Weird Lit - Undergrad Seeking PhD Recommendations for Studying the Occult/Spiritualism?
Edited:
Greets and Salutations! (I do not mean "wierd lit" in its strictest definition, moreso as a description.)
I am an adult (27) returning to complete my undergraduate degree. Upon graduation, I plan to further my education and pursue a doctorate. My undergrad is in English Lit with an minor in Art History, and after working in the corporate world for the past nine years, I have come to the conclusion that academia is where I belong. I understand the associated risks, and am still here. Please do not try to warn me of low pay, poor markets, or lack of tenure track positions. I have done my research and am still pursuing my passions, as I firmly believe the humanities to be an essential stepping stone upon which our cultural future depends on.
My question lies in what research I would like to pursue. The intersection of historical feminist literature/female authors and occultism/spiritualism is by no means a common sphere, and I am struggling to find the best path. Are there any particular institutions that possess faculty with an interest or focus in this area, outside of the university of exeter? I have found a few working at the university of washington, which would be ideal.
For cost and accessibility reasons I am attending ASU online, which does not possess the broadest collection of literature classes. Is there a topic or era I should hone in on when selecting classes to assist in qualifiying for a graduate program, such as renaissance literature or medieval studies? I began my degree when I was eighteen, with absolutely no idea of what I wanted -- several of my electives are around education and theatre, so I need to be aggressively selective in my remaining coursework to ensure my transcript paints a clear and enticing picture for potential faculty sponsors.
I guess I am just looking for some insight overall. What would pursuing this path even look like, and how would I pitch/frame this area of study?