East Troy native inspired by ‘minimalist’ writers
Tom Ganser
Correspondent
Fred Hofstetter, a 2007 graduate of East Troy High School, is living proof that high quality research and creative projects aren’t just reserved for master’s or doctoral degree students.
Hofstetter was among 46 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater undergraduate students displaying the results of their research and creative projects in posters on Sept. 25 at UWW during the Fall 2013 Undergraduate Research Day.
Sponsors for the day included the National Science Foundation and the Abbott Summer Scholar Program.
Hofstetter is a junior at UWW, majoring in English with a minor in actuarial mathematics.
Hofstetter’s project is called “The Spectrum of Minimalism: Beckett to Hemmingway” and his faculty mentor is Languages & Literature assistant professor Michael Bennett.
In describing his project, Hofstetter said, “I researched a few selected works of Ernest Hemingway (The Old Man and the Sea) and Samuel Beckett (Molloy, Malone Dies, the Unnamable – “The Trilogy”), two influential writers who are called ‘minimalists.’”
“I was curious about their connection to this single term because of how incredibly different they are in style,” he added. “In this project I try to explain this phenomenon in relation to story construction and the use of language.”
The Undergraduate Research Day began with introductions by Simone DeVore, interim director of the Undergraduate Research Program and Samantha Samreth, director of the Academic Network/McNair Scholars Program.
According to Samreth, the students who participate in undergraduate research develop self-confidence along with intellectual and practical skills, including written and oral communication, quantitative and informational literacy, inquiry and analysis, critical and creative thinking, teamwork and problem solving.
“These skills will carry over into their professional careers and/or graduate school,” Samreth pointed out.
Beverly Kopper, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, offered opening remarks and the event was closed with comments by Richard McGregory, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs and Student Success.
As a participant in the Undergraduate Research Program, Hofstetter said, “I’ve had the opportunity to not only study an important literary style (and one I happen to really enjoy) like minimalism, but also to read Samuel Beckett closely and gain experience reading and analyzing ‘non-traditional’ types of literature. It fits directly with my major and is an excellent primer should I consider graduate school in the future.”
Hofstetter recalls being in Laurie Crandall’s English class on the novel at East Troy High School.
“I remembered enjoying that class and the way she taught us to recognize basic symbolism, cultural parallels, narrative construction, etc. I remember reading Great Gatsby, The Awakening, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, and Catcher in the Rye.”
In accounting for his interest in literature, Hofstetter said Crandall’s class “did spark my imagination more than just about any other (high school class).
“My plan is to graduate after my senior year and get my bachelor’s degree, and if I can find the right fit graduate school is definitely an option. But I’m not closing myself off to any possibilities. If a good job – teaching English, writing novels, astronaut, whatever it may be – is available after graduation I won’t hesitate to take it. I’m going to keep an open mind,” Hofstetter said.
The Spring 2014 Undergraduate Research Day will be from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, in the Hamilton Room for posters and breakout rooms for oral presentations. The event is open to the public and will include oral presentations along with a poster session.
