As the college experience evolves, so does the portrayal of campus life in literature
The traditional campus novel, with its focus on coming-of-age stories set within the confines of a cloistered campus, is undergoing a transformation. Today’s students face a different set of challenges, including financial pressures, the need for employment while in school, and a changing perception of the four-year college experience. As a result, authors are exploring new narratives that reflect the realities of modern students. This shift is evident in recent works that delve into issues such as student debt, non-traditional paths to graduation, and the precariousness of academic employment.
The Hidden Curriculum of College Life
Stephanie Land’s memoir, Class, sheds light on the “hidden curriculum” of college life, including the concept of office hours and the social codes that exclude students like herself. Land’s experience as a low-income college student and her daughter’s experience as a kindergartener of a low-income mother highlight the challenges faced by students who are juggling multiple jobs and financial hardships.
The Changing Stakes of the Campus Novel
Katherine Damm, a professor of “campus fiction,” notes that today’s students face higher stakes than their predecessors. Financial concerns, such as student loans and the need to work part-time jobs, shape their college experience. Students are calling for more representation of non-traditional paths, such as dropping out and returning to school, and a more realistic portrayal of the post-graduation landscape.
The Lingering Impact of Student Debt
Molly McGhee, a writer who explores the topic of student debt, believes that the burden of student loans will continue to affect society for years to come. Authors like Caroline O’Donoghue and Michelle Hart incorporate their personal experiences with debt into their novels, reflecting the financial anxieties faced by many students.
Navigating Power Dynamics in the Classroom
The rise of contingent labor in academia has shifted power dynamics in the classroom. Lynn Steger Strong’s novel, Want, explores the precarity of academic employment, while Michelle Hart’s novel, We Do What We Do in the Dark, delves into the complexities of relationships between students and adjunct professors. The increasing influence of social media has also made higher education more public, with students voicing their opinions and calling out professors’ behavior.
The Porous Campus Bubble
The campus bubble, once a constructed reality separate from the outside world, is now more porous. Brandon Taylor’s novel, The Late Americans, depicts a diverse college town where students interact with locals who have no connection to the university. The boundaries between campus and real life are blurred, and the campus novel is adapting to reflect this shift.
Expanding Perspectives in the Campus Novel
Authors like Elaine Hsieh Chou are pushing for more nuanced perspectives in the campus novel genre. Chou’s novel, Disorientation, explores issues of race and white supremacy in East Asian studies. She suggests breaking open the genre to include subcategories such as coming-of-age stories set abroad and a global understanding of education.
Conclusion:
The campus novel is evolving to reflect the changing landscape of the college experience. Authors are exploring themes of financial pressure, contingent labor, and the blurred boundaries between campus and real life. As the publishing industry catches up with the experiences of today’s students, we can expect to see a new generation of campus novels that capture the complexities and challenges of college life in the 21st century.
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