Graduate School - Literary Essay


There is one thing I have developed over the past four years and that is an acute awareness of the inadequacies of traditional literary criticism. Living in an era in which feminist, African-American, and Queer writing are finally becoming respected contributions to the American canon, I feel that it is important to integrate these views and theories not only into our literature, but also into our literary criticism as well. Through my graduate studies, I plan to develop my ability to look at old texts in nontraditional ways.

This formulation of my goals did not come about easily. During my first few years of undergraduate study, I had a lot of difficulty finding my "niche" in literature. I often felt as if I were simply studying the criticism of others without really developing my own voice and opinions. This junior year changed when I finally began identifying my own voice. I made conscious efforts to identify my own latent assumptions, and I constantly monitored my thoughts to ensure that they were not the mere regurgitation of others' opinions.

After a summer of introspection, I saw myself through the revealing lens of feminist theory, and I began to challenge the assumptions in which I was drenched. In the fall of 1999, I publicly challenged homophobia on my campus by writing a blistering letter to the editor of our campus newspaper.

In the midst of such self-actualization, I had an intellectual epiphany that helped me identify my literary niche. I found that criticism of early twentieth century African-American literature was scarce, and I knew that I could make an important contribution to this subject.

This foray into serious literary scholarship helped me refine clear goals for my graduate studies. First, I see the necessity of revisiting traditional authors and texts from new vantage points through the integration of the identity factors of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. I find the current criticisms on race, gender, and sexuality to be discordant and contradictory of one another. While I believe that it is imperative for these identity factors to remain as separate entities, I also believe that analyzing a traditional feminist or African-American work with specific regard to race or gender will facilitate a new understanding of the author and of the text. Second, I plan to promote the concept of re-vision by broadening the definition of what constitutes the literary cannon.

My specific interests for graduate study focus on twentieth century American literature. My thesis work has made me particularly interested in the ways in which Harlem Renaissance authors, constructed and reconstructed masculinity and femininity. There are many questions that need answering. Did these male and female authors perceive their gender as an essential element in their identity and poetry? How did each writer's gender and sexual orientation affect his or her art and social message? These and many other questions will serve as the focus of my graduate school research.

Beyond the realm of scholarly research, I feel that I would have a lot to gain from the emphasis on teaching at ZYX State. At DDS University, I spent two years tutoring and leading study sessions in Latin. As a certified tutor of Academic Assistance and a tutor for the Department of Languages and Literature, I have logged over one hundred hours of tutoring. This January, I will also serve as a teaching assistant for English 232 Women Writers of the Americas. I feel that it is important to focus on teaching as an integral part of any academic program, and this is clearly an important component of the ZYX State curriculum.

My undergraduate years have proven to me that my education is far from complete. My decision to pursue graduate studies reflects my belief that becoming an effective literary critic requires conducting research under the guidance of professors who are well versed in my areas of interest. In ZYX State University, I have found an institution with professors whose interests mirror my own and a program that offers the freedom and instruction that I need to pursue fully the awakening of my own literary consciousness.