[ SECRET POST #2050 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2050 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 05 pages, 114 secrets from Secret Submission Post #293.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 1 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 1 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ], [ 1 - posted twice ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I don't really know what to say, OP, so I'll relate to you this experience of mine.

In my Literature Masters we were given free range to write our essays on anything we wanted as long as it related to the course. Overcome with a feeling of freedom I wrote one essay on HDM and my final big essay on the philosophy of death in Harry Potter. Out of a class of 15 or so, I was the only one "called in" to the office to discuss my proposal. I was told to change my title or be prepared to seriously defend my choice in lit because it was fantasy and children's lit. I went "fuck it" and did it anyway, to prove I could. I had to spend a serious chunk of my essay arguing the importance of children's lit and defending the allegory of fantasy. Absolutely ridiculous and not necessary at all. I thought it was obvious.

It's not a crap genre. Some people - like our respective teachers - just aren't attracted to that kind of lit so therefore don't take the time to investigate its depths. And academia and pop-culture is a relatively new thing, I think. I'm sure your teacher probably didn't come across it in their university education. I'm sorry you're sad, OP. It was just an unlucky incident of someone having authority over you disliking your idea. Rock on with your love of fantasy lit. As long as someone like you is passionate about it, it will always be an important genre <3

[(Anonymous)]

"I went "fuck it" and did it anyway, to prove I could."

<3

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

&hearts to you too, anon :)

[(Anonymous)]

You are awesome. :) I want to hear more, though! What happened after you turned in your essay?

[(Anonymous)]

Seconded.

[(Anonymous)]

I think standing up for myself in the meeting - being stubborn - actually helped my grades. Which was a complete surprise. Before submission I had to do a 20min presentation of my research proposal to my classmates, 2 lit profs and a philosophy prof. It was nerve wracking but I had a solid argument - and I so wanted to be right, that I acted as though I was, you know? Makes it harder for people to question you.

I got a pretty high grade. My lit analysis was spot on, but my knowledge of the philosophy (Heidegger, jfc why did I choose him) was not as thorough as they wanted. [not bad for 1hr of lecture, if I do say so myself]. The main marker of my work had no knowledge of the HP books but the moderator was young, familiar - and I suspect, fandom-involved or aware.

I'd encourage others in OP's predicament to follow your academic heart. If you hold to your convictions [or act like you do] then you may do whatever you please!

[(Anonymous)]

you are awesome, anon

awesome

[(Anonymous)]

Oh thank you! Now I am blushing! <3

[celestinenox]

Anon, you are my hero.

[(Anonymous)]

Random anon dropping in to tell you: Hey, you're awesome!

[diet_poison]

thirded

ETA woops you already answered. But that's awesome!

[(Anonymous)]

thank you! <3

i hope this is giving OP hope!

OP

[(Anonymous)]

I'm glad that you were able to stand up to your teachers when I could not. <3

Sadly this was 5 years ago and I'm no longer in any sort of school. Even if I was still in school I am such a pushover. I think if I wasn't I could've done it and shown her that there were themes worthy of an essay. Or maybe not; I probably should've mentioned this was an AP English class. Judging from the comments, most English college courses aren't keen on genre lit either. I might have been given more leeway if it were just regular English.

tbh I kind of waffled when I went to see her about the essay project. I really had no idea what I wanted to do, because I hadn't read for personal reasons in years (another secret entirely...) but remembered HDM because I enjoyed it and I at least remembered the religious themes -- I knew there'd be something in there essay-worthy once I re-read it. However, I hadn't read the books in awhile and I had no topic going into this meeting. I just didn't want to go in empty-handed.

She was like "lol fantasy is crap, and I have no idea what this series is. Spread your ~horizons~" or some crap like that (again it's been 5 years). She asked if I had any other genres I liked. "Historical fiction?" "Oh, that's mostly crap too. But how about Dracula?"

So she had me do Dracula and The Historian by that one author whose name I am too lazy to Google. I enjoyed Dracula and The Historian was okay enough. The essay was decent and iirc I got an A on it. But it sucks that while most people went into it knowing what they wanted to do, I had to be assigned my books. If other kids were I didn't hear about it. :(

I do personal writing all the time, have been for years now. It's all sci-fi and fantasy. Those two are still favorite genres when I do read. At the time (and even now) I went "if I ever get published and famous I am totally sending her books to laugh in her face." It bothered me that she'd pull down a genre I really liked and actively wrote in, though.

Oddly enough, that was the only problem I ever had with her. She was a pretty awesome and interesting teacher otherwise.

Oh god I rambled bad. Sorry. :(

Re: OP

[(Anonymous)]

I was in a fiction writing course a few years ago and had a similar experience... My first short story was fantasy, and then the teacher politely and somewhat condescendingly told me she didn't accept genre fiction in her class--she didn't know the conventions and would be unable to grade it well. But it's very sellable!--so she said. So my second story... I wrote quirky realism. Because she's the one giving me a grade and I figured that meant I had to do whatever she said to get a better grade. Short stories weren't my thing anyways--novels were--so it's not like the class was really producing anything I planned on using on its own. I just treated it like writing an essay for any other class and kept my head down... So I understand not trying to persuade her; if she's already made up her mind, who knows if it would even be possible?

But of course, this class also had us read and analyze other short stories, some of which were distopias. But those are totally different from science fiction!

Re: OP

[(Anonymous)]

I teach 12th-grade English, OP, and I'm sorry you had that experience. Teachers have preferences like anyone else (mine is for fantasy/sci-fi, and I would have approved your essay happily), but I believe we should be able to give students a chance to explore what can be significant in all the books they read, regardless of genre. That teaches the skills of analysis, instead of "teaching a book".

IDK, I'd be a lot happier grading a good essay on "His Dark Materials" than a mediocre essay on HIGH LITERATURE or whatever. While you can't always write about texts you enjoy, it does show in the writing when you enjoy the text.

[kathkin]

Huh. I feel very fortunate right now - just got my letter confirming that I'll be writing a dissertation on fantasy fiction, so far no-one at my university's batted an eye!