A Trippy College Science Experiment: "The Stand" Doctoral Thesis... Can It Be Done??

[themikenesedude]

Okay, I thought Ms. Mod would get a major kick out of this one.

Yes, MLA is a pain. After going through a basic College Composition course I understand how it is useful. (Even though it's a formality, and even APA is less dispensable than MLA.)

Where I'm going with this is that I was considering, "Hey, how can I make this fun or something I'm proud of?" (No rush... I don't even have my bachelor's or General Education units yet. But I have made a decision to work my way up to a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature over the course of the next 10-15 years. This has been incubating in its own way for ten years since I've graduated high school.) I thought, "If I could do a thesis for 'The Stand' that would make it less tedious." I thought that a lot of people could be capable of contributing to a thesis publication with that much breadth with their notes and critical insights. Also, "The Stand" is very "literary" in the way that it covers a plot that spans a whole nation and is epic. In that way, it may qualify for a thesis. Who knows?

In the last decade, Stephen King's gotten some pretty cool recognition as having established himself in his own niche in literature. But would it fly? In the 1980s, he'd be considered too "popular" and new to warrant a thesis. Likewise, Anne Rice got some awards but she wouldn't be acceptable to use for a thesis.

I'm wondering if it could happen and how. I just feel that "Under The Dome" might have let it be known how hard Stephen King has worked on his writing and how talented he is.

Not to mention, I don't want to do a thesis on any dead writers. They all suck because they're boring. They have nothing to say. LOL! (Just a little "Pet Semetary" humor right there.)

So my questions are:

1) Would there be any possible way to do a legit doctoral thesis on "The Stand"?

2) If it might be turned down by the graduate school program, would there be any possible way to have them reconsider it?

(By the way, good luck to anyone with a Master's who's willing to try this. It's a great idea and so flexible a thesis, so don't let me stop you if you've been working on this kind of project.)

[Bryan James]

Buy (and read) King's "On Writing."

[themikenesedude]

Meh, I guess I can see it.

Is there any specific way that "On Writing" would help with doing a doctoral thesis for "The Stand" though?

Thanks for the tip. I really appreciate it.

[smerdyakov]

I don't know if a graduate program would give the okay on something like that. What in particular do you plan to write about? Maybe you could do something with a wider scope -- more in line with an analysis of contemporary apocalyptic literature (why it's popular, what's the motive, history and influence, etc.), and use the stand along with other pieces. Though a fantastic book, I can't think of anything from the stand alone that would sustain a doctoral thesis. Something on the genre might give you more to work with.

[TBlack]

I read a thesis once on The Salem Witch Massacres from the point of view that Salem Massachusetts was predominantly a grain producing community & that the season which it all started had been unusually wet... the paper’s author concurred that the mold that grows on rye bread is a derivative in LSD.
So little girls started "Trippin’ Balls" & what would they say?
"Goody Brown fed me a muffin earlier at the church social...!"
That’d do it!
"Let’s tie her to a chair & see if she’ll float!"
This scenario would have perfectly explained my behavior in Sunday School!
That Baked Bean Casserole that my mother always made for Covered Dish Dinners was the devil’s Work!
"Lookie, Lookie! I'm speaking in tongues!

[Muderboy]

You might have to wait until the master is dead -although I don't know why you would. The Stand is by now, classic American literature, or it surely should be, and therefore valid, I would think - unfortunately, I'm so far out of college that I can't be sure. But why not give it a go? What's the worst that could happen? They say no. But if you're as passionate as I am about The Stand, You would write one hell of a Thesis. I know I would, and have a great time doing it. I believe it's worth the ask...

[ShootDaSquirrells]

I feel like The Stand would be very tough to do although I could see using some things from it to make a point, I just cannot see a good thesis. On Writing is probably his best book to write about as it is probably the most helpful book about how to write on Earth. Good luck with The Stand though. It is epic but a thesis for a doctor. That is tough. However I am in college for engineering so I am probably not the best guy to ask haha.