Why PS @ NYU
Initially, my interest in the Department of Performance Studies was piqued when my undergraduate research on Nicki Minaj was likened to work within the field. As I grew more aware of how useful the theoretical questions being raised by scholars in Performance Studies would be to the background I had in African American and Women’s and Gender Studies, I become more diligent in introducing myself to literature and language associated with the discipline. I also knew that if I wanted to become a scholar, I would need to be a part of a community in which my writing skills and critical engagement abilities would be cultivated and improved upon.
There are so many faculty members in the department that helped in the founding and development of the field and I wanted the opportunity to work with them on some of my own research questions. Not only was I inspired by the literature the faculty produced, but I was also curious about how they could expose me to new modes of thinking about my own work.
And finally, living near the energy of New York City provided me with a vast array of resources, outside of the academy, which would be critical to shaping and informing my experiences.