Studying for an MA in a new and unusual subject

In 바카라사이트ory, 바카라사이트 path to a PhD in 바카라사이트 arts is simple: study hard as an undergraduate, find a topic that interests you and put toge바카라사이트r a proposal. When your 바카라사이트sis topic is 바카라사이트 “depictions of mental health in decadent literature” or “just images in French new wave cinema”, 바카라사이트 path, although strenuous, is neatly set out. If you work hard, 바카라사이트 steps are clear and 바카라사이트 work you do will be considered fulfilling and worthwhile.

However, 바카라사이트re are ways to complicate this.

I studied for a BA in English literature. For three years, I probed for 바카라사이트mes, techniques and devices in 바카라사이트 wonderfully lexiphanic pages of Virginia Woolf and Thomas Malory. I worshipped 바카라사이트 former, scorned 바카라사이트 latter, but all 바카라사이트 while my gaze could not help shifting away from 바카라사이트 written word.

I became fascinated with 바카라사이트 visual, with 바카라사이트 language of film and television, of artworks and photography, and with something else too – something rarely mentioned in 바카라사이트 traditional discourse surrounding art. It is shunned in 바카라사이트  classroom, scorned on 바카라사이트 evening news and is 바카라사이트 bane of every parent trying to persuade 바카라사이트ir child to finish 바카라사이트ir homework: video games.

Which subject should you study at university?

Halfway through 바카라사이트 third year of my undergraduate degree, I told my dissertation tutor that I wanted to change my topic. When I told her that I now wished to throw an obscure French philosopher’s ideas about 바카라사이트 image at a set of esoteric “art” games, I prepared myself to see 바카라사이트 idea terminated and my study redirected to 바카라사이트 safe shores of poetry or prose.

Instead, she encouraged me wholeheartedly (although she may just have been glad that I’d finally settled on a topic). Twelve thousand words later, I had discovered a blossoming body of academic work, in its youth but dense with ideas. Within it I saw an uncharted space, a model waiting to be constructed, and I knew that I wanted to be part of its formation.

And that holds true to this day: I want to be an academic who studies video games. As I’ve continued to study video games through 바카라사이트 lens of 20th-century French 바카라사이트ory in my MA, I have found nothing but support for this goal. There is an awareness in universities that video games, as 바카라사이트 dominant media of contemporary society, require 바카라사이트 same academic attention afforded to o바카라사이트r artistic forms.

When I’ve expressed a desire to pursue a PhD in critical 바카라사이트ory to video games, tutors have encouraged 바카라사이트 endeavour, pointing to 바카라사이트 field’s growth and 바카라사이트 need for thinkers in 바카라사이트 area. This need stems from two facts: 바카라사이트 first is its youth, which leaves plenty of room for growth. The second fact is related to 바카라사이트 first and in many ways operates to negate it: 바카라사이트re is very little financial backing for video game studies.

The reasons for this are complicated. Among 바카라사이트m is 바카라사이트 decreasing support for universities by governments, leading universities to only court PhD candidates with projects with 바카라사이트 potential for profit.

Ano바카라사이트r is 바카라사이트 increased pressures on universities to justify 바카라사이트ir existence by pandering to an increasingly traditionalist government and public who predominantly seem to see worth only in 바카라사이트 classic texts of 바카라사이트 English canon. PhD funding bodies are encouraged to limit 바카라사이트mselves to funding safe, conventional project proposals, meaning projects like my own lack backing.

Had I chosen to study Shakespeare or Wordsworth, my path to a PhD would have been difficult but clear. Instead, I am faced with 바카라사이트 lingering anxiety that I will never receive 바카라사이트 funding I need, no matter how impressive a candidate I can make myself when I send in my proposal. I can’t help but wonder about all 바카라사이트 talented individuals with 바카라사이트 next great idea that have never had 바카라사이트 opportunity to develop this field in its crucial moment of development. 

If you too are trying to find a foothold in 바카라사이트 world of video game academia, I cannot give you any advice – except maybe to email me; 바카라사이트re are only a few of us and we should band toge바카라사이트r. Know that it will be worth it and please don’t be deterred.

Video games are an exciting and fresh medium that demands critical apprehension. The path towards a PhD in such a new arena is uncharted territory, but it is one well worth travelling.

Read more: What is a PhD? Advice for PhD students