Lit, Rhet, Comp - Chat Thread

[HunkyDory]

dokkeynot is wrong on all fronts. I've had numerous exchanges with a professor there who has given me information completely different from the information that dokkeynot gives.

Cool story, bro. I'm curious, which professor? And I don't get why you're being so outrageously hostile.

[vordhosbntwin]

man, don't criticize someone for making passive-aggressive comments and then say "cool story, bro."

[HunkyDory]

Is "Cool story, bro" passive-aggressive? Sometimes I speak too much in memes (coincidentally part of what I want to study), the statement is mostly devoid of meaning at this point, more of a nonchalant attitude akin to Condescending Wonka: http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35qn5n/

On a similar note, I hope I'm not the only one interested in internet culture as an academic topic...

[vordhosbntwin]

dokkeynot, what's your impression of the comp lit department at upenn? i'm interested in british and french modernisms, critical theory (as in frankfurt), and continental philosophy. one of my favorite bros, paul guyer, the eminent kant scholar, recently left the comp lit/phil depts at upenn for brown. i know the department is generally more theory-oriented than the other ivy comp lit programs, which seem to be more traditionally comparatist, but i'd be curious to hear your impressions of the dept.

as for internet culture as an academic topic, i actually am pretty interested in marxian takes on new social media. fascinating stuff, especially in light of the arab spring/new anti-piracy bills.

[isol3]

Cool story, bro. I'm curious, which professor? And I don't get why you're being so outrageously hostile.

Outrageously!

[HunkyDory]

dokkeynot, what's your impression of the comp lit department at upenn? i'm interested in british and french modernisms, critical theory (as in frankfurt), and continental philosophy. one of my favorite bros, paul guyer, the eminent kant scholar, recently left the comp lit/phil depts at upenn for brown. i know the department is generally more theory-oriented than the other ivy comp lit programs, which seem to be more traditionally comparatist, but i'd be curious to hear your impressions of the dept.

as for internet culture as an academic topic, i actually am pretty interested in marxian takes on new social media. fascinating stuff, especially in light of the arab spring/new anti-piracy bills.

I know less about the Comp Lit department, only insofar as it intersects with the English department, but I do know that they are far more theory oriented. How do you feel about Lacan? Because if so I think Jean Michele Rabate would be your man. Simultaneous Lacan/Flaubert/Joyce scholar. Loves "conspiracy theory" readings, loves theory...really great.

Where's your British/French modernism interest centered around? As far departmental crossing goes, Perelman is a good Pound/Eliot person, and Bernstein got his degree in Philosophy at Harvard under Cavell, and does a bit with folks like Stein and Wittgenstein.

And how do you feel about Walter Benjamin? There are a lot of folks in both departments that love him--definitely a great school to do work with the Arcades Project (Kenny Goldsmith is actually doing a rewriting of The Arcades Project right now).

Sorry I can't be AS helpful with Comp Lit. And yeah, totally a drag to lose Guyer.

[vordhosbntwin]

i'm actually writing my undergrad thesis on benjamin, adorno, and derrida, and the relationship between joyce's work and the negative dialectical projects of the former. in fact, i began my personal statement to upenn with a quote from benjamin's ursprung des deutschen trauerspieles. in general, with respect to literature, i'm interested in genet and proust, the literariness of french theoretical traditions, french hegelianism, etc. in english modernism, i'm interested primarily in joyce, beckett, and pound, revival of the epic form in early 20th century novel, that sort of thing.

i know jean michele rabate teaches a classes on joyce, genet, etc. i'm really interested in his work. thanks for the tip on kenny goldsmith, though i can't possibly imagine what a rewriting of a book of quotations would look like.

ah! and now i understand: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2011/04/rewriting-walter-benjamins-the-arcades-project/

Edited January 18, 2012 by vordhosbntwin

[Origin=Goal]

Vordhosntwin: I applied to the Comp Lit program at Penn, and have similar theoretical interests to yours (although substituting Derrida for Lukacs and Lacan) and I listed the historian Walter Breckman (cross-listed faculty from history) and Eric Jarosinski from the German department as strong POI. With your interest in Frankfurt School Aesthetic theory, I would definitely check out latter, as he has some very interesting writings out there; the former would match well regarding Hegel and the dialectical tradition.

Of course, I'm not sure how flexible the program is about allowing advisers/committee members from other departments, but most Comp Lit seem to be pretty flexible (especially Penn, as you noted). Hope you get some acceptances, you're research ideas look fascinating.

[vordhosbntwin]

thanks, Origin. from what i've seen on this board, your research also sounds fascinating. i hope we both get acceptances!

[marlowe]

Alright, Chat Thread: Drink of Choice?

I've heard THREE Maker's and ginger, a rum and diet coke, Jameson, and flavored rum. We really like our whiskey and rum, it seems.

[antecedent]

Alright, Chat Thread: Drink of Choice?

