Abstract
dc:description.abstract"The modern University," according to Bill Readings, "has had three ideas: the Kantian concept of reason, the Humboldtian idea of culture, and now the technobureaucratic notion of excellence." "Excellence" euphemistically describes the principle of the university as corporation, as geared toward revenue rather than ideology. This portrayal raises difficult questions for the humanities, as ideological domains. Taking Readings's The University in Ruins as a starting point, this study examines the English discipline within the "university of excellence," considering West Virginia University's department as a case study. It begins by charting the evolution of WVU's self-understanding, from an institution of culture to one of excellence. This foregrounds my discussion of two department chapters---the rise of composition and "theory"---as symptomatic of excellence. The study concludes by relating Readings's views on how academics might orient themselves to the "ruins" of the university so that it remains a space for thinking.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- MA
- Level thesis:degree_level
- Thesis
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- English
- Year dc:date.available
- 2001
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Morris, Joe
- Contributors dc:contributor
-
- Brian McHale.
- Timothy Sweet
- Cheryl B. Torsney
Subjects
dc:subject × 3Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Identifier
- https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/707
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1710