Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?
University course discussion for English.
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Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Now, guys, don't get me wrong, I am definately NOT saying it shouldn't be a respected subject. I was just interested in WHY it's a respected subject at university, because I really can't think of many jobs where, i dunno, shakespeare helped them. There must be a reason as to why it's respected, can anyone explain why?
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?How nice of you to
into my thread. Pun intended.
EDIT: awhh c'mon guys....this was such a well thought out pun. How could you give me neg rep for this?!Last edited by Abir Ishtiaq; 06-07-2011 at 22:49. -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Because it was one of the first subjects to be studied and is a relic from a time when we actually valued education for education's sake rather than education as a way of earning a salary.
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Awful lot of essay writing plus the analysis that goes into it I guess. For a job in research, or admin something or other, or a museum, or in academia, it has the sorts of skills you need. And it's 'traditional' as well I think x)
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?It's not. Well, it isn't in my eyes anyway. I think people do it for the personal educational benefit rather than employment prospects.
Edit: Neg repped for an opinion, go me. XDLast edited by Electronica; 06-07-2011 at 22:12. -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?For the passing down of knowledge and the enrichment of humanity. Shakespeare and Flaubert write about people, and we can learn a lot about ourselves from them.
(And for the more practically-minded, essay writing and argument-winning skills)Last edited by Octohedral; 06-07-2011 at 22:11. -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Because University used to be about education and learning, not just getting a job. Now there are no more polytechnics and a wave of job-related degrees like "Hospitality management" the original purpose of uni has been diluted... Now that just going to university no longer marks you out as one of the elite, people have found something else to feel superior about.
Last edited by Tefhel; 06-07-2011 at 22:11. -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Because spelling counts for something in exams.(Original post by Abir Ishtiaq)
Now, guys, don't get me wrong, I am definately NOT saying it shouldn't be a respected subject. I was just interested in WHY it's a respected subject at university, because I really can't think of many jobs where, i dunno, shakespeare helped them. There must be a reason as to why it's respected, can anyone explain why? -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Actually, it's quite a new academic subject and was the Mickey Mouse degree of a century ago.(Original post by JCC-MGS)
Because it was one of the first subjects to be studied and is a relic from a time when we actually valued education for education's sake rather than education as a way of earning a salary. -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Hardly. It wasn't known as English Literature but the original trivium contained lessons in grammar and rhetoric and involved the reading and emulation of classic literature, English Literature is a natural progression from that.(Original post by TheSownRose)
Actually, it's quite a new academic subject and was the Mickey Mouse degree of a century ago.Last edited by JCC-MGS; 06-07-2011 at 22:20. -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?You bumped your thread after just a couple of minutes, with a lame pun. What sort of reaction were you expecting?(Original post by Abir Ishtiaq)
EDIT: awhh c'mon guys....this was such a well thought out pun. How could you give me neg rep for this?!
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Just because something looks like a natural progression with the benefit of a century's hindsight doesn't mean it wasn't controversial at the time. Surely the maligned media studies is just a natural progression from the study of eng lit?(Original post by JCC-MGS)
Hardly. It wasn't known as English Literature but the original trivium contained lessons in grammar and rhetoric and involved the reading and emulation of classic literature, English Literature is a natural progression from that. -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Not really, media studies is totally different to English Lit, especially at university level. The controversy that most people attribute to the creation of the English Literature degree is more often than not part of a wider controversy of overall rehaul of the university curriculum in the 19th century. English Literature was not the only well-respected subject to originally face opposition even though it wasn't essentially any different to its equivalent in the original seven liberal arts, and the reason why English Literature is respected is because people acknowledge the fact that it is essentially a repackaging of the grammar and rhetoric teachings that have been in universities since the beginning.(Original post by Joinedup)
Just because something looks like a natural progression with the benefit of a century's hindsight doesn't mean it wasn't controversial at the time. Surely the maligned media studies is just a natural progression from the study of eng lit? -
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?Pffhhtt...Still a pun though(Original post by hobnob)
You bumped your thread after just a couple of minutes, with a lame pun. What sort of reaction were you expecting?
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Re: Why is English Literature a respected subject at university?That's nonsense. What modern day university teaches grammar or rhetoric in English literature courses? Most modern classics courses don't teach rhetoric. To say nothing of the huge differences between how classics were taught in the Middle Ages and how English literature is taught nowadays. People would love to think that English literature is a very old traditional subject, but it really isn't. That doesn't mean it's not hard work - because it's a lot of hard work and that's one of the main reasons why it's so respected - it's just not old and traditional in any way.(Original post by JCC-MGS)
Hardly. It wasn't known as English Literature but the original trivium contained lessons in grammar and rhetoric and involved the reading and emulation of classic literature, English Literature is a natural progression from that.