I've heard THREE Maker's and ginger, a rum and diet coke, Jameson, and flavored rum. We really like our whiskey and rum, it seems.

BEER.

Edited to better reflect my response in the other thread: a cold hefeweizen, to be specific.

Edited January 19, 2012 by antecedant

[losingeffingmarbles]

Simpler Times, the king of the $3 six pack.

[vordhosbntwin]

i'm a beer snob; right now i like the green flash imperial ipa quite a bit, but the dogfish head burton baton has also been awesome. my favorite go-to beer is the bell's two-hearted.

[effess]

A good-and-dirty gin martini. I've never understood vodka martinis.

[marlowe]

BEER.

Edited to better reflect my response in the other thread: a cold hefeweizen, to be specific.

mmm. The Paulaner Hefe is my favorite beer, and I love Belgians, as well. I prefer ales to lagers, but I love all beer.

[bdon19]

I also could always go for a good ol' gin and tonic. Mmmmmm.

And tequila. Lots and lots and lots of tequila.

Basically, I'll drink anything except whiskey. And beer.

[Timshel]

Jagger Bombs!

[rubyrunner]

Pimm's--or more specifically, Pimm's Cup. Truly delicious.

[marlowe]

Alright, who are the biggest bosses in literary history that were over-shadowed by their more famous relations?

I am going to go with Leonard Woolf and Branwell Bronte. Below is Branwell's self-portrait (I've seen it in person - pretty awesome).

[eriksmegs]

For those who like rum and cokes, have you ever tried one with coconut rum? It's delicious (if you like coconut, of course)

[bdon19]

Alright, who are the biggest bosses in literary history that were over-shadowed by their more famous relations?

I am going to go with Leonard Woolf and Branwell Bronte. Below is Branwell's self-portrait (I've seen it in person - pretty awesome).

Branwell is basically my hero. My favorite anecdote about him was when he wrote an angsty letter about being a poet to Wordsworth, who never responded. Also, I have a poster of that painting hanging over my bed, nbd.

...I've told friends that the Brontes watch over me while I sleep. In hindsight, that's a little creepy.

[marlowe]

Can someone explain to me the difference between programs in "Comp/Rhet", "Literature", and "English"?

[andsoitgoes161]

Well, I've only applied to comp/rhet programs, and the field (this is a broad generalization, mind you) examines the ways we write and learn how to write, how we connect with an audience through/effects of rhetorical choices, and theory of writing instruction. Many people are concerned with the pedagogical aspects of the interrelation between these three things, while others are focused solely on theoretical implications of writing (i.e. constitutive rhetorical theory, Aristotelian discourse theory, etc). Literature seems somewhat more obvious to me, so my definition is informed merely by taking it a face value and my experience in an English Lit MA program, but I'd define it as the study of literature overall, determined more narrowly by rigorous scholarship in your own milieus/niches of interest (i.e. American 20th Century, postcolonial, Victorian lit, etc). I imagine many people are similarly interested in critical theory to supplement as an exegetic instrument, but I also realize that I am a huge theory buff and oftentimes alone in that predilection. English--I think it's just the general categorization of the field of interest under which concentrations like Literature and Comp/Rhet further taper an area of study. I don't think there is necessarily a PhD in "English" since we are all native speakers, but I wonder if in other countries there are PhD programs for English & American studies, akin to PhD programs in the states in things like French & Francophone studies?

Edited January 22, 2012 by andsoitgoes161

[andsoitgoes161]

Also--today is one of my "I will not get in anywhere and I am doomed to failure" days, and I've been chewing over my choice in writing sample as the reason I will be rejected from the programs I applied. When I was applying to programs I hadn't started my Master's thesis yet, but I had written a paper in one of my classes that acted as the impetus for a more in-depth study. Now that I have 50 pages of my thesis written, I realize how bird's eye a view the paper I submitted as a writing sample was, and also how it was in ways a little reductive. I know that AdComms aren't reading our papers to learn anything, and they're simply looking to them for scholastic aptitude/writing style, BUT: one of my letter writers is my thesis director, who was also the professor of the class in which this paper that provoked my thesis was written, and I know for a fact that he talks about the "ingenuity" (his words, not mine) of the central idea of my thesis. Given that the writing sample I submitted speaks to the topic of my thesis, and my letter writer names the topic of my thesis, I am totally pissed off that I used that particular paper in a writing sample because I don't want AdComms to think THAT is actually a part of my thesis--I fear that if they think it's a part of the final product, they will see my thought process as too reductive. Sigh. Why do I obsess about things over which I really have no control?

Edited January 22, 2012 by andsoitgoes161

[Origin=Goal]

English (Lit)= English Lit, Comparative Literature=Multiple Language/National Literatures (to be frank, the field is basically arbitrary), Rhetoric/Composition= Language composition, acquisition, etc; "Rhetoric" (e.g. Berkeley's Rhetoric Dept.) sometimes houses whatever academic trends and experiments (usually theoretical ones) that can't fit in other places.