Dear Whoever You Might Be,
June 1st is going to be here very soon. For many kids, that means just a few more weeks of school left. For some, it means the start of summer camp or swim lessons. For most adults, this date is just another Monday at the office. For me, it is the official (well, official in the capacity that I determined so) start date for my summer research project. Woooh!
Earlier this spring, I applied for a research grant through my department for this summer. The research could be anything of my choosing, and it was up to me to determine what kind of outcomes I want by the time fall semester rolls around. Naturally, I chose the one and only John Steinbeck as the topic of my proposal. After being thrilled to be awarded the grant, John Steinbeck will become the topic of my summer.
It's funny to me, really. At the beginning of my graduate school time, I scoffed at research. After learning about how much politic and expectation went into the research aspect of an academic career, I was really turned off by the idea of devoting countless hours a day to researching something, and then being expected to produce innovative work stemming from that research. I was all, "I like the books -not the things people say about the books." I stuck up my nose at the elitists who put more energy into research than other things. How I came to such a drastic change of mind, leading me to apply for a research grant, I can honestly say that I'm not sure.
All I can say at this point is that I do love John Steinbeck. I love his writings, both fiction and nonfiction. I love his philosophies and ways of looking at the people and the life around him. I think he is brilliant, and I am moved by his books. I'm sure some of you remember when I was working on my undergraduate senior thesis; I was focusing on East of Eden and The Brothers Karamazov. At the time, I would have definitely declared that Dostoevsky was favored over Steinbeck in my literary heart. Now, I am not sure I can truthfully proclaim such a thing. I still love and adore and cherish Dostoevsky... but I could never legitimately study him/his works on an academic level (because I do not speak, read, or understand Russian in the slightest). Because of this, Dostoevsky must fall under the category of "fun reading."
Now, as I am halfway through my Master's studies, I can reveal that I can see myself studying Steinbeck for the duration of my academic career. Very few scholars actually take his works seriously, and I am one of them. Since the 1950s, there have been less than 70 dissertations written on Steinbeck, compared to his contemporary William Faulkner, with almost 700 written on him. I want to change this. I want people to reconnect with Steinbeck. To see his works as imperative in understanding humans, just as Steinbeck intended. I want him to be studied and revered and remembered for more than the summer reading lists of middle and high school. He is more than The Red Pony. More than The Grapes of Wrath. I see this, and I intended to spend my summer trying to help others see it too.
Sincerely,
Me
