Posts tagged doug bauer

Bernard Cooper is one of my favorite authors. On the website it looks as though he only teaches MFA courses. Is this true, or would it be possible to take a class with him as an undergrad? — Asked by Anonymous

Unfortunately, Bernard Cooper is not a member of the literature faculty for undergraduate students. Several of the literature faculty for our undergraduate program teach in the MFA in Writing program (which is low-residency and here when we are off at Field Work Term or summer break) and I know that faculty that teach in the MFA program have been hired to teach us undergraduates too in the past (sometimes as regular faculty and sometimes as visitors for a term or two). That being said, I wouldn’t count on Bernard Cooper being hired to teach you.

These are the literature faculty this term:

Marguerite Feitlowitz, Annabel Davis-Goff, Mark Wunderlich, Dan Hofstadter, Rebecca (Becky) Godwin, Camille Guthrie, John Gould, Megan Mayhew-Bergman, Alexandar Mihailovic, and Brooke Allen

In the fall Doug Bauer teaches and I know that we are right now searching for two more literature faculty members (one of whom will be a poet). 

One last thing: While the MFA program is here when most students are not, I know that I’ve had several friends who have been hired as program assistants and have gotten to stick around and sit in on lectures and readings!

- Ellie

What is your most difficult class right now? Which is your favorite? — Asked by Anonymous

Great question. Right now, I would say my most difficult class and my favorite are the same thing. I am currently taking a class called Masters of Style in which we read contemporary authors and then imitate their writing through our own stories (also talked about it in this question). It’s half critical, half creative, which is awesome. The discussion is always really lively and the other day my friend who is also in the class likened the part where we read imitations to “getting presents at Christmas” (I totally agree).

The difficult part comes in the mere act of having to reproduce a “master of style”. It’s very challenging and hard but worth it in the end. Doug Bauer, the professor, is always so helpful in his comments and feedback. I also, personally, am not a literature concentrate, so the experience for me has definitely been difficult but so rewarding. Studying outside my discipline is something I feel to be necessary to my work and being at Bennington, it’s encouraged.

-India K, ‘12