By Avery Peters, Austin Community College
Introduction
Nice to meet you all, my name is Avery Peters. I was raised mostly in Killeen, Texas, but because I am from a military family, we ended up moving around a lot. I attend Austin Community College and will transfer to a 4-year institution during the spring 2027 semester, hopefully to UT or Texas State, since I currently live in San Marcos, TX.
About Me
I love to read books, the kinds I prefer being history books and any kind of novel. My favorite authors include Haruki Murakami, V.S. Naipaul, Vladimir Nabokov, and Kazuo Ishiguro, to name a few.
I am deeply inspired by all forms of art, but am partial to music, literature, and paintings.
The current plan for finishing college is to teach and potentially write on the side, but I haven’t fully confirmed this plan, and it is subject to change.
The country for my study abroad program is England.
My Research Project: William Blake
My project is on William Blake, a famous visionary poet from late 18th to early 19th-century England. Blake had profound visions of god throughout his whole life, and all of his poetry and art were inspired by his mysterious visions.
Blake also critiqued the social and political climate of his time in a convincing way. It’s this critique that I am to focus on in my research paper.
More specifically, I want to research how the writings of William Blake directly combatted the social injustice that was occurring at the time, in the examples of slavery and child labor. His poem titled The Chimney Sweeper describes the brutal conditions some children had to face just to receive below poverty-level pay.
My connection to William Blake is through my father, who introduced me to him and the brilliant works he created. My father introduced me to a lot of important literary figures and inspired my unending interest in anything historical. I credit a lot of my inspiration to him.
Research Question
My central research question is:
How does the imaginative power of William Blake fight against social injustice?
Study Abroad Plans
I am looking forward to walking the same streets as William Blake, to put myself in the same frame of mind as him, and understand how exactly he combatted social injustice. To better understand Blake’s work, I plan on visiting his original works, stored in the British Library and various art museums in London. I believe by analyzing these works in person, I can create a better connection with the research paper I proposed.
Challenges
The most daunting aspect is fitting my independent research into the confines of the planned itinerary, but with diligence and lots of walking, I’m sure I can cram the historical knowledge into my brain.
Conclusion
Overall, the purpose of this project is to better understand the role art had in William Blake’s life to right the wrongs of the society he faced. By studying his works physically, I plan on understanding the context of his work and how his surroundings influenced his art. I know this project will teach me a lot, and I’m hoping to share it all with you!
Blake, William. Job Rebuked by His Friends. c. 1825, watercolor engraving, Tate Britain, London.
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