(?)) in French, German, Spanish, and a number of other languages. I took the 6-week one in French last year, having NEVER spoken French in my WHOLE LIFE. It was pretty difficult, but I passed the translation exam. Now I just need one more, and I'll probably do that next summer. Rutgers also has something like this that I've heard of, but even if your school doesn't, I remember that in my reading language class there were kids from other colleges who were taking the class and having the result transferred to their schools. So I guess I wouldn't get too stressed out about it.

I've been racking my brain, but I'm having trouble thinking of one. I can say NOT Shortcuts, that's for sure. Boy you'd think Altman and Carver together would be quite a formidable duo, but that one just fell flat. The problem is that most of the great movies based on literature are not based on particularly "literary" stuff. Except, oo, No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood! There we go!

I want to take Peter Hitchcock's Marxism bonanza! Right in my wheelhouse.

Just wanted to point this out again... is it just me, or is the anticipation mind-numbing? I really want to register and get started!

Well put. And if you ever want peer readers, you know where to find a very friendly crowd.

Whether you decide to hang it up or go for a third try (which I would fully support!), know that we're all bummed that you didn't make it. Take a little time to mourn so you can clear your head. You were waitlisted this year, so it's obvious your stuff has merit -- I think you could do it.

Took 'em long enough. You'll get 'em next year, datatape.