The question sounds rather condescending and dismissive, but that's not my intention. (Or maybe it is!) The immediate trigger for this question is this comment from someone interested in our distance-mode MA (English) programme. The person wants to know how existing M.A. (English) programmes in the country are of any use in professions such as teaching (of English). To which my immediate response is: should that be the only purpose of an M.A. in English?
Why does anyone do an M.A. in English in this country? In most universities the M.A. (English) programme is basically a study of British literature in English down the ages, unabashedly colonial and Macaulay-ian in character and purpose. Little has changed over the years, although courses in postcolonial, Indian, 'commonwealth' and American literatures have found their way into these programmes. Some of the 'Ivy League' universities do offer alternative M.A.'s but there's no denying the stranglehold that canonized British literature has on M.A. English programmes in this country. (The nature/requirements of the UGC NET/JRF exam is probably the major reason for this?)
But the question is: why would you do an M.A. in English?
To learn English (the language)?
To become a writer/poet/critic?
To become a teacher of English?
Or merely because you love literature?
This question is all the more pertinent and complicated in distance-mode courses, where there is no qualifying exam (unlike in face-to-face programmes where you have to pass an entrance exam to qualify for the course) and huge numbers of people from different disciplines and backgrounds enroll for an M.A. (English). What is their purpose? What do they hope to get from the course?
Any answers anyone?
Why does anyone do an M.A. in English in this country? In most universities the M.A. (English) programme is basically a study of British literature in English down the ages, unabashedly colonial and Macaulay-ian in character and purpose. Little has changed over the years, although courses in postcolonial, Indian, 'commonwealth' and American literatures have found their way into these programmes. Some of the 'Ivy League' universities do offer alternative M.A.'s but there's no denying the stranglehold that canonized British literature has on M.A. English programmes in this country. (The nature/requirements of the UGC NET/JRF exam is probably the major reason for this?)
But the question is: why would you do an M.A. in English?
To learn English (the language)?
To become a writer/poet/critic?
To become a teacher of English?
Or merely because you love literature?
This question is all the more pertinent and complicated in distance-mode courses, where there is no qualifying exam (unlike in face-to-face programmes where you have to pass an entrance exam to qualify for the course) and huge numbers of people from different disciplines and backgrounds enroll for an M.A. (English). What is their purpose? What do they hope to get from the course?
Any answers anyone?
