I am a reader. I am a writer. That makes me a learner. I am also a teacher. These four things are at the core of who I am, have been as long as not only I can remember, but as long as anyone can. They comprise my core identity more than anything else could.
After receiving two undergrad B.A.'s, in English and in Theatre, I worked with a small Christian reperatory theatre as their secretary, and on to a series of other customer service or administrative positions. I SHOULD have gone on to get my Master's immediately. Everyone around me knew it, but no one wanted to say that I should instead of following my religious bents. Now, twenty years later, I'm the Administrative Clerk for a Political Science and Global Studies departments in a state university. I run the largest single department on our campus and love it! I sank back into academia two years ago when I got this position, and it has brought me more satisfaction than anything I have ever done.
I am a reader, a writer, a learner and a teacher; in order to become more deeply myself, I have returned to formal educational studies. I am now a Graduate Student in English, as well as holding my full time job in the Ivory Tower. It is marvelous! My mind is happier than I can remember since graduating from university 20 years ago. I was born to do these things. Eventually, I will proceed to doctoral studies, become a professor of English and write creatively as well.
I have other blogs on writing and for book reviewing, but here I want to take a closer look at Literary Theory. It remains at the heart of the academic study of English, for now, and it will always have some sort of influence. How much remains to be seen. I have found over the years that teaching assists learning, and the very best teachers take complicated concepts, couched in pretentious academic-speak and translate them into clear ideas that anyone can understand. That is my goal with theory, and here is where I will begin that practice. Join me as we tear apart Literary Theory from the basics and beyond, as I read, write, learn and teach what I can absorb of Literary Theory.
There are engrossing questions posed by theory, questions that anyone who reads or writes or teaches will care about. It's just that they are normally presented in such a way that you either decide that it isn't worth the effort or that the theorists have lost contact with reality. Some of them have. I'm also struggling toward a more comprehensive, inclusive theory of understanding what makes "literature", excellent writing. Every opinion, every question you all can offer or ask will help me draw closer to what is truly important about literature. Help me "do" theory.
