Programs in Online Literature

[abrdn]

Can anyone point me towards programs that specialize in online literature? I've found a few that may fit my bill (like Ohio State's Digital Media Studies Program), but I've had a harder time finding things than I anticipated. My thesis/writing sample will center on the idea of fanfiction (particularly fanfiction about celebrities) as a digital reincarnation of the oral tradition of myth-making exemplified by Greek mythology/literature. My secondary interests are gender studies, queer theory, and rhetoric.

Edited June 12, 2014 by abrdn

[lyonessrampant]

Check out Berkeley's rhetoric program.  Also, rather than searching for a specific program, look for people doing work you like on modern popular lit or cultural artifacts and theory and then apply to those programs.  My department, for example, has professors who work on digital and physical modern archives from the perspectives of various theoretical approaches, but UMN doesn't have a specific digital media studies program.  Also, schools with a strong digital humanities presence will likely have people that you might find compatible with your work.

[ProfLorax]

Definitely check out Maryland. We have MITH and lots of people working with digital writing, archives, and text. Plus, we have lots of faculty with your interests, and since we are an English department with both literature and rhet/comp programs, lots of people study incorporate both into their work. 

[hj2012]

You might also look at media studies programs (like the ones at Brown and NYU) and cultural studies programs (like UC Davis or Minnesota). I also second everything lyoness said!

[queennight]

I know that the Canadian universities: Waterloo, York and Concordia (I think?) run some interesting digital media studies Ph.D. programs as well, if you're interested in applying internationally!

[literary_tourist]

Yup. I can confirm Concordia. Just google faculty members from both Communications and Literature. Concordia also has an interdisciplinary program.

[literary_tourist]

You also might want to try Utah. Anne Jamison specializes in Fan fiction. http://fiftyshadesofpopculturetheory.blogspot.com/

[greenmt]

I would look at UC Riverside.

[bhr]

I may sound like a broken record here, but I would look at C/R or Digital Studies programs over Lit programs.