Exam Report

So, yes, I passed both portions of the qualifying exam. Last Friday, I arrived at Wayne State a little before noon. I headed into the same conference room I occupied last time and found Dr. Shaviro and Dr. Thompson already there. My third committee member, Dr. Brill, showed up after another minute or two. Once we were all there, they asked me to step out for a minute, presumeably so they could confer about what I wrote the week before and to strategize their question-asking.

I stepped back in and they started asking me questions about the essays I'd written last week. Could you clarify what you meant by. . . how does this idea fit in with that theory. . . you wrote this but what about that. . . etc. This went on for about an hour and a half. Almost every one of their questions was centered on film noir and on last week's essays.

Most of the time, I felt okay about my answers. When Dr. Kirsten Moanna Thompson of Christchurch, New Zealand asked me questions, however, I became a tongue-tied mess. That woman is so intimidating it's ridiculous. The natural state of repose of her face is a look of boredom and irritation so, as I'm talking, she's looking at me as though I am just bugging the hell out of her. Two times during the exam as I was trying to answer her questions, I made the mistake of looking her in the eye. As soon as I did, I just stopped short and kind of petered out. It sucked.

Stammering intimidation notwithstanding, after they asked me to step out again at the end, I felt pretty good. They called me back in and told me I'd passed. We talked about my plans for a dissertation, the need for me to track down an outside reader for my committee, and then they let me go. By 2 p.m., I was free. I went outside thinking the air would be sweeter and the sky would be bluer - but I was in downtown Detroit so clean, blue air, even on the best of days, is in short supply.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for your prayers, good vibes, good wishes, and support. I truly did feel them.