spasticlitotes Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 Okay, so, I thought it might be a good-ish time to start a topic where we can start posting final decisions. I know most people will be a few weeks out with this, but at least this way, we know if anyone else will be attending the same programs and can build support systems. (I realize I make it sound like we're going to war...) (Well... I mean...) I have nine more programs I'm waiting to hear from, so I won't be the first decisive poster, but I thought this should be a thing. losingeffingmarbles 1
Mr Grimwig Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 I feel like it's going to take me forever to decide because Oxford doesn't usually announce until March 20th or so. Many people tell me I am crazy to keep Oxford in consideration now that I've gotten into Columbia and Brown. But I can't let the dream die so quickly...I've always wanted to study in England.
ComeBackZinc Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 What's the teaching situation like at Oxford? I'd heard that you have to be careful about getting some teaching experience when you go to a UK uni, so you have some for the American job market, but I don't really know.
Mr Grimwig Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 Unlike most American Ph.D. programs, teaching opportunities are not automatic at Oxford. But they are available, you just have to apply for them. Not everyone does this, and I think those who don't later run into trouble on the job market (especially in the States).
deebee Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 (edited) grimwig, i'm not sure what your research interests are, but if you're literary-theoretically-inclined at all i'd caution you to stay away from ox. a member of my cohort at cambridge that had done his ugrad at ox had a hard time getting up to speed because many ox professors still considers authorial intention to be a key element of literary study, whereas it has been all but discarded at a lot of other schools. edit - columbia and brown also have european campuses (columbia's campus in paris is supposed to be spectacular) Edited February 23, 2012 by deebee
Mr Grimwig Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 (edited) deebee, to me one of the major attractions of UK programs is their consideration of authorial intention. I have never been inclined toward literary theory, and I am worried that in an American program it will be forced upon me more than I'd wish. Edited February 23, 2012 by Mr Grimwig
deebee Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 oh then by all means, play on! i was trying to give you a heads-up. another friend of mine went to ox and loved their approach, i just made an inference from some of your other applications that seemed to be more theory-heavy schools (hopkins, brown, nyu). did you apply straight to the phd at ox, or mlitt->phd? i might be able to offer some advice having just come out of that system, should you need any.
Pickson Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 deebee, to me one of the major attractions of UK programs is their consideration of authorial intention. I have never been inclined toward literary theory, and I am worried that in an American program it will be forced upon me more than I'd wish. Yes, I would think that would be the case for you at Brown...!
Frozenroses Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 Another thing to be careful of at Oxbridge (although this might be right what you are after) is because alot of the profs are big names and its well, Oxbridge, there seems to be (from friends experience) a lot of Profs who are veryhands off in that you may not communicate with them much, you have to be extremely autonomous and you may deal with their assistants more than them. I am sure this is not the case for all, but from my own experience and that of friends who have been through that system, they said they found it quite difficult. With regards to teaching, from my (possibly limited) experience, it is definitely not guarenteed, you may have to fight for it, and you will not have the same level of support as you would in a US department. The level of teaching offered in North American Universities is one of the appeals for me, and why I am switching from a PhD at Bristol University to one in Canada. Obviously its horses for courses (ho ho), and maybe this is exactly what you are after - but it is worth investigating the teaching styles (which I am sure you have already). Good luck with your decisions - I am sure there isn't a wrong one ecritdansleau and Historiogaffe 2
TripWillis Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 My final decision is to just show up at Yale and be like, "What." And they'll be like, "Huh?" And I'll go "Shiiiit, boy." And they'll go... "This kid is on point. Aiight -- $50,000 fellowship." pinkrobot, siarabird, Timshel and 10 others 13
Stately Plump Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 My final decision is to just show up at Yale and be like, "What." And they'll be like, "Huh?" And I'll go "Shiiiit, boy." And they'll go... "This kid is on point. Aiight -- $50,000 fellowship." Count me in.
hawkeye7269 Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 Mr Grimwig! It's cool to hear that someone else exists who isn't inclined towards theory, but towards authorial intent and more traditional forms of literary study. I've always felt sort of... awkward... about it. Like the guy who's still showing up to parties dressed in 80's clothes... everyone sort of giggles and ignores you... *shudders*. My own knowledge of Oxford from my undergrad advisor (who did his doctorate there, he's welsh) is that it can be very traditional, but there can be some elements which are extremely progressive and somewhat hostile to one another. He waved me away from the English system for that reason; though I think he probably overstates the case to a degree, it's still worth keeping in mind. Apparently historicism is getting popular over there right now (in Renaissance/Early modern anyway).
ekim12 Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 Same. After taking a course with a prof fresh out of Berkeley and getting walloped with 'Stop making claims of authorial intent', I am so so relieved that an authorial intent minority exists.
HunkyDory Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 Authorial Intent AND theory are both passe. It's all about Digital Literatures where it doesn't matter what you say because you're laying the groundwork the field. Yeeeeeeeah boooooooi Nels 1
TripWillis Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 I'm actually doing intentional fortune theory now which is where you try to guess the meaning of a poem based on tarot cards designed by Donna Haraway. losingeffingmarbles, wreckofthehope, GuateAmfeminist and 7 others 10
antecedent Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 I'm actually doing intentional fortune theory now which is where you try to guess the meaning of a poem based on tarot cards designed by Donna Haraway. THIS is the best. You win Trip. marlowe23 1
marlowe23 Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 I had a dinosaurs-in-renaissance-lit theory going at one point; just because the term "dinosaur" wasn't coined doesn't mean they aren't represented in the literature. TripWillis--I'd like to hear more about your intentional fortune theory. I feel I could apply it to Renaissance lit--"I am fortune's fool." Is there an unpublished manuscript I can start quoting from? Or should I just paraphrase your post?
TripWillis Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 Too late. Fortune theory died 15 minutes ago. We have now entered the reign of Metaphysical Dartboard Theory. Each area of the board corresponds to a different principle about the curvature or angles of our universe and their relationships to a divine prime motor. Add x principle to y literary passage and expound. Solve for Edith Wharton. Lyrus, Historiogaffe, ekim12 and 2 others 5
Stately Plump Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 Too late. Fortune theory died 15 minutes ago. We have now entered the reign of Metaphysical Dartboard Theory. Each area of the board corresponds to a different principle about the curvature or angles of our universe and their relationships to a divine prime motor. Add x principle to y literary passage and expound. Solve for Edith Wharton. Is this a Ulysses reference? Historiogaffe, Nels and ecritdansleau 2 1
ComeBackZinc Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 I've got one word for guys, just one word: plastics. TripWillis, Lyrus and Nels 2 1
TripWillis Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 Is this a Ulysses reference? If it is, it's accidental. I've got one word for guys, just one word: plastics.
Stately Plump Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 If it is, it's accidental. Haha, I was just kidding. Internet sarcasm .
TripWillis Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 Haha, I was just kidding. Internet sarcasm . Haha I get it. But not really. I've never read Ulysses. :ph34r: :ph34r:
Stately Plump Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 Haha I get it. But not really. I've never read Ulysses. :ph34r: :ph34r: What you said didn't make any sense, so I figured it might have been in a Ulysses reference... Sorry, dorky literature jokes. Nels and Two Espressos 1 1
antecedent Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 What you said didn't make any sense, so I figured it might have been in a Ulysses reference... Yup.
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