Comparative Literature Statement of Purpose HELP
Hi everyone. I'm applying to a Phd in Comp Lit and I need some help polishing my SOP and trimming a lot of the fat. I also feel it is somehow unconnected, like it doesn't flow. Here it is. Please help me however you can, I will really appreciate it.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
My undergraduate studies in Literature at the XXXXXXX gave me a solid background in both Latin American and World Literatures, as well a strong theoretical framework, while allowing me to explore my personal interests in certain European literary traditions. This undergraduate work helped shape the specific research interests that now drive me to pursue graduate work in the field of Comparative Literature and gave me the opportunity to learn and work with the foreign languages I need to satisfy those interests.
Currently, my academic concerns lie in exploring early twentieth century narrative, especially in Europe, and how in this period narrative forms began to adapt to new narrative needs. The point of my research is to investigate how certain formal problems determine and shape problems of content and theme and how the relationship between form and content becomes crucial in the modernist period. I began working on this problem in my undergraduate thesis: “El nacimiento de una poética de la Indiferencia: la tensión entre lo teatral y lo narrativo en Los Indiferentes de Alberto Moravia”, which received the highest grade, was awarded a XXXXXX (Honorable mention, distinction?) and is currently being edited for publication by the Department of Humanities and Literature at los MY SCHOOL. On this project I worked alongside professor xxxxx to explore how theatrical and narrative formal elements clashed with each other and ultimately came together to give shape to the novel’s main theme: Indifference. In this case, content cannot exist without the novel’s particular set of formal elements, which I called the “Poetics of Indifference”.
Although I believe that this paper was a successful exploration of the problem in a single novel, my main goal now is to continue my study of the evolution of narrative forms in the twentieth century with a more expansive and comparative approach, by studying the same period in several different literary traditions and in several different languages. I am also interested in why this change came about, what were the possible historical or social elements that could have had an effect on the way prose is written and whether the problems of form, content and narration can be studied in other art forms, such as photography or cinema. I realize that typically, a student with my background would most likely continue his or her studies in a Spanish or Latin American literature department. However, since I am interested in how a certain problem behaves throughout several distinct traditions, countries and languages, I believe that a doctoral degree in Comparative Literature from xxxxx would be the most advantageous way of pursuing my particular goals for several reasons.
On the first hand, xxxxxxx’s program would undoubtedly provide me with the solid academic and theoretical tools I would need in order to become a successful academic researcher and fulfill the curiosities which arose in me during my undergraduate study. Secondly, the fellowships offered to PhD students at xxxxxx involve teaching, either language or literature courses. This would be most beneficial for me since I believe that teaching is a key part of graduate training and this would not only make me a stronger researcher and academic but would also fulfill a personal and professional calling of mine.
Finally, xxxxxx’s faculty is composed of professors with a wide range of interests, theoretical backgrounds and experiences. Some of these professors, such as XXXXXXX ans XXXXX, have interests similar to mine and I would feel privileged to work with their advice and direction. Additionally, I believe that if I pursue my PhD at XXXXX I will also come in contact with people who have different views and theoretical frameworks from mine and who may perhaps shed a new light upon my research that could potentially alter or affect it in ways I hadn’t considered before. This is one of the biggest advantages of working in a Comparative Literature department and one of the things I will look forward to the most if I am admitted to xxxxxxx. I like to think that, although my interest are clear, they can evolve and be influenced by the discourses, texts, theories and ideas that circulate in the department where I work, something which would not debilitate my investigations but rather make them stronger through the exchange and discussion of different points of view as well as different ways to approach the study of literature. For these reasons I know that working at xxxxxxwould be a fulfilling, challenging and exciting experience for me
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
My undergraduate studies in Literature at the XXXXXXX gave me a solid background in both Latin American and World Literatures, as well a strong theoretical framework, while allowing me to explore my personal interests in certain European literary traditions. This undergraduate work helped shape the specific research interests that now drive me to pursue graduate work in the field of Comparative Literature and gave me the opportunity to learn and work with the foreign languages I need to satisfy those interests.
Currently, my academic concerns lie in exploring early twentieth century narrative, especially in Europe, and how in this period narrative forms began to adapt to new narrative needs. The point of my research is to investigate how certain formal problems determine and shape problems of content and theme and how the relationship between form and content becomes crucial in the modernist period. I began working on this problem in my undergraduate thesis: “El nacimiento de una poética de la Indiferencia: la tensión entre lo teatral y lo narrativo en Los Indiferentes de Alberto Moravia”, which received the highest grade, was awarded a XXXXXX (Honorable mention, distinction?) and is currently being edited for publication by the Department of Humanities and Literature at los MY SCHOOL. On this project I worked alongside professor xxxxx to explore how theatrical and narrative formal elements clashed with each other and ultimately came together to give shape to the novel’s main theme: Indifference. In this case, content cannot exist without the novel’s particular set of formal elements, which I called the “Poetics of Indifference”.
Although I believe that this paper was a successful exploration of the problem in a single novel, my main goal now is to continue my study of the evolution of narrative forms in the twentieth century with a more expansive and comparative approach, by studying the same period in several different literary traditions and in several different languages. I am also interested in why this change came about, what were the possible historical or social elements that could have had an effect on the way prose is written and whether the problems of form, content and narration can be studied in other art forms, such as photography or cinema. I realize that typically, a student with my background would most likely continue his or her studies in a Spanish or Latin American literature department. However, since I am interested in how a certain problem behaves throughout several distinct traditions, countries and languages, I believe that a doctoral degree in Comparative Literature from xxxxx would be the most advantageous way of pursuing my particular goals for several reasons.
On the first hand, xxxxxxx’s program would undoubtedly provide me with the solid academic and theoretical tools I would need in order to become a successful academic researcher and fulfill the curiosities which arose in me during my undergraduate study. Secondly, the fellowships offered to PhD students at xxxxxx involve teaching, either language or literature courses. This would be most beneficial for me since I believe that teaching is a key part of graduate training and this would not only make me a stronger researcher and academic but would also fulfill a personal and professional calling of mine.
Finally, xxxxxx’s faculty is composed of professors with a wide range of interests, theoretical backgrounds and experiences. Some of these professors, such as XXXXXXX ans XXXXX, have interests similar to mine and I would feel privileged to work with their advice and direction. Additionally, I believe that if I pursue my PhD at XXXXX I will also come in contact with people who have different views and theoretical frameworks from mine and who may perhaps shed a new light upon my research that could potentially alter or affect it in ways I hadn’t considered before. This is one of the biggest advantages of working in a Comparative Literature department and one of the things I will look forward to the most if I am admitted to xxxxxxx. I like to think that, although my interest are clear, they can evolve and be influenced by the discourses, texts, theories and ideas that circulate in the department where I work, something which would not debilitate my investigations but rather make them stronger through the exchange and discussion of different points of view as well as different ways to approach the study of literature. For these reasons I know that working at xxxxxxwould be a fulfilling, challenging and exciting experience for me