Within academia, reading and writing high-quality texts is a pivotal skill that one can also take pleasure in. The gratifying aspects of these endeavours have properly dawned on me only recently, as I have come to appreciate eloquence embedded in theory. Despite the passion I foster for my field of study, in the past I mostly assumed scientific articles to be dry and taxing, free from any creative elements worth applauding. How mistaken I was! Particularly in the humanities, some academic texts are comparable to literary works of art with respect to exquisite usage of language. Hence, aesthetic elegance and academic rigour can intertwine in the publications of gifted scholars.
Over time, I have learned to view abstract argumentation from a more creative perspective, which has made daily exposure to scientific texts more fruitful. Nowadays I treat certain books and articles as intriguing pieces of art, naturally some more captivating than others. I tend to be in awe of articulate analysis consisting of versatile wording and flowing rhythm, enchanted by its linguistic grace. This extreme emphasis on language feels inherent to me, reflecting my literary aspirations. After having utterly discovered the allure of academic writing, I now pay closer attention to intellectuals’ lexical choices, contemplating their reasoning during the imaginative process. In addition to aesthetic charm, their phrasing is quintessential to the message they are aiming to convey, ideally clarifying their motivations.
Regardless of the delights of powerful writing, scientific articles can indeed be strikingly complex and heavy reading, therefore demanding to take in. In fact, despite my study-related ambitions and insatiable thirst for knowledge, I often feel overwhelmed by the highly theoretical content, desperately attempting to grasp its baffling concepts. This is partially due to the fact that some theorists are immensely ambiguous in their self-expression, thus slowly breaking my curious spirit. Hence, it can be wearing to examine theoretical and intertextual themes through a critical lens, requiring impeccable concentration. I believe many students to share this unease, of struggling to attain a deeper understanding of broader contexts. Fortunately, I have gradually learned to focus on the intelligible features of a given text instead of excessively criticizing myself for drowning in fancy words and puzzling sentence structures with possibly ambivalent claims.
Similarly, my style of writing has benefited from immersion into burdensome texts. In fact, the careful observation of other people’s linguistic choices has encouraged me to embellish my own wording in the languages most familiar to me, thus intensifying my personal voice as a writer. At least I recognize taking more stylistic liberties while realising my compelling visions. Admittedly, these conscious efforts to enhance both my reading and writing skills have been my most valuable undertaking this year. However, the downside of exhaustive academic pursuits is the time spent away from other forms of art. Indeed, as a once voracious reader, I have sadly regressed into a student primarily fixated on academic literature, thus forsaking other literary pleasures for now. The absence of fiction in my life is regrettable although hopefully a mere passing phase.