April 16, 2012
What I do

So. I recently accepted a PhD offer in English Literature at University of Virginia. Periodically I get questions as to what I do, why I do it, and advice as to how to pursue similar paths. At the risk of becoming too self centered, I, over the next few weeks, am planning to outline why I decided to pursue a career in Medieval Literature and how I went about it.

Read More

4:49am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZmxX6yJlJQ5d
(Notes: 6)
  
Filed under: personal grad school phd literature medieval literature 
February 18, 2012
So, for those wondering just how I have been making a living the past few weeks, here ‘tis: Piers Plowman. I have been checking the transcriptions of every manuscript of the A-Text of Langland’s much loved alliterative poem. So basically I have read the prologue and Passus 1 and 2 20ish times. I know this makes me a super nerd, but it’s quite neat to see the same lines in various dialects and iterations. It really makes you appreciate the textual variety and realize how far George Kane’s edition is from the poem’s original state. Not that Kane is wicked or anything, really just a by product of textual editing in general, but the manuscripts certainly embody a more robust and dynamic image of Piers.  This is, by the way, the opening of Trinity MS of Piers.

So, for those wondering just how I have been making a living the past few weeks, here ‘tis: Piers Plowman. I have been checking the transcriptions of every manuscript of the A-Text of Langland’s much loved alliterative poem. So basically I have read the prologue and Passus 1 and 2 20ish times. I know this makes me a super nerd, but it’s quite neat to see the same lines in various dialects and iterations. It really makes you appreciate the textual variety and realize how far George Kane’s edition is from the poem’s original state. Not that Kane is wicked or anything, really just a by product of textual editing in general, but the manuscripts certainly embody a more robust and dynamic image of Piers. 

This is, by the way, the opening of Trinity MS of Piers.

7:55pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZmxX6yGdCL9y
(Notes: 5)
  
Filed under: Medieval medieval literature Piers Plowman Piers Poem Alliterative Revival Poetry manuscript Medieval manuscript Book Literature Literacy Palaeography Book History bookreview 
February 6, 2012
"To syngen for symonye for siluer is swete"

— Oh Langland. So pointed. 

10:44am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZmxX6yF_Amo8
Filed under: Piers Plowman William Langland Poem medieval medieval literature bookreview 
January 5, 2012
This is VERY exciting. When I am not trying to make 14 year olds on Tumblr think I am cool, I spend most of my time working with Medieval Manuscripts. They are, by nature unique, thus access is limited. Moreover, quality facsimiles are expensive. I mean 10k+ sometimes. Enter the iPad. I have begun working on ways to use the iPad to manage my own research image archive (4k+ images!) but the BL has taken it to a level I have only speculated about. There are some things I wish they would do differently, will post an academic review soon after I play with it on my iPad. As it is, well done BL. Again you are three steps ahead when it comes to social media. Read more HERE.

This is VERY exciting. When I am not trying to make 14 year olds on Tumblr think I am cool, I spend most of my time working with Medieval Manuscripts. They are, by nature unique, thus access is limited. Moreover, quality facsimiles are expensive. I mean 10k+ sometimes. Enter the iPad. I have begun working on ways to use the iPad to manage my own research image archive (4k+ images!) but the BL has taken it to a level I have only speculated about. There are some things I wish they would do differently, will post an academic review soon after I play with it on my iPad. As it is, well done BL. Again you are three steps ahead when it comes to social media. Read more HERE.

1:04pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZmxX6yEIZDo1
(Notes: 12)
  
Filed under: medieval medieval literature BL british library manuscript books iPad literacy 
Liked posts on Tumblr: More liked posts »