Craig Hargis (and others) - English Lit

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by cdhale, Apr 28, 2002.

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  1. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    Directly addressed to Craig (but anyone interested is welcome to join in).

    I saw on the religion thread that you studied English Lit. What type of Lit was your specialty? Where did you study?
    I am planning to start work at UNIZUL on an MA in English. I am thinking about writing about JM Coetzee. Have you read any of his stuff?

    Pretty good. You may not be interested in this stuff anymore, but thought I would ask. I so rarely see anyone else with English Lit in their background (at least that will admit it.. lol).

    thanks,
    clint
     
  2. Craig Hargis

    Craig Hargis Member

    Clint: I have never read Coetzee, but then again I have not read a whole lot written after 1600 (just kidding..sort of). I studied medieval English Literature....mostly Chaucer, Gower, and especially Langland. My exam areas were Chaucer (for major author), medieval lit (for historical period) and Bible in English (for genre). This is the kind of pattern that was required then...author, period, genre, for Ph.D. qualifiers. I studied at Cal State, LA (BA, MA). and University of California for Ph.D. I did not file a dissertation so I am technically a C.Phil. in English.
    Most of the thrust in the program at UC was critical theory, which was and still is my major interest in literary study. My interest in lit kind of moved toward the reformation toward the end of my time at UC. (I was a lecturer there until 1992.) My dissertation, which actually is about 75% done is on prefigurements of the radical reformation in English lit before 1500. I an actually going to file it at a GAAP school ( I don't want to say which until I have the degree in hand) but it will be a degree in church history not English, though it is virtually the same dissertation.

    There you go--enough about me (my story has been told here before). What are your interests in English? Why UNIZUL? Is it a course based MA, or research? Are you going for a Ph.D. ? Do you have academic interests in religion?

    Well, that's it

    Craig
     
  3. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    Thanks for your reply. I enjoy talking to other lit folk. I still find it very interesting, though lately my education has been centered on religion. I got my BA in English at UT San Antonio, then went into religious studies at a non-RA, non-degree granting institution that caters to my specific heritage. (It is a family thing. My dad also went there and my brother will soon graduate). It would probably serve little or no purpose outside of my particular denomination, but internally, it works OK.
    I will begin on an MA in Christian Ministry next Jan. (The congregation that sponsors me as a missionary will start picking up the tab then. I have only been here since the first of the year and they want a year of employment before they begin to pay.) This degree will come from Abilene Christian University. I haven't made up my mind if I plan to work toward an MDIV or PhD later, in this area. It is a coursework MA, btw.

    I actually started looking at distance stuff for my wife. We will be in Estonia in a couple of months and she wanted to work on her BA (or BS). So I started doing a little research and ended up here :) .
    In the process, I found UNISA and UNIZUL, etc. I sent some email enquiries and it went from there. Many of the people on our mission team are planning to do DL, most in non-Bible related majors. The concept of an MA in English appealed to me and I found UNIZUL to be the most receptive and helpful of the schools I contacted. I haven't really completely made up my mind to do it, but I probably will. I will wait until we get settled in Estonia and then get after it. It is a dissertation based MA.
    I have found my English Lit skills have served me well in my biblical studies. More than I would have thought back when I was in college working on it.
    I haven't read medieval stuff since college. Too much work to read middle english :D . I actually like Victorian stuff - Dickens and the like. I enjoy the Russian authors, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. ( I don't know where they fit in, since they aren't really English, but translations...). I like early American lit, like Cooper. I don't care for more modern American stuff like Faulkner. I had a class on Faulkner and I must admit it was my least favorite class I ever had. I don't know if it is anathema for a lit person to dislike his writing, but I do.
    I was actually introduced to Coetzee while in discussion with UNIZUL. I find his writing to be very powerful. Anyway...

    Probably more than you were wanting, but there it is.
    later,
    clint
     

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