In defense of English majors
The advantages of declaring English as a major in spite of popular misconceptions
Dorothy Dark / A&C Editor / The USD Vista
In the aftermath of the Cold War, the methods and curriculums utilized for teaching within the U.S. public education system had undergone significant change. This was a consequence of the political tension between the nations, but the race for breeding scientific elite left its mark on public schools across the country. The foundations at the core of education transitioned from classical technique to competitive grade-psychopathy with an emphasis on mathematics and sciences. These two subjects, in the context of late 20th century America, were believed to be of greater value to the nation and its progress.
In the midst of this illusion, certain subjects more traditionally associated with the humanities became deemphasized in the education of youth in North America. Today, those subjects are at the forefront of certain educational philosophies, the Liberal Arts. However, the reputation of such studies, English and Literature in particular, are tainted by the belief that their relevance lacks substance in the modern world. In the world of college academia, a common misconception is that English degrees are a waste of an education. This belief can likely be debunked by any passionate English enthusiast, but the benefits of pursuing an English degree are plentiful and worth considering when preparing to declare.
As of July 2018, bachelor’s degrees awarded to English majors are down by 20 percent since 2012. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reported in 2016 that the starting salary for English majors averaged in at $36,180. That’s significantly less than the average starting salary for earners from 10 varying degree groups, which came in at $50,556. English degrees do, however, have great value in one’s personal and professional life.
The intense examination of language can yield great rewards for those who commit themselves. Abraham Stoll, Ph.D., offered a few comments on the advantages of pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts. “You … prepare yourself for a life in which you have greater freedom of thought, and therefore greater freedom to experience things beyond your career,” Stoll said. Liberal Arts reach beyond the realm of professionalism, offering lifetime skills that help in all facets of daily life. “And you also prepare yourself to be a thoughtful and alert citizen, making you more likely to be part of the solution, not the problem, in American politics.” This is one of the greatest gifts a Liberal Arts degree can offer. An education in English offers more than studies in old and contemporary literature; rather, it offers the tools required to better understand the craft of physical text and the human condition, as well as information on how to better live with one another. This comes from repetitive practice in closely studying the structure of language and its impact on the audience.
Poetry serves as a perfect example of the critical lens adopted by students of English to more effectively critique language and better understand the layers of the text. In Aristotle’s “Poetics,” the philosopher refers to Poetry emerging from “the instinct of imitation.” It enables the audience to observe human life without the physical toll of enduring such realities. Through bearing witness to scenes of recognition, it triggers something within us that whispers, “This feels familiar.” By paying careful attention to the material which inspires this kind of reaction, more information on what’s within each person begins to inspire growth. The more stories made available mean the more potential for understanding something beyond oneself. This practice is not only vital in career success, but in the personal well-being of each and every person.
In Georges Perec’s essay “Reading,” he makes arguments similar to Aristotle’s, yet more pertinent to the act of reading itself, which is also fundamental in the pursuit of an English major. Perec insists that reading is impacted, and interpretation altered, by the physical situation of the reader and their surroundings. The eyes, the voice, the lips, the hands, and bodily posture all play into the practice of reading.
Surroundings have their effect as well, as it all inspires thought and therefore inspires subjectivity. This need not cause anyone distress, for recognizing its inevitability will only further self-awareness, and that’s a start. Perec asks: “How is this chopping-up of the text effected, when our taking charge of it is interfered with by our own bodies, by other people, by the time, by the din of the crowd?” This is an English major’s task – to observe and dissect the language we encounter and interpret it with respect to the variation in human experience and the depth of language. “These are questions that I ask, and I think there is some point in a writer asking them.” Perec considers this essential to studies of any language, these questions and the answers which emerge from them.
Cleanth Brooks offers one last note on paraphrase, both its failures and limitations. In his essay “The Heresy of Paraphrase,” an excerpt from his book “The Well Wrought Urn: Studies in the structure of Poetry,” Brooks offers his criticism of skimming through literature, robbing the reader of real understanding of the text in hand. There is no sufficient summation of any narrative that captures the nuance of the text in its entirety. Brooks writes, “The poem does not merely eventuate in a logical conclusion. The conclusion of the poem is the working out of the various tensions – set up by whatever means – by propositions, metaphors, symbols. The unity is achieved by a dramatic process, not a logical; it represents an equilibrium of forces, not a formula.” Ironically, this summarizes the greatest failure of paraphrase; the true meaning of any text, without precise and intentional examination, cannot be discovered fully. English majors have to pay attention. This means more than showing up to class and completing assignments by the designated due date. It requires thorough analysis of text after text from authors familiar and foreign alike, and it’s not for everyone. But for those who do find themselves energized by this invitation, it is essential that fear of the major not interfere with the declaring process.
Stoll’s final comment touches on the fluidity of English degrees, their potential and importance today. “[I]n English we study language and stories – and these are all over our lives, from novels and poetry, to television and film, to social media and radio, to how we talk with our friends and family, to the stories we tell in politics and religion. It’s all narrative – and this is what we study in the English major.” Indeed, narrative is in everyone, and narrative is what English majors are all about.