S. Worthen (owlfish) wrote,
S. Worthen
owlfish

The market worth of a Medievalist

Today I was in the unusual and rather exciting position of being told by senior academics that my dissertation topic lends itself nicely to very commercially viable books - several of them. Material history is hot right now. Who knows if anything will come of this in my career, but it's pleasing to think someone thinks my research areas have promise. Of course, commercial feasibility alone does not make an academic career.

Being a Medievalist is not a career naturally designed to bring fame and fortune. Indeed, if you haven't read the article in the current Medieval Academy Newsletter from a woman leaving medieval academia on the subject (and you're a medievalist or heading in that general direction), you should, just for some perspective. She argues, among other things, that academia is training up way too many PhDs in medieval subjects given the demand, and many people take on PhDs for many of the wrong reasons. Read it for perspective, not to discourage you from the field. It's healthy to be able to see both sides.
Subscribe
  • Post a new comment

    Error

    switch
    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
    You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.
    Help
  • 7 comments