u/GirlyAnimeGal

I am applying to PhD studies in America, and I would really like to get accepted. I studied in English in Slovakia for both my bachelor's and master's degrees. I do not believe in my writing; to say this clearly, I am very insecure about it and would like to improve. This is my finished SOP, which I am planning to apply with any criticism and changes are welcome. I would really appreciate the help.

The cinematography scene has been a long-term fascination of mine. This spiraled into my fascination taking a different direction, which was observing a variety of texts and films and noticing the differences in adaptations. The specific instance my fixation grew was when I was introduced to the 1990 miniseries IT written by Stephen King. This occurred in my youth, and from an early age I noticed the differences between novels and adaptations, compelling me to research the topic further for my bachelor’s thesis on why these alterations were made. Comparing certain issues, arguments, topics, stories, and adaptations has become a strong suit of mine. Stephen King has explored recurring themes across literature, such as morality, racism, sexism, and domestic abuse, which led me to analyze these themes and the alterations that are essential within the novel but omitted in film form. Upon reflection, this inspired my bachelor’s topic, which is titled “A comparative study of Stephen King’s novel “It” and its various adaptations”. An important aspect within the comparative realm that I have noticed is that it can be compared to translation studies. The manner in which certain words cannot be directly translated into one language, simply because there is no equivalent in each language of translation. This furthered my research to observe why certain aspects cannot be translated correctly from written form to on-screen.

The theoretical framework orbited the mere exposure effect, which aligned perfectly with the main aims and arguments, which I strived to achieve in the bachelor’s thesis. Moreover, this meant arguing the fact that what the audience experiences first is ultimately the piece they shall favor due to being exposed to it first. This is a common issue when analyzing novel-to-film adaptations, since an audience usually experiences reading the written form first. Coincidentally, this argument was vital in my thesis, along with the translation argument concerning cinematography and how it can be analyzed from the translation perspective. The bachelor’s thesis attempts to argue the facts of time constraints, monetization, differences in perspectives, advancement of technology, and cultural time shifts, among others. Additionally, another crucial aspect that needs to be taken into consideration is the themes and symbolism that were necessary in the novel, which did not have the same effect on screen. The investigation on this topic closely relates to the source Linda Constanzo Cahir (2006) and her views on adaptation from her theory piece titled “Theory and Practical Approaches”. The arguments aided the bachelor’s thesis to thrive in the direction of proving the arguments put forward and the details that were important in the novels.  Along this journey, I have gained immense knowledge in this field and a plethora of information in adaptation studies, as well as comparative analysis and fundamental facts needed to further research any topics similar to my bachelor’s thesis.

I have grown to admire these topics and themes. Moreover, this inspired me to further immerse myself in similar themes for further research, since the comparative realm is so vast. To make my dissertation thrive, I believe it is essential to be guided by renowned scholars with profound knowledge in this field who can point me toward an advantageous trajectory. Professors such as David Greven, Mark Minett, and Susan Courtney have also inspired me in the past when I was writing my bachelor’s and master’s theses. Their topics align with my past research, especially since the focus of my master’s thesis was on the role of Nen (power system) in the well-known anime Hunter x Hunter. My curiosity grew while writing about this topic, observing it through the lens of narrative complexity, character identity, and worldbuilding. The challenges I faced while writing my master's thesis proved that conducting research is both demanding and rewarding; however, the experience also made me realize that my strengths lie in research and that I enjoy the process of writing and refining academic work.  The thirst for knowledge and improvement is essential in an academic setting, and I have realized that early; due to this fact, I always strive to improve.

My research direction incorporates themes of horror, narrative shift, the differences in writing and improvement in Stephen King’s It and The Shining, and the effects this had on the adaptation. Both pieces of literature are very different; however, similar in certain aspects. Additionally, my research plans consist of intermedial transposition, authorial intent vs. director autonomy, and cultural reception longevity. The main issue I have noticed and would like to argue is Stephen King’s writing and why there is a shift between The Shining and It, and why one piece stands out over time and receives multiple adaptations while The Shining is noticeably left in the shadow.  Highlighting the importance of the written piece when it concerns adaptations. Adding knowledge of different perspectives when it concerns a specific literary piece and the outcomes due to clashes in artistic view. Given that this is an emerging field with limited existing research, I would appreciate the opportunity for this dissertation to serve as a foundation for further scholarly investigation in this area, under the guidance of faculty at the University of South Carolina. I strongly believe that, if admitted to the University of South Carolina, I would have the opportunity to further develop my research under the guidance of distinguished faculty members, which would elevate my academic career and enable me to contribute meaningfully to the field of adaptation studies and comparative literature.

