In a couple recent conversations I've had with some colleagues and a student in my 101 class, i've come to a realization that really has no business being a realization at all (because it's so obvious): English, as a discipline, is really bad at marketing.
Near as I can tell, the business and marketing courses at most mainstream colleges and universities has not changed much. Sure, it's added a squalling assurance that 'social media is the relevant', but otherwise the courses seem, essentially, to teach young people to fill out paperwork.
Produce a marketing plan, put together a proposal or (arf) a PowerPoint proposal. What's missing, of course, is thought.
* * *
Now of course, professors of marketing and students thereof and such will object: "...but SWOT analysis and Marlow's hierarchy of needs" &ct., and yes, these are concepts which are learned and internalized, which is well and good as part of a curriculum.
What English offers that few other disciplines do - you can find it in Philosophy, and well taught History and Psychology courses - is a course of study that questions the underlying assumptions, both of itself and anything that it takes aim at. This process of inquiry is a great basis for any course of study.
I heard someone at an academic conference (or maybe it was an English class...) once opine that English was the fundamental discipline. That any other course of study could fit within our purview, and (almost) before you start to work in any other area, you need to "do an English class" on it, and be sure that your terms and underlying assumptions were solid before proceeding. Someone else had the thought that Physics was in fact the fundamental discipline. I love this idea, although I think the way that sciences are taught, it can't be used in the way that it naturally would fit.
So, as you're looking at a course of study - consider English... I know when I am looking through resumes and trying to find someone who stands out, a humanities degree, and especially an English degree, make me look a little more carefully at their other experience and qualifications - regardless of the position.
(the second section was composed on 8/27/17 - finally semi-finishing this thought...)
Now of course, professors of marketing and students thereof and such will object: "...but SWOT analysis and Marlow's hierarchy of needs" &ct., and yes, these are concepts which are learned and internalized, which is well and good as part of a curriculum.
What English offers that few other disciplines do - you can find it in Philosophy, and well taught History and Psychology courses - is a course of study that questions the underlying assumptions, both of itself and anything that it takes aim at. This process of inquiry is a great basis for any course of study.
I heard someone at an academic conference (or maybe it was an English class...) once opine that English was the fundamental discipline. That any other course of study could fit within our purview, and (almost) before you start to work in any other area, you need to "do an English class" on it, and be sure that your terms and underlying assumptions were solid before proceeding. Someone else had the thought that Physics was in fact the fundamental discipline. I love this idea, although I think the way that sciences are taught, it can't be used in the way that it naturally would fit.
So, as you're looking at a course of study - consider English... I know when I am looking through resumes and trying to find someone who stands out, a humanities degree, and especially an English degree, make me look a little more carefully at their other experience and qualifications - regardless of the position.
(the second section was composed on 8/27/17 - finally semi-finishing this thought...)
