Through the work of Professor Philip Davis and Dr Josie Billington in the School of English at the University of Liverpool, The Reader Organisation is involved in the development of an MA degree in Reading in Practice.
"I have always felt that reading is a powerful thing, but the course has helped me think about why that is, and given me the opportunity to explore the connections between literature and life." Katie Clark, current MA student
The Reading and Practice MA is concerned with the wider and deeper ways in which creative literature 'finds' people, emotionally and imaginatively by offering living models and visions of human troubles and human possibilities. The first MA of its kind in the country, it invites open-minded investigation into the role of reading in relation to health - in the broadest sense of that word.
"Coming from a university where literature is studied from an intensely academic perspective, this course has renewed my interest in literature by reminding me that it is concerned with the human, and what it means to be a person. I would encourage people who are thinking about the course to go for it; it has the potential to help you in your development as an individual, as a thinker and as a writer. And the MA group itself is a great support." Grace Farrington, current MA student
Books of all kinds – novels, poetry, drama, essays in philosophy and theology; books from all periods, from Shakespeare to the present: you will be helped to develop the ability, the confidence and the enthusiasm to use all literature as a form of personal time-travel and meditation. You will also learn how, in turn, you may re-create this process for others, through the formation of equivalent reading groups based on the innovative and successful Get Into Reading model – a reader development project run in various locations across Merseyside (schools, hostels for homeless people, community libraries, day centres for the elderly) by The Reader Organisation. Reading in Practice offers the following applied and practical opportunities:
• Reading expertise in terms of ‘practical criticism’ – the ability to look closely, patiently and attentively at literature of all kinds from all ages, where the power of analysis serves to increase, not diminish, the power of excitement
• Development of personal reading programmes in pursuit of individual journeys, with opportunities for informal and exploratory writing
• Investigation into case-studies in the history of reading
• Introduction to the uses of the spectrograph in tracing the vocal patterns of reading aloud, and of brain-imaging in relation to the movements of mind in Shakespeare
• Introduction to outreach work, reader development, and working with reading groups, through the unique Reader Organisation outreach programme
"As a librarian, with a particular interest in reading and health, this course has been extremely worthwhile. Reading has always been an important part of my life and this has been an opportunity to acquire and develop transferable skills to be better able to re-create this process for others. On a personal level, the chance to engage with serious literature and the human content found in books has been invaluable. I cannot recommend it highly enough." Julie Barkway, current MA student
Cost: £1,017 for students enrolling in 2009 (£2,820 for international students); Univeristy of Liverpool staff should write to Margaret Colleran to find out about staff discounts.
Visit the School of English web page.
Download the brochure for the MA (PDF).