I am applying to PhD studies in America, and I would really like to get accepted. I studied in English in Slovakia for both my bachelor's and master's degrees. I do not believe in my writing; to say this clearly, I am very insecure about it and would like to improve. This is my finished SOP, which I am planning to apply with any criticism and changes are welcome. I would really appreciate the help.

The cinematography scene has been a long-term fascination of mine. This spiraled into my fascination taking a different direction, which was observing a variety of texts and films and noticing the differences in adaptations. The specific instance my fixation grew was when I was introduced to the 1990 miniseries IT written by Stephen King. This occurred in my youth, and from an early age I noticed the differences between novels and adaptations, compelling me to research the topic further for my bachelor’s thesis on why these alterations were made. Comparing certain issues, arguments, topics, stories, and adaptations has become a strong suit of mine. Stephen King has explored recurring themes across literature, such as morality, racism, sexism, and domestic abuse, which led me to analyze these themes and the alterations that are essential within the novel but omitted in film form. Upon reflection, this inspired my bachelor’s topic, which is titled “A comparative study of Stephen King’s novel “It” and its various adaptations”. An important aspect within the comparative realm that I have noticed is that it can be compared to translation studies. The manner in which certain words cannot be directly translated into one language, simply because there is no equivalent in each language of translation. This furthered my research to observe why certain aspects cannot be translated correctly from written form to on-screen.

The theoretical framework orbited the mere exposure effect, which aligned perfectly with the main aims and arguments, which I strived to achieve in the bachelor’s thesis. Moreover, this meant arguing the fact that what the audience experiences first is ultimately the piece they shall favor due to being exposed to it first. This is a common issue when analyzing novel-to-film adaptations, since an audience usually experiences reading the written form first. Coincidentally, this argument was vital in my thesis, along with the translation argument concerning cinematography and how it can be analyzed from the translation perspective. The bachelor’s thesis attempts to argue the facts of time constraints, monetization, differences in perspectives, advancement of technology, and cultural time shifts, among others. Additionally, another crucial aspect that needs to be taken into consideration is the themes and symbolism that were necessary in the novel, which did not have the same effect on screen. The investigation on this topic closely relates to the source Linda Constanzo Cahir (2006) and her views on adaptation from her theory piece titled “Theory and Practical Approaches”. The arguments aided the bachelor’s thesis to thrive in the direction of proving the arguments put forward and the details that were important in the novels.  Along this journey, I have gained immense knowledge in this field and a plethora of information in adaptation studies, as well as comparative analysis and fundamental facts needed to further research any topics similar to my bachelor’s thesis.

I have grown to admire these topics and themes. Moreover, this inspired me to further immerse myself in similar themes for further research, since the comparative realm is so vast. To make my dissertation thrive, I believe it is essential to be guided by renowned scholars with profound knowledge in this field who can point me toward an advantageous trajectory. Professors such as David Greven, Mark Minett, and Susan Courtney have also inspired me in the past when I was writing my bachelor’s and master’s theses. Their topics align with my past research, especially since the focus of my master’s thesis was on the role of Nen (power system) in the well-known anime Hunter x Hunter. My curiosity grew while writing about this topic, observing it through the lens of narrative complexity, character identity, and worldbuilding. The challenges I faced while writing my master's thesis proved that conducting research is both demanding and rewarding; however, the experience also made me realize that my strengths lie in research and that I enjoy the process of writing and refining academic work.  The thirst for knowledge and improvement is essential in an academic setting, and I have realized that early; due to this fact, I always strive to improve.

My research direction incorporates themes of horror, narrative shift, the differences in writing and improvement in Stephen King’s It and The Shining, and the effects this had on the adaptation. Both pieces of literature are very different; however, similar in certain aspects. Additionally, my research plans consist of intermedial transposition, authorial intent vs. director autonomy, and cultural reception longevity. The main issue I have noticed and would like to argue is Stephen King’s writing and why there is a shift between The Shining and It, and why one piece stands out over time and receives multiple adaptations while The Shining is noticeably left in the shadow.  Highlighting the importance of the written piece when it concerns adaptations. Adding knowledge of different perspectives when it concerns a specific literary piece and the outcomes due to clashes in artistic view. Given that this is an emerging field with limited existing research, I would appreciate the opportunity for this dissertation to serve as a foundation for further scholarly investigation in this area, under the guidance of faculty at the University of South Carolina. I strongly believe that, if admitted to the University of South Carolina, I would have the opportunity to further develop my research under the guidance of distinguished faculty members, which would elevate my academic career and enable me to contribute meaningfully to the field of adaptation studies and comparative literature.