CUSO Workshop: The Changing Value of English Studies Sunday 26 April, St Ours 9:00 Seminar 1: The Value of English Studies Discussion of the distributed texts with the three keynote speakers: Prof. Laura Brown (Cornell), Prof. Stefan Collini (Cambridge), Prof. John Joseph (Edinburgh) Questions for discussion: Given the appeals to Socrates, Humboldt, Newman, Arnold and Mill in the current debates, where is the change in the value of English Studies (or the humanities)? If there are changes, are they changes in extrinsic or intrinsic value? Are English Studies headed for extinction? Or just in ruins? What kind of “value” are we talking about? Economic metaphor or Saussurean sign system? (texts: Martha Nussbaum, from Not for Profit? Why Democracy Needs the Humanities (2010), Stefan Collini, What Are Universities For? (2012), Helen Small, The Value of the Humanities (2013), J.M.Coetzee, “Universities Headed For Extinction” (2013)) 10:30 Coffee break 10:45 Seminar 2: Changing Values and Paradigm Shifts Question for discussion: Are paradigm shifts within the discipline of English Studies related to public debates about the value of the humanities? 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Group Workshop: Practical rhetoric How do I define and defend my own PhD project in relation to the changing valuations of my field? 14:00 Coffee 14:30 Individual presentation of “What is the value of my PhD project and how does it contribute to the academic field?” (with feedback) 16:00 approximate end-point Student preparation: Read the distributed texts and prepare a 5 min. presentation of “the value” of your PhD project as it relates to your general academic field.