What do grad school and the Gothic have in common? More than you might think... In My Gothic Dissertation, the first-ever Ph.D. dissertation to be produced in podcast form, Anna Williams invites you along on her quest to complete her Ph.D. in English and escape the Grad School Gothic for good. You'll hear horror stories circulated by Ph.D. students behind closed doors, be a fly on the wall during real-life defense meetings, and hear education experts weigh in on the old-school training practices that can make the Ivory Tower feel like a terrifying place to those who don't traditionally belong. Along the way, you'll also traverse through the pages of some classic Gothic novels, catching up with literary heroines on educational journeys in The Mysteries of Udolpho, Charlotte Bronte's Villette, and of course, Frankenstein.
The terrified-yet-resolute grad student faces her committee one last time to defend her dissertation. But soon she finds herself confronted by an even greater obstacle.
A word on what to expect next in My Gothic Dissertation, plus a plug for The Professor Is In -- THE podcast on the academic job market, academic career, and post-academic job search.
Lulu taught her first college class at the age of only twenty-two. Like Lucy Snowe – the heroine of Charlotte Brontë’s Villette – she almost found herself engulfed by student mutiny. In this chapter of My Gothic Dissertation, we’ll investigate what happens when students appear to be the villains of the story, and what teachers should and shouldn’t do to right the ship. Plus, hear some brave college instructors read their mean student evals.
After succeeding in his private campaign to disprove his narrow-minded teachers, Victor Frankenstein loses his nerve and abandons his Creature. In this next chapter of My Gothic Dissertation, we’ll find out why he makes this tragic, cowardly swerve by taking a hard look at every grad student’s worst nightmare: being evaluated by professors and advisors.
The name “Victor Frankenstein” conjures up images of a mad scientist in the lab, challenging God by taking the creation of human life into his own hands. But in this chapter of My Gothic Dissertation, we’ll take a closer look at Mary Shelley’s original character, seeing him more as a discouraged grad student than an unstoppable ego-maniac. Plus, in a surprising analogy, we’ll compare his plight to… being stuck behind an automated parking gate?
Laura was told that, if she ever wanted to secure the tenure-track job of her dreams, she needed to convince a certain high-profile professor to serve as her dissertation advisor. That’s how she ended up like Emily St. Aubert—the heroine of Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho whose life is dominated by one very imposing figure. Find out exactly what makes these figures so imposing and how each heroine makes her escape in this chapter of My Gothic Dissertation.
What do grad school and the Gothic have in common? Find out in this deep dive into the origins of the Gothic genre and the unspoken abuses of graduate training. Plus, detour into Anna’s childhood to meet her ideal teacher.
A terrified, yet resolute grad student presents her dissertation prospectus to her advisory committee, submitting herself to their will while questioning what it really means to “prospect” at all. Then: a stark realization.
A sneak peak at the first-ever Ph.D. dissertation produced in podcast form, coming to your favorite podcast listening app on July 9.
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